The question of where one fits authenticity wise is tough to answer.  There could be multiple opinions.  Is it possible that how you perceive yourself in this hobby may not be the same as how your acquaintances perceive you?  It certainly may be different from how unacquainted peers see you.  No matter where one is in the matter of authenticity there are always going to be improvements that can be made just as certain as there will be inferior standards which one has moved on beyond and left behind.  There are these categories/labels/niches that start on the disparaging FARB end of the scale moving incrementally to more exacting expectations, with each step getting more meticulous.  Where one fits on the authenticity scale has some subjectivity in the equation.  All the more reason to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are portraying the same level of period correctness.  As has been stated several times, fine tune your attitude and locate your comfort zone.  Attend events that feature what you prefer. No matter where you are on this authenticity continuum, why go where you will be miserable?

Let's see,

I got drizzled on Friday night. I froze my butt off Saturday night. I climbed a mountain Sunday morning. Yep, McDowell was a CPH event.    

It's OK Bill, you will feel your legs again........ eventually.

Take two of these   and call me in the morning.

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Curtis Makamson wrote :Where one fits on the authenticity scale has some subjectivity in the equation.  All the more reason to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are portraying the same level of period correctness.  As has been stated several times, fine tune your attitude and locate your comfort zone.  Attend events that feature what you prefer. No matter where you are on this authenticity continuum, why go where you will be miserable?

I couldn't have said it better myself!    As Curtis said, it's all subjective.  For example, what are you comparing yourself to?  All reenactors?  Reenactors only in a certain category?  The actual people of 1861-1865? No doubt each of us sees ourselves in a different category when examining ourselves in each category.

Personally when comparing myself to all reenactors I feel that my level of accuracy is higher than many.  When comparing my level to those of my own group I find it equal to.  When comparing myself to the people of the past (if a person from 1861-5 were to come to an event I'm at, what would they think)?  Well, I still have a loooong way to go.    

The same goes for events.  Are you comparing them to all other events?  Only events within that category? Or the actual events of 1861-65?

The problem comes when event organizers want everyone to come and have a good time, and often times they really want an event to be for everyone, but it just can't happen.  Too many expectations from too many people, those at the lower end and those at the higher end will be miserable and those who really and truly sit dead in the center of that fence will be happy and not see what all the fuss is about.

Linda