The joys of "costume play" - emotional distress

[Cold Blooded]

Note: The images contained herein may cause emotional distress. Viewer discretion advised.

Photos taken from what was apparently a recent convention in Dallas, TX. Healthy affirmation of one's faith in the human race follows:
http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/ak03a.html

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603a0120.jpg

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603a0211.jpg

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603b0123.jpg

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603b0213.jpg

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603a0060.jpg

(Post edited to include a warning in the subject)

[Funkman]

Jesus.. there should definitely have been some sort of warning before scrolling down to that last one. Put it in a Whittalink (tm) or something...

[Jamie Madigan]

Woah, the Prince of All Cosmos has really let himself go. Looks like every bit of junk he picked up caused him to die a little inside.

[Midnight Son]

Bring on hot ganguro girls!

[Wholly Schmidt]

Yay for creativity, but someone needs hit these people over the head with the fact that no matter how well you can sew a costume together, you will still be fat and look nothing like the character you're dressing up as.

[Ben Sones]

Eh, cosplayers don't really bother me. They're just having fun; let them have it. Some of the costumes are super-goofy, granted (especially that last one that you linked), but there are some kinda neat ones, too. The Katamari Damacy costume is pretty cool, and there's a Lain costume in there that's not bad, and also a girl dressed up like Faye Valentine who actually sort of looks like Faye Valentine... that's a little freaky.

[Johan O]

I liked the vapid smile on this one.

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603b0141.jpg[/img]

[Robert Sharp]

It is hard to recover from the damaging effects of joining a cult. I don't think we should be amused by such things....

[Robert Sharp]

Also...I'd hit it...once it was legal.

[jeffd]

eyes goggles etc

Note: The images contained herein may cause emotional distress. Viewer discretion advised.

Photos taken from what was apparently a recent convention in Dallas, TX. Healthy affirmation of one's faith in the human race follows:
http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/ak03a.html

(Post edited to include a warning in the subject)

edit: did I say googles? goggles!

[Robert Sharp]

See if you can spot the cute, teddy bear Nazi in this set of pics:

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/ak03a0021.html

[jeffd]

There is clearly a teddy bear nazi in that second picture. Don't know about cute.

See if you can spot the cute, teddy bear Nazi in this set of pics:

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/ak03a0021.html

[fire]

Mario and Luigi cracked me up. Also Oh My Goddess, whatever her name was: pretty convincing.

It's pages like these that remind me just how little anime I've seen compared to what's out there.

[Wholly Schmidt]

Oh man, I didn't make it to the end last time. The power rangers are lame and all, but they made for the best costumes: http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/ak03a0024.html

[Enidigm]

The fully body bear suit guy had the right idea - no face picture, no incriminating evidence.

Otherwise - i think its clear anime is the next DnD and death metal lyrics on the scale of its potential social danger for impressionable youth.

[Ben Sones]

Mario and Luigi cracked me up. Also Oh My Goddess, whatever her name was: pretty convincing.

Beldandy. I'm not sure how I know that; I've never seen the show.

[CannonFodder-jm]

I like the apathy and inner hate on this one:

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603a0101.jpg

--My fucking "friend" made me put this hat on--

[Ben Sones]

That's the Lain costume. Lain is a pretty apathetic character, so it fits.

[Troy S Goodfellow]

I don't know whether to be embarrassed that I don't recognize 80% of those costumes or proud of that fact.

This is no more disturbing to me than Civil War re-enactors, but it is still a subculture that I just don't get.

Troy

[CannonFodder-jm]

Civil War Re-enactors VS Trekkers (http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/columnists/tim_chitwood/11281515.htm)

[Rywill]

"It turns out replica Civil War guns use real gunpowder, whereas 'Star Trek' phasers have only a battery-powered bulb that lights up," says Lessjo. "You don't go up against a guy with a firearm if all you've got is a flashlight."

Truer words were never spoken, Mr. Lessjo.

[Ben Sones]

That's one article that really cries out for photos.

[Jason Levine]

I liked the vapid smile on this one.

http://www.fansview.com/2005/akon/0603b0141.jpg[/img]

Hey, isn't she the runaway bride?

http://www.foxnews.com/images/161847/16_25_042805_wilbanks_jennifer_35.jpg

This could explain much.

[Bull]

I ran into some dudes for the Society for Creative Anachronism (http://images.google.com/images?q=Society%20for%20Creative%20Anachronism&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi) one day in NYC. I was shopping in Toy’s R Us off 14th street by the park. This dude comes walking down the street dressed like Attila the Hun, and toting a huge two handed battle axe. Talk about freaky. I thought he was a homeless person getting ready to rampage. But then I knew something was up when I saw the three fruity fellows dressed like Robin Hood—green tights and brown leather boots, with pointy toes. I was like, Wheew. Close one.

[Bill Dungsroman]

I ran into some dudes for the Society for Creative Anachronism (http://images.google.com/images?q=Society%20for%20Creative%20Anachronism&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi) one day in NYC. I was shopping in Toy’s R Us off 14th street by the park. This dude comes walking down the street dressed like Attila the Hun, and toting a huge two handed battle axe. Talk about freaky. I thought he was a homeless person getting ready to rampage. But then I knew something was up when I saw the three fruity fellows dressed like Robin Hood—green tights and brown leather boots, with pointy toes. I was like, Wheew. Close one.

Ahhh, I love those guys. "Fellas! In olden days, towns stunk like Hell, and you died in your 30s. Now, the smell you might be able to handle (judging by you rown inimitable aroma), but dying in your 30s? Man, that means all of you (not just most of you) will die virgins! And it's not until your 30s that you can buy a big stupid PC rig, every console made, and play them all in your own house! Oh, and ha ha, they didn't have any of those things, either. Horsehoes, brah.

[Robert Sharp]

Why would they die in their 30s? The average life expectancy was probably about that, but that's because so many kids die. It's not like people in their 30s were the same as people today in their 80s. They might die of a disease or something, but they didn't just have heart failure at 35.

[Bull]

I'm not sure if 30s is correct, but I have no problem believing that most common people died much younger than they do in modern times. No health care to speak of, no social programs, at the whim of the weather and elements, no rule of law. I can think of dozens of ways a person might die that don't relate to modern times.

[Ben Sones]

They did die younger, on average, but not a lot younger, and a lifespan of 30 would have been considered unusually short, just as it is today.

http://www.few.vu.nl/~majonker/IPM.pdf

(Short version: as of the 1300s or so, most commoners lived into their 50s and 60s).

[Brad Grenz]

If they didn't die as an infant. That drives your averages down.

[Mehrunes]

They did die younger, on average, but not a lot younger, and a lifespan of 30 would have been considered unusually short, just as it is today.

http://www.few.vu.nl/~majonker/IPM.pdf

(Short version: as of the 1300s or so, most commoners lived into their 50s and 60s).

Uh, that model only calculates life expectancy for landholders from the upper echelons of English society, not the entire population.

[Ben Sones]

Uh, that model only calculates life expectancy for landholders from the upper echelons of English society, not the entire population.

True. But not many of the SCA folks dress up as peasants.

[Rasputin]

Well, to burst your bubble there, SCA folks get laid a hell of a lot. Admittedly, it's among their own kind, but it's pretty easy to find tail at an SCA event if you're not picky.

Also, double-bag it if you do, SCA events are breeding farms for STDs.

[Anders Hallin]

Well, to burst your bubble there, SCA folks get laid a hell of a lot. Admittedly, it's among their own kind, but it's pretty easy to find tail at an SCA event if you're not picky.

Also, double-bag it if you do, SCA events are breeding farms for STDs.
That's actually less safe than just using one.

[mouselock]

Well, to burst your bubble there, SCA folks get laid a hell of a lot. Admittedly, it's among their own kind, but it's pretty easy to find tail at an SCA event if you're not picky.

Also, double-bag it if you do, SCA events are breeding farms for STDs.

If they're not particularly stuck up about it, they also cross-pollinate with Ren Faire types as well. And I know it's fun to trot out the stereotypes, but there are plenty of very attractive people of both sexes who like the whole fantasy/medevial motif.

One might even hazard a guess that a wide swathe of people are into that motif, which could explain its prevalence in, say, computer games. :P

(Although far fewer of them have the balls or constant blood alcohol content to dress up in tights and furs for a weekend. The prevalence of chain mail, leather, fur, and cleavage at large-ish events does compensate a bit, however.)

[Rywill]

Well, to burst your bubble there, SCA folks get laid a hell of a lot. ... among their own kind, . . . not picky. . . .breeding farms for STDs.
"I'm not a loser! I bang ugly poxy weirdos whenever I want."

(I kid because I love.)

[Robert Sharp]

The women at Ren Festivals are often quite hot, actually. Those dresses...damn. I need to buy one for my wife, but they're like $300!

[Robert Sharp]

They did die younger, on average, but not a lot younger, and a lifespan of 30 would have been considered unusually short, just as it is today.

http://www.few.vu.nl/~majonker/IPM.pdf

(Short version: as of the 1300s or so, most commoners lived into their 50s and 60s).

Uh, that model only calculates life expectancy for landholders from the upper echelons of English society, not the entire population.

Heh :). Still, the point is that it wouldn't be surprising to anyone if someone lived past their 30s. I have students who think that people were decrepit in their 30s or 40s back in the day. Of course, these are the same students who think that no one knew the world was round in the Middle Ages.

[Jakub]

They're also the same students who assume that everyone was 4'8" tall because of 3/4 scale armor models that were all the rage, and that knights fought ponderously in melee combat or that bodkin arrows killed the French heavy knights at Agincourt.

[Bull]

I have students who think that people were decrepit in their 30s or 40s back in the day.

Probably think everyone in their 30s and 40s are decrepit.

[shift6]

Seriously, trolling for hotties at a RenFaire isn't difficult. All the ladies are out there feeling like (and being treated like) princesses by all the ugly stinky losers who are hitting on them in a kind of "blurring-the-line-between-character-and-real-life" kind of way. If you are a decent looking dude you'll do alright.

[Rasputin]

Well, I don't have any RenFaire experience, only SCA. But I agree that a decent looking guy should do just fine. However you can raise the chance to nearly 100% if you lower the bar a tad. Or just enjoy women with lots of curves anyway.

I'm actually headed to an event this weekend to see a really hot friend do some live steel. I'll report on the amount of attractive women there.

[mouselock]

Well, I don't have any RenFaire experience, only SCA. But I agree that a decent looking guy should do just fine. However you can raise the chance to nearly 100% if you lower the bar a tad. Or just enjoy women with lots of curves anyway.

I'm actually headed to an event this weekend to see a really hot friend do some live steel. I'll report on the amount of attractive women there.

Yet, despite the costumes they choose, the really hot ones apparently still seem to have less brains than the rest of the bunch. (Live steel? Gah!)

Ren Faire can be likened to SCA as follows: Imagine you took the base SCA crowd, and then picked out the ones who, in general, clean up better because those people entice all the mundane folk to spend money on tickets and wandering around. There's a decent amount of the more zaftig ladies running around at Ren Faires, but they tend not to have the same real-life proportions of bizarre looking to normal looking people that, well, real-life does. (SCA never struck me as anything other than normal. It's just that a really goofy looking dude or chick wearing archaic clothes stands out more than one wearing an "I'm with stupid ->" T-Shirt.)

[Enidigm]

Picking up women at Ren Fairs? Attractive women? This is very greek to me. Are you sure you guys aren't getting punch drunk after getting hit over the head a few too many times with lightsabers?

[Rywill]

Jesus, Gene. It's the SCA guys who use lightsabers, not the RenFaire guys.

[Enidigm]

Jesus, Gene. It's the SCA guys who use lightsabers, not the RenFaire guys.

I was using "lightsaber" in a slightly derogatory manner as meaning "anything like a nerf bat." Or more generally "plastic/light metal, not sharp".

[Andrew Mayer]

Picking up women at Ren Fairs? Attractive women? This is very greek to me. Are you sure you guys aren't getting punch drunk after getting hit over the head a few too many times with lightsabers?

There are plenty of hot nerd chicks on the West Coast.

I didn't believe it either... at first.

[GregB]

Here's the obligatory LARP video (http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/31326/) for your enjoyment. They ever get to fight a Beholder!!

[mouselock]

Picking up women at Ren Fairs? Attractive women? This is very greek to me. Are you sure you guys aren't getting punch drunk after getting hit over the head a few too many times with lightsabers?

There are plenty of hot nerd chicks on the West Coast.

I didn't believe it either... at first.

And, perhaps not coincidentally, the West Coast tends to have the highest per capita Ren Faire density.

Hot nerd chicks + low cut clothing == win!

[Bill Dungsroman]

Picking up women at Ren Fairs? Attractive women? This is very greek to me. Are you sure you guys aren't getting punch drunk after getting hit over the head a few too many times with lightsabers?

I dunno how prevalent this is, but I got a phone number off a very pretty Brazilian girl at a RenFair. I was there as president of an honor society in college because I'm stupid and wanted to waste a lot of time for one line on my CV. We had a booth where - I swear I'm not making this up - people paid to throw rotten tomatoes at me. I was dressed up like a fucking jester (my dad is a retired Vegas stagehand, he got a costume designer to make it). That was actually the second year, I came up with a year before when I was just a peon society member. "So, people just pay to throw tomatoes at you? What do they win?" "They win by hitting me in the face or the nuts." "Why would they want to do that?" "I have a big mouth. It gets worse with alcohol, so we need to smuggle some in." It made a motherfucking mint, I dreamt of tomatoes flying at me for several nights after. Anyhoo, there's me, in my tomato-splattered jester costume, calling twelve-year-old boys queer and and confusing people with archaic verbiage ("Thou hast been cuckolded last eve by a Moor, sir!"). Across the way though, there's this booth from a local Wiccan outlet. And it's liked stocked with hot little witches, both working and lounging about, smoking cloves and whatnot. I take a break and wander over there with a pal who was helping out. Anyway, I got a date from Marcella^H^H^H^Wyllow, a nice little thing who worked part time for "Ye House of Overpriced Crystal-Based Knick-knackery" and as a dance instructor, no doubt to fund her nefarious witching practice or whatever.

So, I got a date, and according to the local gentry around here, I'm ugly. I guess I have a nice ass though (or had), since evidently you (and apparrently, all the witches did, quite a few times) could see my ass when I bent over in my fruity purple tights. A fact I did not know until our date, when she told me how Raven was mad I asked her out instead. But, you know, Raven was a hefty one.

[shift6]

Ren Faires are also where all the aspiring writers and dancers and costume designers (of fantasy settings) go. Thus, higher density of cuties. SCA is where the Blacksmith's wench goes. :P