Whether in medieval times or in the civil war...it goes something like this.
- Red coats line up on this side.
- Blue coats line up on that side.
- Everyone pull out their weapons.
- Scream your bloody heads off.
- And run towards each other swinging.
- The last man standing from either side is the winning army!
Basically, mass suicide for both sides (like trying to take the hill running straight into machine gun fire).
These days, there is a notion at least of using stealth, smart bombs, and sending in drones or robots, so as not to risk real people's lives unnecessarily.
But I guess that takes the fun out of it--can't slice and dice and smash the enemy with your bare hands.
Last weekend, I watched people who like to fight the old fashioned way, dress up in medieval gear, take their sides on the field in the park, and go at it.
They had swords, and clubs, and javelins, and bow and arrows, and more.
They even had roles, and one guy I talked to was actually the king for one side of the fight--and apparently you have to earn that role in battle and in council vote.
On the battlefield then the people get together and go at it hitting each other with some pretty scary weapons that fortunately are (mostly) padded, but still they seemed to get some pretty good zets!
Honestly, it sort of looked like a lot of fun and good exercise, but probably (more than) a little dangerous too.
I saw one combatant coming off the field, taking off his outfit as it was pretty hot out, and he literally had layers of shielding on, so aside from seeing them take hits again and again, I could see that they felt they needed the protection.
What was also interesting watching this--and I understand sometimes they get about 150 people on the field at a time to go at it--is that people seem to really want to go back in time to the way things were...more natural, more real, and even more deadly--up close and personal!
We are so much in a virtual world or like Elon Musk (CEO of SpaceX and Tesla) said living in a simulation, that there is just a wild yearning and craving to get back to nature, basics, and what's tangible and real.
Even if it means bashing heads on a hot Summer's day...and reenacting the times of lore...put your smartphones down and pull out your swords and clubs--it's a new day and age. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)