Has reenacting hurt you?

[themilitaryman]

Hi guys. This is my first post in this section. I reenacted for a Grossdeutschland unit while I was in high school and now that I'm out of the military and in college I would like to start back up. I was thinking about joining a local SS unit. Now here is where my problem comes in. I'm going to school and studying criminal justice and homeland security in hopes of working for federal law emforcement. I'm nervous that reenacting might come back to haunt me in the future, meaning pictures taken or eye witness accounts might red flag me for hiring with some of these people who see SS or swastikas and assume I'm a nazi or a skinhead. Is this something I should worry about? Does anyone have personal experiences or stories of reenactng hurting or helping you? I remember awhile back a politican who SS reenacted and there was outcry nationwide on the news about it.

Thanks,
Justin

[Chad1]

reenactors

If you have any concerns at all that people get the wrong idea about our hobby when we just collect this stuff, imagine what they think if you put it on and pretend to be "them."

Probably not too undertanding if the wrong photo ends up on Facebook.

IMO, reenact GI or do another war.

[Steve Sherlock]

If you want to get a job with the government (fed, state, or local) with any kind of a security clearence, the very last thing you want are pictures of you in an SS uniform, or anything WWII German.

Steve

[Tom B]

Retired Fed. Gov.

I agree with Steve ! I'm retired Fed. Gov., and I can tell you they would NEVER understand reenacting in a SS uniform ! I've NEVER understood why anyone would do it no matter what side or uniform they wore ??? I guess all the years in the U.S.M.C took care of me wanting to play "Dress-up" !! Tom

[CWP]

I know a lot of reenactors and most people who have been doing it for any length of time have a story about a problem caused when the wrong person found out about their hobby. I know of people not getting jobs because prospective employers found pictures online, a college student told me a professor he considered to be a friend refused to write a recommendation for graduate school for him on the grounds that his participation in reenactment demonstrated that he lacked the sensitivity required for graduate work. If you are going to do it, you need to be able to keep it a secret.

[pete]

.

The days where you could collect WW2 stuff and have it looked at on the same level as Stamps, Coins, or Hunting ducks are long long gone. Society has gradually went really far right to the super liberal zone and is largely programmed by Buzzwords too from everywhere to the point people cant even have an opinion or real privacy anymore, and that's the loss of the freedom actually that WW2 was fought for, for tolerance. So if you collect WW2 German stuff-you are a Nazi, and, they don't see it any other way! Because, you simply "must" be or you must be made out to be, for some reason!

Here you will come into the zone of people who want to get one up on others as well in many ways, and who know you aren't what you look like but doesn't matter.....on the side should anyone find out they have an employee who is a WW2 Collector of German items you'll always draw one out from somewhere with something that will do you harm. Even in the Army I saw this behaviour, a guy can post a question about a war souvenir from his Grandfather or say he collects Iron crosses and the people just descend out of nowhere with the holier then thou comments. Its quite sad but they just don't know any better these days. I had a young officer come after me in the Military with the same stupidity, I was lucky to catch him and question him on this, I actually went out of my way and put a note on my personnel file with a statement saying I am a collector, nothing more.

The thing is social media has taken over now too, so you could very well join your Re enacting team but anywhere that Partisan politics sees an opportunity to spin something on purpose it will never be broadcast to the public that you are a History lover, it will be totally used against you that you are what they want you to look like....which props up the buzzwords and media telling everybody what the standard of social behaviour is......and your security clearance, nothing to do with actual security and trustworthiness, more to do with the potential threat you could pose IF and WHEN you are attacked by partisan Politics or that you could come into contact with less then honorable people while reenacting....or, if rigidly followed that you could be secretly or openly be one of who they don't want you to be, in their buzzword programmed minds. And its obvious, society in general, most of them who didn't live through WW2 has a very limited knowledge of WW2, or interest, it is all symbology and ideals looked at from today's viewpoint with heavy media horse-blinders on. They understand nothing about your interest.

BEST stick to a US WW2 Re-enacting group, now you wont have any problems there! Also there is no doubt in my mind that there are people watching these forums for people who really are bad people! Hopefully they gain some sort of understanding of the vast majority that people are not bad, but still you'll never convince the public of it...they only see red.

[petopoint]

Agree

Don't do it. You're smart enough to be a lawyer, and you're smart enough to question the possible consequences. Quit while you're ahead. It will come back to Haunt You as you are no longer a faceless and anonymous Avatar.

[themilitaryman]

Thanks guys for all the responses. I guess it is more serious than I thought. It really is too bad because collecting German items is my one true passion and I have to hide it from everybody Plus German uniforms and equipment are better

Well I guess US reenacting it is.... Now I have this question, what is the cheapest route to go as far as weapon wise? It was nice just being able to drop blanks right into my K-98. Now I have to get an expensive M-1 Garand and a blank adapter? Is there a cheaper way or weapon?

[Hoss]

A friend of mine collects dolls and dinky toys but might run into trouble if he wanted a plate riveting job in a ship yard or carry a mickey mouse lunch box.

Justin
Your starting on the path to become one hell of a lousy lawyer go ahead become a cardboard cutout for pleasure join a paint ball gun group.

my two cents and out

Eric

[themilitaryman]

A friend of mine collects dolls and dinky toys but might run into trouble if he wanted a plate riveting job in a ship yard or carry a mickey mouse lunch box.

Justin
Your starting on the path to become one hell of a lousy lawyer go ahead become a cardboard cutout for pleasure join a paint ball gun group.

my two cents and out

Eric

I said federal law enforcement. I never mentioned wanting to be a lawyer. Nice LOUSY job of reading. I came to this forum for an honest opinion. And yes I like reenacting, yes I also like paintballing, and no its not about living a military fantasy. I been there and done that in real life in the Marines. Not sure if you were trying to be a **** or not but thats how I took it. Sorry for my rant and I apoligize if I offend anybody.

[Hoss]

You got an honest opinion sorry this isn't girl school....ok lousy law enforcement officer then.

Eric

[themilitaryman]

Well it seems you're just on here to pick a fight. Not sure why you are posting anti reenacting posts in a living history forum but it's whatever. I don't comment on people's posts unless I can help them or have a comment that makes sense. I guess we all can't do that..... Thanks for all the people who aren't snobs and posted with worthwhile information in the beginning of the thread.

[steve wilko]

Should or should Not?

Hi Guys ,
Just an interesting read this morning on the rants page at , "At the Front".
About the "gap" meeting. Thought it could help?
Regards Steve.

[WalterB]

Justin, don't pay any attention to the grenade throwers. As for reenacting, I would not risk it. You are already taking a risk collecting Third Reich items. In this day and age of the internet, someone out to get you may find a bunch of stuff. As a future law enforcement officer, you run the risk of being characterized as a "goose stepping fascist" and your extracurricular activities would go a great way to support such attacks (especially, if, God forbid, you were ever involved in a lawsuit and the plaintiff's attorney found anything about your hobbies). There has already been one occasion that I know here in this Forum where a member's collecting and involvement in his Forum was directly used against him (he was an observer in Middle Eastern affairs and was unfairly disparaged and attacked for being a "closet nazi").

Don't give the bastards ammunition to mess with your future. Best of luck.

[tmca05]

As far as a weapon goes, if you can not afford an M1 Garand, then look for a messed up M-1903A3. You can find one that may have been tapped for a scope or some other defect that will kill it's value. It will still make a great WW2 gun for re-enacting and operate just like the K98 you were use to.