Ye Olde Turner Diaries

David Weigel | August 23, 2007

Inspired by the much-delayed DVD release of Blood in the Face, James Ridgeway's great documentary about neo-nazis, I wondered if some of the Internet's bountiful white pride sites had any comment. Didn't notice that, but I did notice this thread:

Anyone else on this board enjoy Renaissance Faires? I was at one in Wisconsin this day and saw someone in a polo shirt with a deathshead at the breast and the SS bolts on the sides. We go pretty frequently and that was the first person I seen that is overtly racially aware, aside from all the other people there to enjoy old European cultures.

I don't think any of the responses were jokes.

A Renaissance Fair is a very White thing, at least around here. It is not a diversity event, it is a celebration of European Culture. It can't get much whiter than that. People don't go to Renaissance/Medieval events to play basketball, they go to enjoy being European for a while. It is also much more fun if you participate... It's like a short vacation from diversity.

Not this one, either.

The one in Fair Oaks a couple a months ago I went to was a bad one: Lots of blacks and orientals. The faire itself was good, but the people that attended were not White. Takes away from the authenticity a bit . Maybe it should be European-blooded only?

Not even this one.

I found the Renn Fair a great place to spread the gospel of White Nationalism. Most of the people were there to experience European culture, how ever incomplete or commercialized. I dress up as a knight. The way people relate changes, I can approach almost any one and strike up a conversation the way I would never dare to dressed regularly. And I always steer the talk toward race awareness/WN subjects. Renn Fairs are fertile grounds for propagandizing and recruitment.

The White Pride movement has been reduced to a pale* imitation of Smoosh and a bunch of Renn Faire geeks? Odin wept.

*pun intended

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Fluffy|8.23.07 @ 4:11PM|#

This is really crying out for jokes about a White Power 10th level Paladin needing to roll a saving throw on his 20 sided die to defeat the evil Mud People lord.

crap-action-jackson|8.23.07 @ 4:16PM|#

The only thing I can think of when I hear "Renaissance Fair" is the people who try to spoil the atmosphere by dressing up as Kirk and Spock and pretending they're on a primitive earth-like planet, waving they're tricorders at everyone.

|8.23.07 @ 4:20PM|#

There's really only one consistantly awesome thing about the Renn Fairs....bbq turkey legs, damn they're awesome. The rest is merely somewhat amusing and has the atmosphere of carnies and gypseys dressing up and taking your money IMO.

|8.23.07 @ 4:21PM|#

crap-action: here's the great Mr Show civil war reenactment skit where that happens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2XlSXcwJ3o

|8.23.07 @ 4:23PM|#

Perfect, yet another excuse I can use not to have to go to the RF. "But, honey, they're White Power Recruitment centers!"

I told The Wife that I'd rather have my balls waxed by a half-blind chimp than go to one of these things.

I think that the third quote should have ended with "I dress up as a knight." Further elaboration was really un-necessary.

|8.23.07 @ 4:25PM|#

Sugarfree

Might be nice for the chimp, though.

|8.23.07 @ 4:26PM|#

And what is with the "Smoosh" reference?
Anyone understand that?

|8.23.07 @ 4:27PM|#

Not at the one in Tuxedo, NY

Episiarch|8.23.07 @ 4:31PM|#

Next time somebody decries the supposedly still-existant rampant racism in the US, just point them to that link and tell them "this is what you are afraid of."

Bee|8.23.07 @ 4:31PM|#

"racially aware"

Is that the politically-correct term for "I hate brown people"? For some reason, that makes me laugh. Hell, this whole article makes me laugh.

Almost makes me want to go to a ren fair just to see if I can piss off some overweight red-faced guys. Too bad I'm white. Maybe I could wear a t-shirt that says "I'm asshole-aware".

|8.23.07 @ 4:32PM|#

It's like a short vacation from diversity.

Kinda like Congress!

|8.23.07 @ 4:33PM|#

Bee-

My wife has that T-shirt. It reads "I see Dumb People"

|8.23.07 @ 4:37PM|#

Prussian Blue (previous link) is the White Power version of Smoosh.

From the Smoosh link:

"They are, to some extent, proteges of Chloe's drum teacher, Jason McGerr, now the drummer of Death Cab for Cutie."

That is tres adorable.

I agree with Stan Gable, except he forgot to say, "NERDS!"

SPD|8.23.07 @ 4:43PM|#

"Quick, good sir Knight! The Moors approacheth!"

|8.23.07 @ 4:44PM|#

Matthew,

The chimp can can care of himself, that's why he's half-blind already.

Gene Berkman|8.23.07 @ 4:48PM|#

I went to a Renaissance Fair once, in 1972. I stayed for about a half hour, and bought an ice-cream cone. I had to think, they did not have ice cream cones during the Renaissance.

|8.23.07 @ 4:49PM|#

I not racist by any stretch, but if these people's only exposure to black folks is "Black Knight," I can see why they hate blacks so much...

|8.23.07 @ 4:59PM|#

There's really only one consistantly awesome thing about the Renn Fairs....bbq turkey legs, damn they're awesome.

I went to a couple Faires. The one in Kansas City had good turkey legs. The one in Minneapolis had turkey legs that were only so-so (kinda greasy) but the cleavage was awesome.

Also, at Minneapolis at least, I saw a fair number of exotic dark-skinned "Moors."

dhex|8.23.07 @ 5:00PM|#

|8.23.07 @ 5:00PM|#

Shows how clueless and racially unaware I am. I've been to several of these throwback fairs and never noticed the white pride part. In fact, the one in the Tampa area was pretty fun. You could pay a jester $5 to insult your friends, and he was hilarious.

Why would you pick the medieval period to display European pride? It was not our best moment.

|8.23.07 @ 5:01PM|#

I actually liked "Black Knight"

For some reason the whole go-back-in-time-and-kick-everyones-ass genre appeals to me...

Bee|8.23.07 @ 5:05PM|#

I wonder if these guys are aware that some Europeans are actually kinda brown.

When I think of medieval movies, I think of that second Bill and Ted flick, whose name escapes me...I think it had the word "awesome" in it, though.

|8.23.07 @ 5:06PM|#

I actually liked "Black Knight"

I haven't seen it yet, actually, but based on some of Martin's recent films (see: Wild Hogs), I assumed judging the book by the cover was ok.

Fluffy|8.23.07 @ 5:09PM|#

dhex wins the thread.

LadySidhe|8.23.07 @ 5:10PM|#

I work at the renfaire in my town every year, and I have never seen any "white supremacy" attitude there (I'm in La.).

Why can't people just go to have fun, for cryin' out loud? I've had it up to HERE with everybody making an issue of race. Who CARES?

|8.23.07 @ 5:11PM|#

I don't know about the whole "white power" thing a Ren Fairs. I've gone to a few and they seem to have more of a "hippie" vibe. As far as I can tell, Ren Fair is where geeks go to get high and get laid. I haven't seen any racist recruitment going on.

|8.23.07 @ 5:12PM|#

I don't even begin to understand any of this.

Plant Immigration Rights Suppo|8.23.07 @ 5:14PM|#

Taktrix, I may be in the minority on this but I liked the movie. It was kind of like a modern version of Twain's Yankee in King Aurthur's Court.

Non-sequitor|8.23.07 @ 5:17PM|#

Fat wenches with their boobies hanging out.

SPD|8.23.07 @ 5:22PM|#

For some reason the whole go-back-in-time-and-kick-everyones-ass genre appeals to me...

I take it, then, you are a fan of Army of Darkness?

SPD|8.23.07 @ 5:25PM|#

Non,

So it's wenches you fancy, eh? Look no further.

|8.23.07 @ 5:40PM|#

Next time somebody decries the supposedly still-existent rampant racism in the US, just point them to that link and tell them "this is what you are afraid of."

With all due respect to people who enjoy these types of things, four quotes from impotent losers in an environment that screams social retardation hardly constitutes rampant racism.

|8.23.07 @ 5:41PM|#

We have a few ren faires in Wisconsin every year and the only racial recruiting I've seen was some guy at the one by Beaver Dam recruiting people to fight "the Squirrel menace" which he assured me were hiding in the trees. I got him locked in the stocks later in the day. Good times.

That same faire had an Arabian(?) style tea tent with a hookah in it, but the play actors that fought were Germanic tribes and English while the Celts sort of mocked them all for being stupid. I'm going back in September with my wenchy friend.

The URKOBOLD should totally start trolling Stormfront.

Rhywun|8.23.07 @ 5:43PM|#

I'd never heard of Smoosh before. Thanks for ruining my day.

|8.23.07 @ 5:43PM|#

|8.23.07 @ 5:48PM|#

Racial pride and awareness is for the BLACK, BROWN, and YELLOW, not for the so-called European American. You are just white, whitey, white-bread, white-trash, people of non-color. So sit down and shut up.

Well, personally I think primitive collectivism is perfect for douchebags, dipshits, and ass-hats of every color!

Rhywun|8.23.07 @ 5:49PM|#

Oh, and I've been to a couple of these Faires too and never caught any hint of Whyte Powere.

|8.23.07 @ 5:50PM|#

I kind of hope these idiots try their racial-purity game at an SCA event. And that someone films the ensuing merriment.

Les|8.23.07 @ 5:53PM|#

Next time somebody decries the supposedly still-existant rampant racism in the US, just point them to that link and tell them "this is what you are afraid of."

Or we could show them the hidden camera stories showing black folks pulled over for no reason, black folks being turned away from apartments and jobs, while white folks doing and saying the same things seem to avoid such problems. Or we could take them to Jenna, Louisiana!

I know cries of "racism" are too often thrown about for no good reason, but there's just too much of the real stuff to ignore.

Jozef|8.23.07 @ 5:58PM|#

Here in Atlanta, where whites are in a minority, the annual Renfest is an almost exclusively white affair. Even though I haven't seen any white supremacy things, I did take note of the fact that no blacks or hispanics were present. But I don't think it's because the predominantly white medieval heritage, as the annual sci-fi and fantasy orgy Dragoncon is just as white.

wingnutx|8.23.07 @ 6:00PM|#

I don't know about SCA, but there are always skinheads at SKA events.

Paul|8.23.07 @ 6:17PM|#

I told The Wife that I'd rather have my balls waxed by a half-blind chimp than go to one of these things.

SugarFree, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Jingles, my half-blind chimp trained in the genital waxing arts... He's apprentice level.

Paul|8.23.07 @ 6:19PM|#

I kind of hope these idiots try their racial-purity game at an SCA event. And that someone films the ensuing merriment.

What, Shelby, the SCA people are going to Jaw-Bone them to death on the inauthenticity of their non-hand-hammered buttons?

|8.23.07 @ 6:31PM|#

Does this mean that I should not be listening to my Blackmore's Night CDs? Because I am a Mestizo?

|8.23.07 @ 6:33PM|#

My brother has been to those things and he's black. I could also imagine some more "nerdy" non-whites attending such events. I have never been to one.

Maybe you are confusing Renaissance Fairs and Am Ren?

|8.23.07 @ 6:35PM|#

Hell, I didnt read the whole thing...
Those white suprems sure are a funny bunch.

|8.23.07 @ 6:38PM|#

Paul,

That, for starters. While others put together loaner armor for their guests and the black and brown knights insist on immediately accepting the challenge. Afterwards, mandatory haggis and boiled turnips.

|8.23.07 @ 7:14PM|#

Hey, if they stick to renn-fests, they won't have time to be such assholes. Maybe they can hang out with Deathstalker and Nissius for a while. (Those who saw that particular episode of MST3K may chuckle).

|8.23.07 @ 7:50PM|#

I wonder if these guys are aware that some Europeans are actually kinda brown.

Zounds! A VeritabellArmada of Wet-Backed Spainyardes doth Tresspasse upone OurShores! Yea, the VeryShores of ThisEnglande!

|8.23.07 @ 8:14PM|#

We have one of these for three days each year. I go over to pick up food, visit friends and pick up home-made soap. One vendor sells great garlic chicken wrap sandwiches, which are probably not medieval but should have been.

Never noticed any racist element. It gets a lot of black and Asiatic attendees. This is a college town with a lot of international students. I keep hoping one of the far-Eastern students will show in 9th century Chinese armor.

|8.23.07 @ 8:16PM|#

I almost forgot. The local SCA chapter has built a trebuchet and a ballista. Cool as all getout.

|8.23.07 @ 9:09PM|#

"This is really crying out for jokes about a White Power 10th level Paladin needing to roll a saving throw on his 20 sided die to defeat the evil Mud People lord."

But that would be entirely redundant.

|8.23.07 @ 9:25PM|#

AAAWWWWWW FUCK
I love ren fairs. But not as much as I despise racists.

|8.23.07 @ 9:34PM|#

Ye Lorde Loane-Whacough really, really wins the shit out of this thread.

|8.23.07 @ 10:13PM|#

I'm White, I attend Ren Fair every year, and I thoroughly enjoy the, shall we say, "diversity deficit." It's like the Kerrville Folk Festival - but with elaborate costumes and lots of white folks walking around with weapons. (No wonder the "urban youths" don't care for it.) If I want to experience the joys of multiculturalism, I could just stay in violent, crime-ridden Houston on the weekend.

|8.23.07 @ 10:46PM|#

WHEEEEEEEE! WHEE! WHEE!

Pepe|8.23.07 @ 11:02PM|#

There were no utensils in medieval times, hence there are no utensils AT Medieval Times. Would you like a refill on that Pepsi?

There were no utensils but there was Pepsi?

Dude, I got a lot of tables.

|8.23.07 @ 11:12PM|#

I've never been to the Plantersville Ren Fest, but I've been to Scarborough Faire near Dallas many times. If you asked most of the people there if they were "race-concious" they'd think you were talking about NASCAR.

Akira MacKenzie|8.23.07 @ 11:31PM|#

Yikes! Are there that many people in this country so driven by racial politics that look at harmless, geeky fun like a ren fair and see white supremacists?

I'd like to order a round of lobotomies for them all, please.

lunchstealer|8.24.07 @ 12:36AM|#

Karen, Scarbie's the only renfair I've been to, but it doesn't seem like it would be one of the better ones. For a place with few trees, they do it at a terrible time. By May in Texas, you want some shade, and it's scarce at that site. This year was the first year I didn't bake, but that was because Dallas was starting its three-month-long let's-freak-out-the-squares-by-raining-all-the-time gig. So it went from blazing sun and upper 90s to mudfest, which would have been authentic if the mud had been composed of a higher percentage of feces.

Bee|8.24.07 @ 1:27AM|#

Pssst, Jim, "White" is not capitalized. Saluting when saying it is, however, optional.

|8.24.07 @ 5:31AM|#

There's really only one consistantly awesome thing about the Renn Fairs....bbq turkey legs, damn they're awesome.

In Germany, the beer was the awesome thing about the Renn Fair I went to. Although it was called a "History Fair," it was pretty clearly the same beast: it was all about selling trinkets and junk, eating various roasted meats (and those old medieval standbys, popcorn and pizza), and nerds camping out with each other in full costume.

Both Romans and various classical-age German tribals are popular here. Of course, you have your standard knights in mail and the like too. I also saw a couple of Huns, a few Moors, a few mercenary types from the 30-Years War, and at least one Prussian who looked really out of place in his Pickelhaube.

T|8.24.07 @ 9:37AM|#

lunchstealer,

I don't mind the temps at Scarborough at all. Of course, we drive up for it every year on Memorial Day weekend from Houston. One year everybody was complaining about the temperatures and we were wearing long sleeves and jeans. Fun times. We hit that and Tex Ren Fest in Plantersville every year, TRF sometimes twice depending on schedules.

Anyone been to the Louisiana one? We've been contemplating branching out. Drunk cajuns + Ren Fest geeks seems like a good recipe for a slightly bizarre time.

And the best ren-fest food ever is the Battered Pig they sell at Tex Ren Fest. Sausage on a stick, but dipped in beer batter and deep fried. It's the platonic ideal of corn dog.

|8.24.07 @ 10:49AM|#

The only Renaissance Fair I ever went to featured the "Gypsies" as the good guys.

lunchstealer|8.24.07 @ 11:01AM|#

T, point well taken. Compared to the climate of Houston, just about anything's gonna be a cool groove.

|8.25.07 @ 1:11AM|#

Renfaires? Meh - locking small children in stocks just doesn't float my boat...

Joshua|8.29.07 @ 4:03AM|#

For a few years now I've had a completely shameful obsession with white nationalist film criticism (there is an extensive message board on films at many of these sites.) It appears that, indeed, the white power movement has become a venue for kiddie pop singers, Renn Faire enthusiasts and armchair film critics! And those poor critics! Even films that extol various "white" virtues end up casting people of color in some role or other. So even when they praise a film, their fellow critics savage them for supporting "race mixing."

Take, for instance, this bizarre analysis of "Solaris":

"To me, "Solaris" by Tarkovsky, is a meditation on the way a European white human can transcend the most vicious of political societies, Jewish Semitic Communism, by focusing on the pure Beauty of the White Woman. In reverence...not possession, truly Agape."

I hope someone in the thread pointed out that the Donatas Bonionis, who played Kris Kelvin in the film, is a Slav -- a group of people traditionally considered "non-white" by racial supremacists.

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