Side-Bar: Discussion of First person, out of character
Sorry to be the one to corrupt this category, First Person Exchange. But I've developed some questions about the first person exchanges and from the email I received today, others may have some questions as well.
So I am looking for some input on suggestions or rules for the First Person Exchange. My other questions aside, here are my immediate thoughts and questions:
- If someone has a historical question to something someone has posted, do we want them to post to a side-bar topic like I have done here or do we want that in a separate category?
- We are currently working on a cycle 145 years ago, from current date. Our "letter exchange" is instant. Any suggestions on how to deal with the lag time required to acquire news and deliver postal mail at the time?
- In this 'Politically Correct' 20th century world we live in, some attitudes and comments may require some education. Again, side-bar in this category or another category already in existence or a new separate category?
So those are my immediate questions. Some of you were involved in an email exchange this week where one author wanted to explain his choice of a position. It turned out that everyone seemed to understand. But if some explanation is required where should that be posted? If I don't understand the historical comments of another author, then where should I ask for an explanation? If someone else thinks there is an error, where to they ask for clarification?
I am NOT looking to create a location where anyone gets to argue an opinion or a political slant. There are too many differences today, as there were 145 years ago. But a historical chain of events may need to be discussed. And it is possible that someone may write something that is out of context to the "date" being represented. That may be okay, but shouldn't there be a place to clarify?
Anyway, I am now looking for your thoughts?
Maybe it is as easy as saying, "If someone is questioning a "First Person Post" then they must create a new topic and the title of the new topic must start with "Side-bar" and must contain a link to the "First Person Post" in question.
What do you think?
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I am glad that you opened
I am glad that you opened this discussion, Mike. I was wondering how I was going to give a biographical sketch of my 1st person character without being out of character.
A few ideas...
I've been wondering how to go about this 1st person exchange myself. I've made references to "slow mail due to Jayhawker raids" and information coming late because of the political leanings of the newspapers...but that was to catch up on my character’s backgrounds which, in my neck of the woods, goes back to 1856.
I started by just using my own name but as the story progresses, I think I'll have to go to my fictional characters because it seems strange using my own name for that time period. I've been writing a never-to-be-published novel set in the period of 1856 - 1865, tracing the lives of families from Kansas and Missouri. I found your 1st Person board to be a great place to post letters which helps me outline my stories. The working title is “Of Fiendish Rage and Savage Cruelty
Ive stopped dating my
Ive stopped dating my letters, for that reason. we will for the sake of free flowing exchange have to agree to suspend the concept of time and assume the letters that answer another letter traveled the country the regular way, by the way do we know the average speed of mail before the war? I think I have a magazine that may have that info ,Ill look for it in the meantime.
Im like rod, I hate having to go PC, and like my late father I have more of an inkling to ignore anyone who takes offence, as being unable to grasp higher concepts but in the intrest of enlightenment a explanaton might be good at the top of the thread.
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
All good points...
I date mine... as being the day my persona wrote it. Also remember that Telegraph was present and some letters can go quite quickly that-a-way. An example of my getting stuff from papers of the day... was the "Toombs/Wiglaff" part. which came from the Daily Advocate from New Orleans. from January 12th '61. My son got me this great book with copies of the real newspaper pages from the period. Of course even though it's a large format book, you STILL need an electron microscope to read the darned articles.
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder
United States Army
Corps of Topographic Engineers
"Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
My 2 cents
I agree that for the sake of continuity and flow of ideas, we'll have to sort of "ignore" the time issues. I think the best way to handle any questions or explanations of posts is exactly as you said, create a new topic starting with sidebar-whatever the post title is-. I'm not sure if I can post a link to the "other" post with webtv.
I also think while we're pointing things out to the "PC crowd" we should point out that these are first person, fictional posts and may contain not only ideas that are offensive to modern sensibilities but some that are actually quite far from accurate as well. By which I mean, to stay with the flavour / feel of "period" writings means not all first person accounts will agree with historical fact. For example, I have read some accounts just after Bull Run where the author couldn't understand why the army had retreated. Things seemed to be going well on their particular part of the field...
God Save the Union!!
SD Scroggins
I'll see your two cents and raise another two...
...had some more coffee...brain is working again...dangerous thing...
How about a "Biography" page were we can introduce our 1st person characters, giving their names, date/place of birth and some background. That way as we read the 1st person posts, we get to know writers (characters) a little better. Knowing the writer’s background makes it more personal; we can better understand the emotions behind the words. As things progress, we can follow the events and how they affect the characters over time.
We can all agree that anyone who lived through the war would not come out the same way they went in. As this war progresses, we can bear witness to the struggles they went through to maintain their heath, sanity, faith, property, and lives. We construct our character’s foundation, then watch how well that foundation holds up against the forces of war. They may survive intact, or crumble and fall...it’s up to the individual writers, but it will give us, both writers and readers, a deeper story.
This first person idea has the potential to make for an interesting history. Rather than dry facts about what general moved what troops where, we have the farmer, the preacher, the printer, the doctor, and others from all social and economic backgrounds. They live scattered all over the country and can share stories about major battles, small backwoods skirmishes, life in the big cities and small towns, and report on the famous like Lee and Grant to the not-so-famous like Champ Ferguson or M. Jeff Thompson.
This could be fun!
Fabulous idea!
...now to flesh out my guy...
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder
United States Army
Corps of Topographic Engineers
"Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
My takes on Side Bars
I see "Side Bars" more to get clarity of posts that may have enigmas to them and not to pick a fight. Apparently we have plenty of questions, ideas and concerns that make the sidebar important as we are seeing here.
I date my posts as well. It is more important to learn what events are happening at the time than when after the event you could have possibly known about the event. As Eric mentioned, the telegraph let people know of important news, such as succession within hours, while you might not learn of Clarabelle's death until months later. I feel it is more important to keep consistancy with the present time 145 ago from present date.
By the way who was Clarabelle? Some folks may have inquiring minds that need to know things such as who or what but don't the resources (nor have time to waste researching) to discover who or what a poster is talking about. Asking in the 1st Person thread and be auckward and inconsistant with the experience. Thus "Side Bar", "Will, who is Clarabelle?"
Okay, I am going to shoot myself in the foot! Try not to post very long posts. Reading a five page letter about Clarabelle would be fascinating...well actually it's just interesting....well maybe not.
I like the biography idea for the ficticious charactors. Like Zac, I would like to introduce my g.g.g.grand father but if no one else has a clue who he is or if he is real...it seems shallow, well... against Clarabelle.
I prefer facts or historical consistancy. Please no Forrest Gump senarios of I was the one who brought Mr Stephan Fosters wash basin to him the night he died or I pulled the paper for Gen. Lee's surrender out of my haversack because such small details were forgotten by the Major players in the event. Though they did use the pen I pull from my haversack given to me by Clarabelle before she died.
Finally, constructive critism can go a long way. I am going to try to keep this in mind. The Side Bar is a good place to get non-1st person information. Example Craig's post on abolishonism was beginning to get to me. I didn't know if he was serious or not. Later I found out he was portraying a character. He did a pretty good job convincing us that he felt the war was all about Slavery. This saved me a letter to Mr. Preston Brooks asking if he would talk with Mr.Young.
In closing, was anyone happy I didn't mention Clarabelle in the last paragraph?
Will
I am going to have to write
I am going to have to write a bio for my charater, I am going to have to flesh it out with three others, as I have vaguely commented that four of us know each other from the crimean, Craig, me , rod , and scott, loosly speaking both rod and scott were doctors abroad and I believe Craig might have been serving in the Black Watch with me....Me being the classic Irish mercenary....I have downloaded and printed out an old map of Henry county Alabama to get an Idea about distance and towns...so I can get a more local flavor....I agree with will about the Forrest Gump thing, we dont want to get carried away but as For me, I will be doing more of a personal outlook on things as they happen and I mean the details like mens letters from home and the possiblities of men deserting....with only vague references to the larger happenings of the war.....
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
No Forrest gump thing...?
Well so much for the Shrimpboat Captain idea!
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder
United States Army
Corps of Topographic Engineers
"Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"