Most stupid questions

[Crispvs]

I had a similar experience with a group of teenagers once. They were goading each other to have a go at hitting me and eventually one of them picked up the bravado to declare to his mates that he was going to. I told him with a smile that he would hurt himself if he tried to punch a man in steel armour but of course he had committed himself in front of his friends and as a teenager, did not want to look stupid in front of his peers by backing down.
After some hesitation, he then punched me in the midriff as hard as he could (demonstrating how tough he was to his watching friends). Naturally he hit one of the lacing loops and jumped away, holding his hand and evidently in considerable discomfort. To be honest, he looked as if he really wanted to cry, but of course his mates were watching so he couldn't. I told him quietly that if he wanted to go behind a nearby bush where his friends couldn't see him I wouldn't laugh at him and he responded by shouting as loudly as he could (although still in a somewhat strained voice): 'See - I made you move!'. This seemed to satisfy his friends, although I am not sure whether I actually moved at all, and he then told his friends he had some things to do and quickly disappeared behind the group of bushes I had pointed out.

Crispvs

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

:lol:

[P. Clodius Secundus]

There was a young boy watching a farrier/smith making a horseshoe (hipposandal if you prefer). When he was finished hammering, the smith set the shoe aside to cool. As the cherry-red glow in the piece subsided the curious boy edged over closer too it. Concerned he might try to grab it the smith said "Look with your eyes and not with your hands son. That shoe is still hot enough to burn your fingers off." The whelp said "I know!", but he still hovered near it fascinated. A few minutes later the shoe showed no visible signs of the heat it retained, but we all know it was still singing hot. The boy traced its outline in the air with his finger as if he were thinking of reaching out. "I'm telling you boy, that shoe will be hot for a good long time! Don't worry, I'll let you handle it when its ready." said the exasperated smith. Still later, when he could resist no longer the lad reached out an grabbed the shoe. A suddenly wiser young man yelped and dropped it. "See.... I told you you'd burn yourself! " barked the smith. "No... it just doesn't take me long to look at a horseshoe!" the brat replied. :lol:

[Kevin J. Aschenmeier]

While in segmentata and helmet, I was asked once if I was the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz.

Kevin

[ioannes sebald]

Hi,back again shock: ,(i kid you not).

[Memmia]

I would be careful in your judgement if I were you. :o
How can you prove that in these sci-fi days of hadron coliders et al that these members of the public you deride for asking daft questions aren't in fact genuine Roman soldiers from the past.
They may be ancient Romans who are in fact future 'post' enactors, who as a hobby (when not marching all over the Empire) try to portray as authentically as possible, average members of the public from 2000 years later who like to visit living history events...

Nah, you can spot them easy--they have hand-sewn seams on their shoes and blue jeans! Farbs...

Matthew

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[ioannes sebald]

....and another lost gem,the afformentioned Centurion(who shall remain nameless,but it is'nt me!)was asked by a group of people one sunny afternoon"is that sword real",answer-no,it's a reproduction,reply-no it is'nt,it's a copy!!! :roll: ,i'm so looking forward to the next season.

[Robert]

I will share one of my latest, in which the person asking the question probably got a more detailed answer then she had counted on. This last Roman festival I did a Roman traveling smith, "selling" my home forged products from a carrybasket. I had several Germanic fighting knives with me, along with firesteel, kitchen knives etc. and a family group gathered around to view my products as I laid them out with a salespitch.
The mother askes me how a fighting knife (slighly upward curved blade of 10 ") was used, so I briefly explained a good way is a diagonal slashing cut across the abdomen or neck/facial area, but in close combat prefered a solid upward thrust with partialy bent arm to drive the curved blade up to the grip (no hilt on a fighting knife!) under the sternum targeting heart and lungs, resulting in major internal blood loss and certain death. Looking positively ill, she mumbled a polite something and lurched off, dragging two very enthousiastic younsters with her, who would have loved to hear more .....

People seem to be unaware or tend to forget that all of the weapons we carry were made with the sole purpose of maining, wounding and killing any and all that stood in the way of the Roman war machine, and were very effective both then and now to achieve such a means.

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

Hi all,
I am a tiro in reenactment, but I also have some unforgettable questions from visitors:
Situation: I am puting on my woollen socks and somebody from visitors asking me: "Romans used socks?" ;-) )
Situation: OUr gladiators are fighting and a retiarius "die"d. I noticed among the children: "Is he really death?" :lol:
another witty situation between our gladiator and a small boy:
Our murmilo knocked down his rival and he was waiting for the verdict from visitors and "Caesar", if he has to "kill" his rival or not. A small boy has come to a murmilo and said: "sir, kill him, do not be a softie" :lol: :twisted:
Two guys infront our vexillum: "Yeaah, this is a kings flag", or another: "Look at this top secret code in a flag"
, or: "Yes, this is some secret cipher" ;-) )

questions: "Are you knights?", "are you really Romans", "Did Romans know shoes?", "Could Romans writing and reading?", "Is your armour and helmet from plastic?" etc.


But the number one is this:
"Your equipment is not right", I asked: "why?", answer: "in Gladiator movie Romans looks better, than you...."

regards

[Jona Lendering]

Slightly off-topic: I love to ask to ask archaeologists why our ancestors used to live three meters underground.

[Matthew Amt]

But the number one is this:
"Your equipment is not right", I asked: "why?", answer: "in Gladiator movie Romans looks better, than you...."

Oh, gosh, we know that one! Do a search on RAT for most any thread started by a user named WoadWarrior. He went on about this for months, drove us all a little crazy. But reading through them now is hillarious.

Welcome to RAT, by the way!

Jona, you are EVIL!

Valete,

Matthew

[Nihonius Legio]

Slightly off-topic: I love to ask to ask archaeologists why our ancestors used to live three meters underground.

Hahaha, wow. That would get a laugh or a look!

For my stupid question (and I dont even do true reenacting like you guys do) When I wore my armor on Halloween most people had no idea what I was. My boss asked me when I came to work "So are you supposed to be a particular famous knight?"

It's surprising how uneducated some people are. Most people at least know what a Roman soldier looks like. Romans are like the iconic image of the ancient warrior. Oh ya, I'm totally Richard the Lionheart. They wouldnt even know who he was....

[Nihonius Legio]

I was going to say that I didnt think the legionary armor in the beggining of the movie was that bad, but now that I watch the battle on youtube, the helmets really look wrong. Gladiator is badass movie anyways, but ya. I never saw much wrong with the gladiators though.

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

Matthew: Thank you for your welcome :-) ) I am going to try a search, but.. is it really "safe"? ;-) ) I mean - is it hilarious also for somebody, who will read it for a first time? ;-) )

Nihonius: Yes, I also have thought that an armour and other equipment is quite correct, if I saw The Gladiator for a first time, but for a second time I :-( -( ( I dream of really historical movie about Romans, but It is unrealizable, I think...

regards

[Titvs Statilivs Castvs]

That's what they call "re-enactment". Only they forget the camera's all the time. :lol: