Tucson I'm outta here

dialswiftjustice · Sep 15, 2007

hal9k1 said:

I think something needs to be made clear. Since I only have my own experiences and reasons I?m going to use myself as the example. Nobody asked that we do this it's just how we choose to serve the community.

As far as costuming goes?. do any non costumers have any idea how much time, effort, research, money, thought, concern, communication, travel, and pride goes into making each and every costume used to benefit and improve the TFF?

Simple answer, no. probably not.

It?s not something that has been experienced by everyone. Just as anything else unless you go through the processes or have that experience you don?t just don?t understand it fully.

That being said any hostile or seemly hostile opinion from pro-costumers are from feeling like we?ve put our heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into something just to have in belittled and told it?s not what were supposed to be doing. I?m not pointing fingers or placing blame, it?s just my observation and opinion.

This stuff is built by hand with great care to detail over countless hours to show the community that we are not just a bunch of geeks in bathrobes or pajamas running around with toy Lightsabers or COM badges. We take great pride in what we make and what we do.

We have to look and act like the professionals we are to garner the respect in the community so we can continue to do more in the future. Reputation is everything in this endeavor. Everyone in the TFF benefits from what everyone else does, regardless as to what it is; it?s a symbiotic relationship steaming from a common love of a single story and wanting to interact in the community and gain it's respect and understanding.

I have 1 day off and I choose to spend it going to a children?s ward tomorrow at 10:00 am and do what I can to make those kids forget for a short time why they are in the hospital.
Would I rather be sleeping in late on my day off, not getting up at 6:30 Am or not staying up late after working all day to make changes on my armor? Yes, I really would. But this is a completely selfless thing we all do. We have the time, energy, and money to help others that may not have all that we have available to us.

Just to break it down. 1 scout trooper armor (I have a spread sheet with this stuff accounted for, not including S/H)

Body armor $350
Glue strapping and assorted stuff to shape and make it fit (tools)+ $250
Helmet + $275
Boots + $75 (hand made from parts)
Blaster +$125
Cummerbund, pouches, and vest + $125
Voice amp, padding, under suite, extra strapping, Velcro and glue, etc + $150

Total monetary cost: @ $1,400

Time taken to make it wearable and research put into it well over 50 hours.

Total amount of time worn during the year? under 10 hours.

This does not take into the equation the travel time and gas to ?troop? an event once the costume is finished

This take a lot or time and effort, but the payoff is seeing a child?s face light up when they see you.

Why would I put this much time, money and energy into this?
Because I can. Basically all it takes is one child to smile at me and however hot, tired, long the trip to the event was, amount of money spent its all makes it worth it. Even if they don?t know why you are their or who you are dressed up as they know someone cares enough to take the time to go see them. That?s enough for me. Right now in my life I have the money and (almost enough) time to do this, something to help others and the community. This is probably the one thing in my life I'm most proud of.

Back in ?77 my mother took me and my sister to Macys (in NYC) and we stood around by the escalator in the fine china department for over half an hour just standing. I wanted to leave not knowing why we were just hanging around. After the waiting we found out why we were just standing their.
Darth Vader showed up! Walked right though the china and crystal displays. I was awe struck! I never forgot how that made me feel. Forward to when I was
Click to expand...

14of3amberofborg · Sep 17, 2007

I have stayed mostly out of this because quite frankly it irritates me and I have better things to do that get deeply involved in a fight that is sufficed to say, kind of non-sensical.
Let me make this clear...
THIS IS A VOLUNTARY GROUP

All aspects.. Do what you want to do. Don't try and cut anyone off at the knees.
The best thing (even though I am not a huge SW fan) is that the people involved are fantastic. Such a crazy, funny and diverse you would find no where else.
Be friends, get along.
That is all.

Mugen · Sep 17, 2007

Damn Trekkie....[image=http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Mugen613/Spock.jpg]

hal9k1 · Sep 17, 2007

14of3amberofborg said:

I have stayed mostly out of this because quite frankly it irritates me and I have better things to do that get deeply involved in a fight that is sufficed to say, kind of non-sensical.
Let me make this clear...
THIS IS A VOLUNTARY GROUP

All aspects.. Do what you want to do. Don't try and cut anyone off at the knees.
The best thing (even though I am not a huge SW fan) is that the people involved are fantastic. Such a crazy, funny and diverse you would find no where else.
Be friends, get along.
That is all.
Click to expand...

Yes, U are correct.

The "other" reason we got all "bent out of shape" over this is because we care.
You fight for what you believe in and care for. This group, it's mission, and it's members are worth fighting for.

14of3amberofborg · Sep 18, 2007

I agree...
but I think there should not be anything to fight over...
No one should have to defend what they do in this group, as far as wthers its RPG, books, costuming, or minis or whatever..
Participate in whatever you want!
Thats a great part about this group..

hal9k1 · Sep 18, 2007

14of3amberofborg said:

I agree...
but I think there should not be anything to fight over...
No one should have to defend what they do in this group, as far as wthers its RPG, books, costuming, or minis or whatever..
Participate in whatever you want!
Thats a great part about this group..

Click to expand...

IMHO

On top of everyting else, we're family... and family bicker.

We are all just falling into the typical Family Dynamics role and pattern.

Maybe I'm just trying to find another excuse and being overly diplomatic, because you are correct and I'm trying to defend my actions and oppinion.

14of3amberofborg · Sep 18, 2007

hal9k1 said:

14of3amberofborg said:

I agree...
but I think there should not be anything to fight over...
No one should have to defend what they do in this group, as far as wthers its RPG, books, costuming, or minis or whatever..
Participate in whatever you want!
Thats a great part about this group..

Click to expand...

IMHO

On top of everyting else, we're family... and family bicker.

We are all just falling into the typical Family Dynamics role and pattern.

Maybe I'm just trying to find another excuse and being overly diplomatic, because you are correct and I'm trying to defend my actions and oppinion.
Click to expand...

And we love your opinion!!
Your actions though sheesh!!
JUST KIDDING!!

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Tucson I'm outta here

dialswiftjustice Jedi Master

14of3amberofborg Jedi Youngling

Mugen Jedi Padawan

hal9k1 Jedi Master

14of3amberofborg Jedi Youngling

hal9k1 Jedi Master

14of3amberofborg Jedi Youngling