Glad to know I'm following the right track.

I plan on putting these all in a list within a short amount of time. Please keep the ideas flowing.

Mel,

Everyone comes into this hobby with certain expectations, wants, etc.. The key is finding a group you are comfortable with and who is willing to help you get there. I had 2 bad experiences with units when I was looking, but I kept at it landed with the illustrious 6th Ohio, where I have found and continue to find all that I was looking for.

Despite the addition of Ken Cornett I am still there and happy Just kidding Corny . In fact, that is the best part of it, watching new fellows join and helping them get what they want out of it, right Ken? The new folks seem to keep us old guys interested and into it.

Regards,
Mike

Mel,

Don’t go to the trouble of making a list.  I’ve already compiled it.  Give it a few more days to see if there are any additional posts and the compilation will be added to the mix.

Curtis, yer killin' me man.   I've already done it.

The following commonly used Civil War forum acronyms and terminology were contributed by Bernard Biederman, Ken Cornett, Mike Davis, Mel Glover, Terre Lawson, Bill Rodman, Michael Schaffner, Curt Schmidt, and Hank Trent.  Dave Towsen provided a source for additional acronyms.

ACW:  American Civil War.

ANACHRONISM:  An modern day item that would not be found in an 1860’s era Civil War setting.  Examples are nylon, aluminum, plastic, stainless steel, cell phones, tennis shoes, aerosol,  styrofoam, etc, etc.

AUTHENTICIST:  Someone who is extremely accurate in their impression.  This type reenactor is camping with an aluminum cot, sleeping bag, and cooler while wearing perfect clothes and impeccable accoutrements.  A good portion of mainstreamers deserve/fit this label

AUTHENTICITY TRIAD:  An approach that looks at elements of the CW physical and mental man, the material culture, and the methods as to how what things were done. AKA as the THREE LEGGED STOOL analogy where one strives to capture all three legs of a stool so one does not fall down as the mental and physical man, the material culture of weapons, uniforms, equipment, tools, etc., etc., and the activities and environments that are recreated for their use.

AUTHENTICS: Almost everybody thinks they're authentic. Other people may have a different opinion of your impression. Please see Farb and Stitch Nazi.

BARNIE COAT: A heavy weight Federal sack coat, usually made in Pakistan. They turn purple as they age. You don't see many of them any more, but people still like to complain about them.

BBB:  A somewhat negative term for some events on the left side of the F/M/C/P/H/A Paradigm Alphabet Letters, that describes what one can expect there--a battle, a ball, and a battle--or a ball, a barbecue, and a battle--or battle, beer, and ball,  etc.

BELIEVABLE IMAGE:  When one's physical appearance, uniform, gear, speech, mannerisms, etc., add up to convey the impression that one might, could, possibly, look like a "Civil War soldier" and not a modern reenactor who doesn't

BREECH LOADER:  A Civil War era black powder weapon that was loaded at the breech.  Usually these will be carbine type weapons more suitable for cavalry use.

BUSTED SCENARIO:  When the scrïpted scenario is not followed as directed. (See scrïpted Scenario)

BUTTON PISSERS:  A negative term directed at folks who try to improve their "authenticity" by allegedly using urine to faux-age brass uniform buttons.

CRRC:  Columbia Rifles Research Compendium.

CW:  Civil War

CAMPAIGNER’S MANIFESTO:  Originally written by Nicky Hughes, a "manifesto" of beliefs, expectations, and practices for those who participate in the hobby as "campaigners."

CAMPLANNER: A reenactor who walks into a mainstream camp with everything on his back. He will than proceed to sleep under your fly, eat your food (which you have prepared,) and drink your beverages. At the end of the event, as you are packing up, he will loudly proclaim the benefits of campaigning.
The female version of Camplanner will walk into your area with everything on her back. She will note the number of straight back chairs scattered about, and appropriate the last one even though your assistant has put that chair away twice, (the other 3 being occupied by the musicians) artfully arranging herself to the best advantage in the center front row, while all around her are sitting on the ground. She will stay there for the next 3 hours while you lean on your cane because you cannot get up if you get down on the ground. Upon your suggestion that she help wash the dishes and pots that made the food she has eaten all weekend, she will suggest that you take it home and wash it because it is easer to do there than here. She will then scatter her plunder all under the canvas you put up, not be findable when its time to pack it up, and be unhappy when you take the tentage down leaving her stuff in the open, and not have a clue why folks are annoyed with her.
This results in SSOS:  Significant Sell-Off of Stuff, and folks wondering why you don't haul things for other folks to borrow anymore.

CAMP OF CONVENIENCE: Where Mainstreamers go when they attend CPH events.

CARPE EVENTUM or "seize the event," a  label for events that repeat the same levels of so-called farb and mainstream reenacting over and over, year after year.

CPH: CAMAIGNER, PROGRESSIVE, HARDCORE:. They travel in small groups and rarely have tents or cots. They keep their coolers in the trunk of their cars!   IMMEDIATELY look at mainstream

COMMON GROUND:  a Civil War reenactment forum where the hobby’s issues can be discussed with civility and decorum.

CONFLICT:  Multiple Civil War reenactment activities in the same general area scheduled for the same time frame.

CPH Adjunct: When the folks without tents and cots attend events where other folks will have lots of tents, cots, and coolers. They camp separate from mainstreamers.  Adjuncts tend to generate lots of pro and con posts on the internet.

CPH EVENTS: Where the folks without tents or cots and coolers in their cars hang out. These events are often described as Campaign, Progressive, or Hardcore. There is often much discussion concerning what is the proper category for a specific event.

CW:  Civil War

DECONFLICTION: Insuring that your event doesn't conflict with another event. The other guy's event always conflicts with yours and never the other way around. In a perfect world, conflicts would not occur. We do not live in a perfect world.

DE-FARB:  A nearly meaningless term used to attempt to describe the problems with Italian reproduction CW era firearms, and various complex steps and procedures one can choose to render them "less unauthentic" that range from removing the modern Italian barrel stampings and refinishing the stock all the way to removing wood, adding missing stampings, replacing incorrect sized or shaped parts with original parts or reproductions of original parts, etc., etc.,

EBUFU: "Events, by us, for us." These are events put on by reenactors for the benefit of reenactors, not the spectators.

EMULATION:  Striving to experience aspects of an actual Civil War soldier's or 1860’s era civilian's life as are desirable and doable rather than "simulating" the costumes and pageantry of modern reenacting culture and tradition

[g]ETERNAL COLONELS[/g] or [g]ETERNAL CAPTAINS[/g]:  Colonels and captains that either hold reenacting "rank," forever based being Founding Fathers or Benign or Not so Benign Dictators, Socio-Emotive type "electyed" leaders, or actually hard working elected, appointed, or non-elected Effective Leaders.  Because of the "mix," they can be good, bad, or indifferent.

[g]EVENT[/g]: A Civil War related activity, usually a reenactment or living history.

[g]FARB[/g]: Anybody less authentic than you are.  The word "farb" is much like another four letter word and can be used as various parts of speech, possibly all eight of them.

A Farb: Noun
I farbed out: Verb
That's a farby
       Etc, etc, etc.

[g]FARBFEST[/g]: A really non-authentic or unsafe event. This definition is very much in the eye of the beholder. One reenactor's Farbfest is another reenactor's outstanding event.

[g]FENCE SITTER[/g]: Folks who attend both CPH and Mainstream events.

[g]FIRPER[/g]:  A abbreviation for FIRst PERson

[g]FIRST PERSON IMPRESSION[/g] aka [g]PERSONA[/g] :  A portrayal to oneself, one's fellow reenactors, or the public of [i]CW[/i] soldiers as "I do this." or "I did that." by researching elements of the life, family, upbringing, education, religion, politics, profession, beliefs, of an actual or made up [i]CW[/i] person
[g]
F/M/C/P/H/A PARADIGM[/g] or [g]MODEL[/g]:  One attempt at explaining and labeling all of the varying segments and levels of [i]CW[/i] reenacting or living history. While not a universally agreed upon thing, letters have been added or modified over the years. Now, one sees the alphabet letters of [i]F, M,[/i] and [i]CPH[/i] most often still used.

[g]FOR PROFIT EVENTS[/g]: Events put on by people who invest their own money and hope to earn a profit from their investment. There is one of these events, held every year, near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  See [i]GAC[/i].

[g]FRESH FISH[/g]:  An individual who is new to the hobby of Civil War reenacting.

[g]GAC[/g]:  Gettysburg Anniversary Committee.  A group of Adams County, PA, personnel whose sole purpose is to line their pockets by hosting an annual [i]For Profit Event [/i]near the Gettysburg National Military Park that will be the much ballyhooed (insert the appropriate numeral) Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

[g]GALTROOPS[/g]:  Females who portrays a male soldier. This term is normally usually used by reenactors who are not in favor of females portraying male soldiers.

[g]HARDKEWL[/g]: Individuals who entered [i]Sutler's Row [/i]and spent all their own, or their father's money on the best possible clothing and equipment and never leave. [i]Hardkewls[/i] can be seen pointing and laughing at less well dressed reenactors who actually participate in the events they attend.   [i]Hardkewls[/i] spend most of their time preening and posturing for non-existent admirers.

[g]HISTORY-HEAVY[/g]:  By degree on the “Sliding Scale of Imperfection,” the opposite of [i]History Light[/i].

[g]HISTORY-LIGHT[/g]:  Impressions or events where the costumes and activities have little to do with Civil War era history but focus instead on social and recreational pageantry, plus the burning copious amounts of black powder during the shoot-em up aspects of the hobby.

[g]IMPRESSION[/g]:  Who and/or what you are trying to emulate.  See [i]Emulation[/i].  See [i]First Person Impression[/i] aka [i]Persona[/i].

[g]IMPRESSION DU JOUR[/g]:  From the heyday of the [i]H/A[/i] [i]EBUFU[/i] events as well as other type of events where one's [i]persona[/i], uniform, and gear changed according to the unit being portrayed for THAT event.

[g]LH[/g]: Living History.  Where we put on demonstrations for spectators. They can be "[i]first person[/i]", "[i]third person[/i]" or just making up stuff as you go along.

[g]MAGIC MOMENTS[/g]:  When "everything" (including [i]Believable Image[/i] and [i]Suspending Disbelief[/i]) comes together in a controlled environment or event to the point that for a "moment" one could think it was 1861-1865 and not now.

[g]MAINSTREAM[/g]: The majority of reenactors. They travel in large groups and usually come equipped with tents, cots, camp furniture, and coolers.

[g]MILITANT FARB[/g]: Folks who know they are doing things wrong and are seemingly proud of it. They make no attempt to hide [i]anachronisms[/i] from spectators or other reenactors.

[g]MAINTREAM EVENTS[/g]: Where the folks who come equipped with tents, cots, and coolers hang out.

[g]MENTAL PICTURE[/g]:  What one sees oneself doing and where one sees oneself fitting in.

[g]MOD[/g] or [g]MODERATOR[/g]:  An individual tasked with presiding over and/or maintaining order on a section of a Civil War reenactor forum.

[g]MUZZLE LOADER[/g]:  A Civil War era black powder weapon that was loaded from the muzzle.  Typical infantry type weapons were of the muzzle loading variety.

[g]NPS[/g]:  National Park Service

[g]NUG[/g]:   Normally, Usually, Generally

[g]OTHERS' MILEAGE WILL VARY[/g]:  An expression reminding folks that not everyone agrees on "things"

[g]PARENT UNIT[/g]:  Higher headquarter to whom the subordinate unit answers.

[g]PEC[/g]:   Plain, Everyday, and Common

[g]PERSONA[/g]:  Your [i]persona[/i] results from combing those elements of the life, family, ethnicity, occupation, age, upbringing, education, religion, politics, values, of an actual or made up [i]CW[/i] person you are attempting to portray.  [i]Persona[/i] can be specific or it may be more general in nature.

[g]POST[/g]:  Comment(s) placed on a Civil War forum.

[g]PRIVATE MESSAGE[/g]:  A means by which members of the same forum can communicate back and forth with each other without their comments being [i]post[/i]ed on the forum.

[g]scrïptED SCENARIO[/g]: A planned battle reenactment, usually for spectators. Like real battles, they rarely go as planned.

[g]SOYA[/g]: Sit on Your Ass, which is what happens at most [i]LH's[/i].
[g]
STITCH NAZI[/g]: Anybody more authentic than you are.

[g]SUSPENDING DISBELIEF[/g]:  When historically recreated, simulated, or emulated sights, sounds, smells all combine in one place at one time to [i]suspend disbelief[/i] for oneself and/or one's comrades that it is not 1861-1865

[g]TACTICAL[/g]: A battle reenactment with an unplanned conclusion. There are usually no spectators present. In too many cases, where grown men get to play cowboys and Indians

[g]TATER[/g]: The public spectator at events or historical sites
[g]
THREAD[/g]:  A series of posts pertaining to a similar topic on a Civil War reenactment forum.

[g]THREE BANDER[/g]:  A Civil War era black powder weapon that has three barrel bands.

[g]TBG[/g]:  Tubby bearded guy.

[g]TOG[/g]: Tubby Old Guy.

[g]TWO BANDER[/g]:  A Civil War era black powder weapon that has two barrel bands.

[g]THE AC BOARD[/g]:  "The Authentic Campaigner- a Website for the Serious Civil War Living Historian" another loved, hated, or indifferent [i]CW[/i] board or forum.  There are several Civil War forums.

[g]THEM vs US[/g]:  Doesn't really needed defining

[g]THIRD PERSON IMPRESSION[/g]:  A portrayal to oneself, one's reenactor acquaintances, or the public of [i]CW [/i]soldiers as "They did this." or "They did that."

[g]TOP TIER EVENTS[/g]: Those few events deemed most worthy by those folks who usually avoid tents and cots

[g]TOURON[/g]  The more "history challenged" public spectator at events or historical sites (a blend of Tourist and Moron)
[g]
STILL ATTENDING THE WRONG EVENTS[/g]- a tease, barb, or insult often directed at lads who have personally progressed to the right of the [i]F/M/C/P/H/A Paradigm[/i] Alphabet Letters, but have problems, complain, and/or whine about attending events to the alphabet letters to the left of "where they are at."

[g]SUTLER[/g]: An individual who will sell you all the stuff the Government gave you, plus a lot more stuff you don't really need. This has absolutely nothing to do with actual Civil War sutlers, who only sold stuff the Government wouldn't give you.  [i]Sutlers[/i] are Civil War reenactor merchants.  They strive to make a profit at your expense.

[g]SUTLER ROW[/g]: AKA Skinner's Row. An event's version of the local mall. Enter here at your peril. There are some quality items to be found in a sutler tent, but do be advised they will be surrounded and greatly outnumbered by the “finest” (which is not fine at all) that Pakistan and India has to offer.

[g]WBTS[/g]:  War Between the States

Yep Mike, you are correct!

Curtis, not sure what happened to the bolding in your message.  You can try "b" instead.  I know that sometimes AceBoard picks up the html aspects in a weird way.

Quote :

Curtis Makamson wrote : CPH: CAMAIGNER, PROGRESSIVE, HARDCORE:. They travel in small groups and rarely have tents or cots. They keep their coolers in the trunk of their cars!   IMMEDIATELY look at mainstream

The part in bold was, of course, contributed by Bill as a humorous way to ridicule the c/p/h crowd. Though there really are reenactors who claim the c/p/h label and head off to the parking lot during events just like mainstreamers, if this is meant as a semi-serious explanation for new reenactors it might be worth explaining that there really are reenactors who don't take coolers to events and who don't run back to the trunks of their cars to get things during the weekend, and events where cars are too far away to access.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Curtis, you left out "DODO -- Division of Detached Officers.  See Schnapps's Rule #91: 'When the total number of mounted officers at an event exceeds that of the cavalry, their collective ability will not exceed that of either end of the least capable horse.'"

Yes, Michael, I understand what you are saying, but some of those least capable horses have lots of perseverance.  I endured multiple years working under the supervision of the southern end of a least capable steed of doubtful gender. This was such a traumatic experience it qualified me for handicapped parking.

Well, here's another one from my lovely bride:

Scarletts: Ladies who show up looking like they just stepped out of Gone With the Wind. Usually seen around the sutler area wearing an evening ball gown at mid-day and the ball gown usually being made of a polyester satin. These persons are also usually wearing a style much too young for them. During the period they would likely have been mistaken for ladies of questionalble morals. AKA Farbie Barbies