Hank,

The concept of self-satisfaction need not be tossed out with the bath water. Quite a few activities within the hobby are simply the experience one generates for oneself. This isn't necessarily the precise opposite of doing "it" for the public.

Maybe I misread "recreation" as "rhee-creation" rather than the other meaning. Semantics, but this does make a difference.

Michael,

Yep, the Turkey Red Wheat story.

Quote :

hanktrent wrote :If it's meant to imply self-denial in the name of history, I see people who'll do a physically difficult impression, but don't have enough self control to get by for two days without a camera, or without talking about the internet, or whatever. It's just too hard for them. Wimping out is wimping out.

Hardcore can just as easily be a prosperous Southern plantation owner tilted back in the lap of luxury on a cool evening with friends and family listening to his youngest daughter playing the piano.  As pedestrian soldiers and civilians, we tend to lean towards to more physical view of hardcore, but it can take on a number of forms according to the scenario.  I'll agree with the part about needing to avoid the modern trappings of our real lives in the process.

Quote :

Michael Schaffner wrote : But if I were really being honest, I'd say I tried the Sixth Corps March so I'd have something to talk about at Cedar Creek. I think this adds a fourth category, but I'm not sure whether to call it Bloviation or Self-Glorification.

It's the reason many of us try to extend beyond our usual limits; to see if we can really pull it off.  It's that something special that two people can find out they've shared the experience and nod at each other knowingly.  It's bragging rights and self satisfaction and relief that it's over but accomplished.

Bernie,

After two years, you might just be catching on. Take a few moments to grind this through all six categories:

Quote :

...prosperous Southern plantation owner tilted back in the lap of luxury on a cool evening with friends and family listening to his youngest daughter playing the piano.

You get a difficulty handicap, since this is a civilian vignette, and all that doesn't mesh well with that, but it is doable.

Give it a whirl.

I've never really understood the meaning of 'Progressive', especially when lumped in with campaigner and hardcore.

'Hardcore' I do understand, and remember when the term was first used in a reenactor context (easter event in 1972 as 'hardcorps'). Then it meant you are going to an event as a person of another time period and ARE that person, and will go with an 'anything goes' (if period) attitude--what happened in the 1860's can happen now. A perfect example of a 'hardcore' would be 'losing' our knapsacks at Rich Mt. It was something that happened a lot to the original boys (and sometimes to today's soldiers too), it is not liked, but it happened. So such things could happen to hardcore reenactors and they just go with it, knowing that it is an original experience.
We are doing it for the satisfaction not the rec[k]reation. When signing up for an event billed as 'hardcore' you are implying that you are game for anything (of the period).

'Campaigner' I had assumed doesn't necessarily mean covering ground, but more the living out of just what you carry on your back, and carrying everything you use like the original boys did (foraging aside).

I don't think there is any problem understanding 'mainstream'.

'Living History' (a term originally coined by the NPS for their programs) is definitely the education bit (although the quality of some of the 'education' can be pretty questionable).

'Commemeration' can easily be understood, which is not a reenactment at all but rather the parades, wreath layings, reinterrments, and so on.

But it's the term 'progressive' that gets me. I still don't have any idea what that one means.

If anything I find myself more a 'regressive' reenactor as I tried to explain to Michael Schaffner once a few years ago. I had assumed 'progressive' is a person who is going from mainstream to hardcore and is somewhere along the journey. Well, I used to be a total eat-up hardcore, but one day I realized I knew way too much about material culture to ever be 'fooled' into thinking I could ever be doing it perfect (long story omited here), so now I do not worry about 'how many rivets are on my bayonet scabbard' (or anyone elses) or whatever--a soldier couldn't have cared less even if he had noticed--and now I just concentrate on 'living it'. My stuff is good, but might just as easily be original...or sutler's rack, I don't care just as long as the feeling is right. And I certainly don't give a rat who made it, or what 'brand name' it is (I leave that for the kewl folks).
I went the other way from 'clone' stuff to sutler's rack--regressive. But I bet my mindset is every bit as good as anyone's, and when I go to a hardcore event I am game for anything from burying dead horses to sleeping in the snow--or singing in a lady's parlor, as long as it is a period experience and presented in an authentic manner.
Which is why I do all this...for the Civil War experiences. MY (our) experience, not showing off to a bunch of tourists.

Am I missing the idea here?

Spence~

Spence,
I'd say you fall in with a goodly number of folk.

Each word we use has a somewhat different meaning to each person using it.  For me, progressive is more of a process than a catagory.  

I think of myself as a mainstreamer, as I'm part of a generally mainstream unit.  I also consider myself progressive, as I attend some "upper level" events and fit in quite nicely there, and, more importantly, work to improve my impression (the pudgy and old parts need help)in the "man, materials, method" triad.

That said, I doubt I'll ever be considered as anything other than a mere mainstreamer, as I have no problem attending events of "lesser" quality with my unit and if the mood strikes, partaking of the "funnel cake" on occasion.  Such occasions depend both on the event expectations and my general mood/desires of the time:  Sometimes it's just as desired to campaign as much as possible at such events.

So in the end, I'm probably in the catagory of regressive-progressive mainstreamer.  What that ultimately means is that I'm in the hobby, and intend to keep doing it for a while, attending which ever events I so choose.

Perhaps our paths will cross...may already have.