Brad wrote:
I'll never understand people that play dress up, be it science fiction or military. But especially science fiction. A twelve year old on Halloween? Yea sure but I just don't know how grown men and women can do that and look at themselves in the mirror and not think "gosh I look like an idiot."
Ok, as a longtime, if not current, (scifi) Fan and costumer, and now, in a lightweight fashion warbird owner/ prospective reenactor, I have to rise to this one.
Everyone plays dress-up.
If you wear a suit and tie to work, you are playing dress-up. The tie is a potentially dangerous anachronism, and the suit coat is just an encumbrance in a modern climate controlled office. But it's the costume that is accepted and expected in that workspace and if it helps your mental frame of mind to "Dress for Success" then it works for you.
The folks who wear formal clothes to go to church, to commune with God - who, we can rest assured knows what you look like naked, are playing dress-up
Ryan's wearing of a proper and appropriate uniform while displaying his airplane. Is he adding a touch of historical interest? Does it help him, and attendees, think of the services and sacrifices made during the conflict the airplane represents? Or is he just playing dress-up
The fan at a sporting event wearing the jersey of a favorite center or quarterback or what have you - is he supporting the team? Is he indulging in a little fantasy? He's just playing dress-up too.
The costumed SciFi Fan is no different than the guy at the football game or the guy in the office. He's wearing a suit appropriate, accepted, and expected for the venue. One big difference is that the suit is rarely an 'off the rack' item, so a great deal more thought and effort has gone into it than the office suit or jersey.
Kinda like the guy with the old airplane,eh?