if i may assume that all these different branches of entertaining discussed in this thread evolved from the jesters, your “i’d think more people would be against it” comment makes no sense whatsoever
even our word juggler comes to us via the french jongleur from the latin jocculator which is best translated as ‘buffoon’
entertaining using skill (irrespective of that skill being singing, storytelling, unicycling, juggling, balloonmodeling or face painting,) and entertaining as a way to distract ppl from everyday problems is surely a bond that transgresses the imagined boundaries between the different skills?
the singers have become our ‘pop-idols’, the story-tellers have become our stand-up comedians and the rest of us have picked up on the other bits
sadly, the one aspect of the traditional jester that seems to have diminished in frequency and importance may well have been the most significant one
the abillity to tell the king what’s actually going on and where he is going wrong without being killed
anybody familiar with the work of bill hicks will know what i’m missing
— Checkernuts <Checkernuts.6ja5a@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote:
> So it seems that the majority of you are into clowning and such. Hmm I
> kinda figured that more people would be against it. I find this quite
> interesting although I’m not sure why…
I think a good (and sufficient) reason is that since we ourselves our doing a sport that’s pretty
obscure and still has pretty fragile credibility, all things considered, it’s really important to
respect other groups of athletes or entertainers who themselves are working towards gaining
credibility for their respective activities. Otherwise we are just shooting ourselves in the
foot, so to speak!
It’s the stereotypes that are the problem, not the activities themselves.
Credibility? Who needs it? Have some inner courage and conviction, people! Semantics aside, (your “buffoon” may be my “talented performer”)… what right does anyone have to demean another’s ability on the grounds that it diminishes their own? Someone who can’t do what you’re doing is making fun of you… SO WHAT? If you’re that insecure, it’s nobody else’s fault, and if you’re going to let people with nothing more than over-developed TV remote-control clicker-fingers define your self-worth, you’re in a pretty sorry state. What they say doesn’t matter!!!
You are the best judge of your own credibility. If “they” don’t understand you, consider yourself among the privileged.
— sendhair <sendhair.6k2dz@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote:
>
> Credibility? Who needs it? Have some inner courage and conviction,
> people! …What they say
> doesn’t matter!!! …You are the best judge of your own credibility. If “they” don’t
> understand you, consider yourself among the privileged.
>
You are absolutely correct, but only in terms of personal motivation.
As unicyclists we do not live in a vacuum. Like it or not, other people’s opinion of the sport
affect our enjoyment of the sport and our abilitity to participate in it. Two examples:
Without credibility, it’s hard for some riders to gain access to certain areas for riding, such
as skateparks, where there are political issues surrounding the use of these resources.
Without credibility, it’s really hard to convince manufacturers that it’s worthwile to design
and manufacture good unicycles or unicycle components.
Kris,
Your points 1) and 2) are well-made, and I agree. I wasn’t thinking in those terms when I posted, however, I’m glad you mentioned it. Sometimes my punk mentality tends to bulldoze over those finer social points. (sigh) There are times when a vacuum looks so comforting! Alas! It’s but an illusion…
It’s a little bit off-topic and it’s not my style to advert in forums (oppesit from Drummond)…
but -eh I return to the subject clown- I became owner (without really wanting) of clown.st.
I only use it for testing beta-websites (like now).
But I think there must be people who want this domain for better use.
Anyone interrested? contact me!
‘> And David Straitjacket do you consider yourself a clown? From your
> website you seem like a well accomplished preformer in many fields but I
> dont think I would call you a clown in the traditional sence of the
> word.’
I perform as a clown in entirely the traditional sense of the word. It is
just not a sense most people are familiar with. Put simply… which of these
is a clown…
Krusty off the Simpson’s?
Buster Keaton?
A medieval court jester?
Tony Hancock?
Jim Carrey?
The cast of Monty Python?
You have probably figured out that all of them are. Clowning as a field is
extremely varied, I won’t even try to explore all its facets and fields here
but the above list does not even scrape the surface. Saying someone is not a
clown because they don’t wear any make-up is akin to seeing a Shakespearian
actor palying hamlet then saying someone in another play is not an actor
because they are not Shakespearian.
I am glad you think that I am accomplished in so many fields I can assure
you that it is all just good marketing mate. If this subject interests you
please fell free to drop me an email and I would be happy to discuss it in
greater depth.
“Checkernuts” <Checkernuts.6h5iy@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote in message news:Checkernuts.6h5iy@timelimit.unicyclist.com…
>
> Why cant people entertain without having to do the clown bit? I have
> preformed a number of times as a juggler and been well recieved, I have
> even used comedy in my act. And I did this with no face paint or jokes
> about what I do. Juggling and riding a unicycle are very skillfull
> activities I like to show them in that way.
>
> For about a year now I have had orange hair, checkered hair, blue hair
> why do I do this because I like it, not to be a clown, or for anyone
> else. People assume because I juggle and ride the unicycle, I do it to
> be a clown. I try to have some pride in what I can do, that’s all…
>
> And David Straitjacket do you consider yourself a clown? From your
> website you seem like a well accomplished preformer in many fields but I
> dont think I would call you a clown in the traditional sence of the
> word.
>
>
> –
> Checkernuts - Me Fail English? That’s Unpossible
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Checkernuts’s Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/801
> View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/18769
>
I can assure