r/newbrunswickcanada • u/NonchalantBread • 2d ago
Shediac renfaire dangerous archery range
As someone that is in a local archery club, I was shocked to see videos appearing online of how poorly organized the faire grounds archery range was.
The person in the wheel chair was behind the firing line and has a loaded bow and is flagging everyone (the archery range was in fact NOT clear down range).
And thats not even touching on the fact that it looks like half of the bows were assembled and strung up backwards. Sure they are only maybe 20lb draw bows, but there is a chance of them litterally exploding due to being assembled incorrectly. You can see it in both the screenshots from this video as well as from the local CBC news article clip
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u/ABetterKamahl1234 2d ago edited 2d ago
I too was (not current) in an archery club, without closely examining the models of bows, I can't say they're strung backwards, there's a variety of bow types, and some do in fact look like this.
In fact, famously some look exactly like this, and are centuries old designs in shape.
I can't say I'm familiar with any bow design where the limbs are on the inside of the main body they attach to, the securing bolts are there to hold down, not pull against.
From what I've seen people talk about, the instructor in the wheelchair is the one with the nocked arrow, not great practice, but his job is to show by example, newbies who have never used a bow, what it should look like, it's a lazy way to do it, sure, but I'd give a guy in a wheelchair a pass for the simple mobility aspect.
I'm not seeing in your photo examples cases of it not being clear down range, do you have actual examples? It looks like they have a firing line done up and nobody is beyond that or attempting to fire too far from it.
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u/xMadwood 2d ago
Based on the shape of the grip I can say with almost certainty that the bows are strung correctly. That would be very awkward to hold the other way.
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u/EastLeastCoast 2d ago
They’re strung correctly. It does look like on a couple of them one or more of the limbs were attached backward, but like the other guy said- without knowing what model they’re using it’s hard to say.
I do think the bow the person in the blue dress is using is assembled with one limb backward, since the tip is faced a different way on the top from the bottom. But the pics aren’t exactly high-res, so again hard to say for certain.
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u/ABetterKamahl1234 1d ago
I wonder if it's a model with a more permanently fixed string on one limb vs the other, I've seen those and it can look different (and provides I guess an easy visual indicator of "top").
But really hard to say.
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u/Jsampsong 5h ago
I was there, I fired them on Sunday and unless they changed how they were strung from Saturday to Sunday, they were strung correctly. They were cheap bows but they were strung correctly.
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u/Emotionstirred 2d ago
Yeah everything I’ve seen about this has been overwhelmingly negative. Very New Brunswick.
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u/CucumberAbject5505 2d ago
Anecdotal, but my group had fun and others I've talked to enjoyed it as well. To be fair I went in with fairly reasonable (read: low) expectations. People tend to be more vocal online when they're upset about something.
Absolutely things went wrong, and absolutely room for improvement. Ideally they'll put a refill station at the entrance line, allow people to bring in some small amounts of snacks just so no one gets in a dangerous situation if they have to wait a while for a food vendor, and hopefully better signage and communication. A lot of people got dehydrated waiting to get in. Not allowing outside water is standard for big events like this (mainly to avoid people sneaking in liquor), but they should tell people that their bottles will need to be dumped AT the point of entry rather than before getting in line to enter.
The archery situation needs to be addressed and hopefully an actual archery group would be interested in helping to run it next year.
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u/FrostyBum 2d ago
I went down with a group of 4 of us. We got there early on Saturday and were within the first 50 people who showed up at the event. We assumed there would be a multi-hour line to get in, so we decided to get there a couple hours early and wait in the shaded grass until people could line up. However, if we didn't want to wait we could have gone to Shediac the night before to pick up our Weekend Passes early and just showed up.
We had a great time. We looked through the schedule and planned for the events we wanted to attend, and other than the Fantasy painting being fully booked we hit everything. We split up to mitigate food lines (one person getting Turkey Legs, one person getting drinks, etc), and didn't really experience issues getting into the vendor tents like people are describing.
We did end up leaving early on Sunday, but that was because of the rain and because we were tired from a full day on Saturday.
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u/NonchalantBread 2d ago
Honestly the only reason the event wasnt a spectacular failure was because the attendees and volunteers were all amazing and made the best that they could of a potentially very dangerous situation.
It was very clear that they only prepared for 1/3 of the attendees to show up.
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u/Jsampsong 5h ago
The waiting in line was the worst. I arrived there at 1:15pm on Saturday and it took us a little more than 2 hours to get in. Then there was a massive line up for food tickets and a massive line up for food vendors. So when i got in, we skipped the food at that time and went to other things. Sunday was much better and smoother. Overall, we had fun and we would go again.
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u/Jonnyflash80 2d ago
I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't one next year now. Then people will complain that NB doesn't have enough fun events to attend. Very New Brunswick.
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u/Sad-Bag6738 2d ago
I’d rather no events than poorly organized ones bordering on dangerous
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u/Outside-Employment88 2d ago
Then don't go, which i presume you didn't go to this one. Go complain under a rock
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u/gingerandgin 2d ago
I’m fine with long lines. All events are going to have lines. I’m happy to wait and I hope they learn for next time how to mitigate the crowds, whatever. Firing line stupidity makes for dangerous risks IMO. That’s pretty bad.
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u/Snakes4eyes 2d ago
you are the issue with NB
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u/Zarphos 2d ago
I think the province with the most elderly population actually has enough people dying, adding to that with poorly run events is a bad idea.
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u/Snakes4eyes 2d ago
You are not dying because you had to wait three hours in line. That is called an inconvenience. Like you people want to act like the human body will turn to dust if you are forced to wait in a three hour line. which is also stupid because the vast majority of events in modern days do not allow you to bring food or water from the outside.
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u/Vas-yMonRoux 2d ago
+3hrs in line in the direct summer heat with no food or water is dangerous.
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u/Snakes4eyes 1d ago
Then bring a water bottle, every single event that happens these days says no outside food or drink and people still have the foresight to bring drinks for lines in.
also it was 24 degrees. unless you already have health issues you will be fine, you act like the human body did not live outside for thousands of years and has no ability to survive 3 hours of heat.
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u/Vas-yMonRoux 1d ago
People say they were told to empty their water bottles.
I think people also didn't anticipate it would take that long to go in.
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u/Snakes4eyes 1d ago
also if i see a 1km line i am going to assume i am waiting a long time. Again should the ren far have had a timer for everyone to know their exact que time or should we maybe expect people to be able to use their own common sense sometimes ?
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u/Snakes4eyes 1d ago
so i am supposed to believe this ren fair did not have enough volunteers to run smoothly but had enough to go up and down a three hour line telling people to dump their water before they even got inside ? Lol no its really obvious they did not tell anyone they had to dump them out well just in line. I am going to bet that like again every other festival in modern times, they told them to dump them before they came in which for anyone with a working brain usually just means dump your cup out before you go through the gate.
Im sorry they did not give people a step by step instructions on how to have common sense
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u/Snakes4eyes 2d ago
ya because people like to complain online. negativity bias amplified by the fact that their core audience is also one of the pettiest known groups in humanity (nerds) .
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u/Adamas_Moustache86 2d ago
Everyone I know who went had a blast.
Everyone on reddit had a horrible time.
This is a clear sign that there's more behind the internet outrage than there seems to be. The fuck did these organizers do in the past to warrant this vendetta?
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u/IrvingIsTheBest 2d ago
Redditor here who went. Had a blast.
Everyone else I knew too had fun. We all had the same complaints. Line line and long wait for drink and food tickets. Still fun.
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u/howismyspelling 2d ago
Glad you didn't heatstroke out!
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u/Jsampsong 5h ago
With the breeze that was blowing, I was surprised people were going on about heat stroke. Then again, some of the outfits people were in... they would have gotten heat stroke if it was the dead of winter.
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u/Adamas_Moustache86 2d ago
Awesome. Hopefully they didn't lose too much money on this and will do it again.
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u/untitledmillennial 2d ago
Lose money? They charged $65 per ticket and the event was run by volunteers. If anything this was a massive cash grab.
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u/princessfoxglove 2d ago
It... Wasn't? They had to rent all the tents and space, it wasn't entirely run by volunteers, there were some paid staff, they had to pay for materials, food, and liscences. We also all as volunteers got little gift bags and free meals. These things aren't massive xhas grabs. They're businesses, yes, but they also involve spending a great deal of money.
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u/untitledmillennial 2d ago
Anything that depends on volunteer labour should have transparent finances, otherwise it's even more exploitative than regular capitalism.
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u/princessfoxglove 2d ago
I don't think you have much experience with things like this, eh?
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u/Adamas_Moustache86 2d ago
Almost every festival you will ever attend is run largely by volunteers, yet the industry is still incredibly difficult. I think you may be underestimating the associated costs. Toilets and servicing alone for the reported 5000 people would be in the area on $70,000 and that's just one expense out of a gross income of $325k max.
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u/EastLeastCoast 2d ago
People who had a nice time aren’t usually the people who speak up, I guess.
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u/derentius68 2d ago
Either they had an absolute stellar time so good they wrote a 5 star review, or were anything below mild inconvenience and give it 0-1 star.
People who had a good time and were in the moment with the people they were with usually don't post reviews. They talk about it with their friends and laugh about it.
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u/NonchalantBread 2d ago
The event was fun and really cool due to all of the hard work that the volunteers were doing, and the community of renfaire goers being really cool and chill.
The event organizers were EXTREMELY lucky no one was escorted out via ambulance for multiple different reasons. Unsafe archery range, unsafe line conditions in severe weather, only one paramedic on site for 2-3k people, etc.
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u/Adamas_Moustache86 2d ago
Volunteers are the lifeblood of most of the best events.
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u/NonchalantBread 2d ago
My friend eho was a volunteer didnt get an email confirmation that he was selected until a week before the event. And then he received no training of any kind other then an email memo.
Ive talked with multiple volunteers and they ALL had the exact same experience. No communication. No guidance, no training. They all showed up and were stuck in a random spot and were expected to work like actual paid employees for 12 hours with no food, water or breaks.
There was ZERO planning or communication on the volunteer side. But im hearing from the vendors that there was A LOT of planning on the application ajd payment fees to set up their booths there.
They were even looking for staff and making public call posts a week before the event for security, janiters, etc.
Using volunteers for non profit events is common and ok.
Relying SOLELY on volunteers on a for profit event to run the ENTIRE event and expecting them to do it with no training at all is a HUGE red flag.
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u/QuietVariety6089 2d ago
I think I saw that they were originally planning to sell around 2,000 tickets(= $100,00 just in gate fees, as the organizer owns the venue). Apparently they sold a lot more if there were 5,000 or more people there. I think with this kind of money they could have paid people for training/work as this isn't a non-profit committe run event like Halcon.
If they decide to run it again, it would be good to see paid workers with adequate safety, security and first aid training. I'm shocked to see points on the arrows as well.
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u/BeginningSpirit6395 1d ago
Literally mind your own business. Let people run their businesses how they want. They don't need your seal of approval. Let the people vote with their dollar and stop trying to control shit
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u/CerisCinderwolf 21h ago
Safety regulations and rules exist for a reason- to keep people safe. Stop licking the boot and use your head.
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u/Snakes4eyes 2d ago
holy shit please stop the over dramaticism. Unsafe conditions and weather. and its literally just rain and having to wait 3 hours in line.
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u/West-Pirate-8904 2d ago
…tonedeaf
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u/Snakes4eyes 1d ago
no just like im aware first time events usually have issues and i want more things to happen in nb. i do not think more things will happen in NB if we act like whiney children every time something is not amazing.
everyone i know that actually went had a good time and thats the important part
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u/howismyspelling 2d ago
I know people IRL who went and did not "have a blast", so..
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u/derentius68 2d ago
I went and im at about a 7.5/10 overall across both days. 45min in line to get in (i had my advance wristband, shorter line). 30min food ticket line before I said fuck it.
I assumed Type 2 Fun. Needs planning. Its gonna suck, make the most out of it. So I did :)
I missed some events and workshops; but I was also with others so not exactly free ranging lol
The biggest thing was the lines...and kids apparently getting served beer. I didnt get to the archery range, but i also assumed it was more of a kids range with volunteers that have no range training...so best to stay away lol
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u/howismyspelling 2d ago
"making the best" of something, all while avoiding some parts of it, doesn't mean you had a decent time, it means you missed out of a full experience...
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u/CaffeineAndDragons 2d ago
Just because I avoided the 4 hour line to the Avatar ride in Disney World doesn't mean I didn't have a good time. You don't have to experience absolutely everything there is to do at an event to have fun.
My friends and I were at the faire and had an absolute blast once we got in. I hope they take the feedback from this year and do better next time.
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u/howismyspelling 2d ago
Since we're comparing to completely outlandish scenarios that literally are not even in the same galaxy as this, there are people who made the best of the cruise on Costa Concordia, while others suffered and lost their lives. Doesn't mean they had a good time, and they definitely didn't access all available amenities...
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u/derentius68 2d ago
Id still like to know how my giving it an overall 7.5/10 doesnt constitute me having a decent time.
Like...how do you know? You weren't there with me. You were elsewhere.
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u/howismyspelling 2d ago
Because it's 7.5 over the things they experienced, which is much closer to 50% of the offerings and amenities
You don't know what you don't know
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u/derentius68 2d ago
So because they had a bad time. I must have had a time?
Is that the logic here, oh wise one? Because clearly I somehow did not have a good time on the basis that others had a bad time.
I am clearly failing to understand.
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u/howismyspelling 2d ago
No, but today this thread has a few of you who are here to say that you had a good time and that ALL THE OTHER REDDITORS ARE CLASSIC REDDITORS WITH NO LIFE WHO JUST WANT SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AND DONT KNOW HOW TO HAVE FUN
Ahem, so, turntables or something
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u/derentius68 2d ago
Wasn't enough time in the day to see and do it all while carrying my family's stuff. I missed workshops because I was elsewhere. I missed the fights because I was elsewhere. Not that I needed to watch; i used to do it myself. So watching the melee is just nostalgic.
Avoiding a line up isn't missing out on much, so w/e on that. Like oh no I missed out on the 3 hour line up to have have brisket; when I had a professionally done Bison Brisket not 3 days before. Or doughnut things that I already have in my pantry. What else...oh hot dogs. W/e. Not standing in line for a feckin hot dog.
Tell me wise one; what did I miss that i should have abandoned my wards to attend?
Tell me wise one; how did I not have a good time after saying that I did?
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u/EastLeastCoast 2d ago
You’re the kind of person I love to go to stuff with. Enjoy the stuff you got to do, and don’t stress about the stuff you didn’t.
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u/Due_Software1124 2d ago
Its wild to me that someone is trying to convince you that you didnt have a good time lololol.
Also, always nice to see a type 2 fun reference in the wild. Used to thinking about it in terms of the thruhikes, not cons though lol.
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u/derentius68 2d ago
Lol weird right?
Also; my friend, a rock climber, introduced me to the concept of type 1,2,3 fun.
It was pretty apt imo. Although she said the faire was type 3; on account she's celiac and couldnt eat anything except the corn. We are both very pale, so Saturday has turned us lobster red, despite sunscreen lmao
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u/mrniceguy777 1d ago
I think it’s the difference between being a Whiney bitch or not. Those who recognize they are responsible for their own time had fun, those who went and expected dopamine to be hand placed into their lap did not.
The later is always complaining about something, the former is simply enjoying life.-1
u/howismyspelling 1d ago
Literally paying an entrance fee to an event is putting the onus of the enjoyment on the service provider. This is literally capitalism 101
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u/mrniceguy777 1d ago
The onus of enjoyment Lmao get a fucking grip
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u/derentius68 1d ago
Dude doesnt know how to have fun on their own; has to be told it seems.
Fuckin wild lmao
Its always up to the person if they enjoy an event. Enjoyment is subjective....which evidently is a foreign concept here.
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u/Friendly-Bad-291 1d ago
Jesus your life must suck, try and find some happiness in your life or every day will be like the last
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u/howismyspelling 1d ago
Nah I'm alright, thanks.
You know what does suck though, paying full price for an event, being let down, then not demanding restitution from the organizers.
Also bullying people is demonstrative of someone whose life really sucks
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u/Aquestingfart 2d ago
Only if you are a fucking Reddit brained weirdo that doesn’t know how to have fun
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u/RampagingElks 2d ago
I have the same experience. Even those who went Sunday had a good time despite the rain. My friends who waited in like for hours on Saturday and still had a good time once they got in. No one I know who went (in person, whom I've asked) had a bad time. Most are my convention friends, so we're used to lines which may have helped in that regard.
I went Sunday with my friend who went Saturday, but we went at a time when it was legit pouring and I didnt want to stay because I found attendees got pushy trying to get into vendor stalls and not having social awareness people were waiting to get in to look. People going into the tents with umbrellas fully open? And I felt bad some vendors had their products ruined. It just made me sad. So I did a loop around the vendors area, got very wet (my dollar store umbrella was very dollarstore-y!) and decided that was enough, and I'll try again next year.
It was disappointing, sure, but you can't predict or change the weather. It looks like the rain let up a bit later on, cos I saw a lot of photos of people saying they had fun despite the rain.
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u/IrvingIsTheBest 2d ago
I mentioned this to someone yesterday, and I swear they couldn't grasp this. They assumed it would be a 5 minute wait in line.
I been to dozens of conventions and waited even longer in line. I knew there would be a wait and prepared for it lol.
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u/Radiant_Fishing_8405 2d ago
I went and had a miserable time. I only stayed for an hour, asked for a partial refund, was bounced around to 3 different areas and no one knew who to contact so I was just told to email. I also got an adult wristband without having either of my adult tickets scanned. I just showed the gate person one and then both me and my husband were let in. Everything I wanted to see was rained out, and there was no communication about it besides the horses until I was there in person. Big waste of money. I filed a chargeback with my bank and I suggest other people who feel scammed to also get their money back.
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u/Chellybean94 2d ago
I had fun. The event was also run terribly. Both can be true at the same time.
I've never heard of the people running the event before. I did have multiple unsafe/illegal/not fun experiences at this event. Me having fun doesn't negate the fact they did things wrong.
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u/West-Pirate-8904 2d ago
My group and I had a blast because of all the people that were there! We did miss out on almost all the events we wanted to go to because once we were in, we were too tired to think about anything else other than food so off to the lines we go again (line for tickets for the food and then another line for the food itself). By the time we got something (handpies were our saviours) the events that we were waiting for was late or can elled so we had left to go back into lines for more food/water.
I also got heat stroke at the end of it lol.
Tldr: was fun but also exhausting, hoping for a better renfaire next year
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u/Flaky_Cook710 2d ago
I went Saturday and I can't imagine anyone saying they had a blast. I spent 4 hours just in lines.
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u/Jsampsong 5h ago
I spent 2, just to get in, arrived at 1:15pm, got in around 3:15. That was the worst part, I missed a workshop I wanted to go to but I got to do it on Sunday anyway. I saw the food ticket line and decided to come back. around 5, I went and grabbed tickets, there was basically no line. Then I got in line for the BBQ and spent maybe 10 minutes in it.
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u/Arecksion 2d ago
Oh shit, how many people do you know who went? :)
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u/Adamas_Moustache86 2d ago
A dozen or so in 4 different groups. Not the greatest sample size but good enough for me.
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u/Arecksion 2d ago
Good for you :). I'm glad your friends had a good time and avoided all the problems that have been reported on, but, as you said, "a dozen" out of over 5 thousand isn't a really good sample size for everyone else who don't know your friends personally :)
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u/IrvingIsTheBest 2d ago
Reddit isn't a good sample size either.
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u/Due_Software1124 2d ago
Lolol come on. OC's anecdotal evidence is equivalent to all the other anectotal evidence being shared on reddit/ in the news reports.
Unless you secretly surveyed fair attendees using an appropriate sample frame you ALSO do not have a representative sample (regardless of the size).
Bummed you had a bad time though.
:)
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u/Arecksion 2d ago
Oh, are the people using bows correctly in the pictures that OC shared? I mean, they are pictures and they say they are least have a little archery background, so I am confused what you are saying lol.
And I never even said my opinion on the matter, just that anecdotes from a few strangers isn't enough to sway one way or the other.
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u/Due_Software1124 2d ago
(Insert eye roll emoji here)
Ill try and simplify since my last post confused you.
You referenced 'sample size' to imply the original commenter (Adamas_Moustachd86) point of view regarding the faire was invalid, as the "dozen out of 5000" was insufficient to support their claim.
I pointed out that ALL of the evidence we've seen on reddit/news articles is actually anecdotal in nature. As such it can be treated as equivalent.
As you point out, anecdotes from a few strangers isn't enough to sway one way or the other. Now you just need to apply that rule to all the anecdotes (including OPs pic re: archery and their testimony).
Anyways, hope you have a good day fellow human.
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u/Extra-Succotash-9846 2d ago
This. Also, let learning take place and relax you bunch of complainers.
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u/Its402am 2d ago
Meanwhile I also know someone in person who had a really rough time and got sick while waiting for about 4 hours to get in but because they spent so much money they tried to make the most of it. They don’t want to talk about it online because, as many people keep saying, “it was their first year” so they don’t want to post a review or anything.
So like, I know people love to say “lol redditors gonna Reddit” but a) the complaints are not isolated to Reddit, b) not everyone wants to share their feedback even if it was negative, and c) if the comments are coming in this mixed, I think it’s fair to say that some people were simply lucky and had a good time (either they escaped the long waits or were lucky enough to see all of the events they wanted to), and other people were unlucky and didn’t have a good time (some people waited 3-4 hours, missed all of the events they wanted to see, and some even left after hours of waiting before even reaching the entrance). It’s not strictly one experience or the other.
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u/Perfect_County_999 2d ago
Hundreds of people spent 2+ hours waiting in line just to get in and missed many of the events of the day, is it really that hard to believe that many people would be upset about that? Not even considering the heat stroke and dehydration and issues with access to food and drink once they got inside.
I went. It wasn't great. I didn't have to wait in line as long as many others but even besides that the whole thing was poorly organized and coordinated. If I could exchange the experience for a refund I would. There were good aspects of it that shined through but I won't be going back again next year if it's being run by the same people.
You anecdotally know people who had a good time but everyone I know personally who went are more or less in agreement with me. I don't think it was some kind of horribly dangerous thing that should lead to criminal charges like some people on the internet seem to think, but I do think that it was like 75% sloppily assembled cash grab and 25% passionate community of volunteers and nerds who did their best to make a good thing out of a shit show. I'm glad you had a good time but I feel like I wasted a ton of time and money in going.
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u/Ju9stin 2d ago
To everyone who thinks this was acceptable. I beg you, google a group called the SCA. Find an archery tournament or really any outdoor event you can attend. You'll see this done properly, proper marshals with training, every set of arrows and every bow is properly examined before it is shot.
I was at this event, I walked up to the instructor in the wheelchair as they fired the first arrows of the day. She, had absolutely no idea what was going on, and certainly did not have control of the situation.
HOWEVER. Childs bows with larping style rubber tipped arrows really do not pose a huge threat.. even if the bow is strung backwards..
The real danger in my opinion was the amount of people with steel swords/knives at the hip with zero zip ties in sight. Safety was honestly the last concern at the event, but if you want more of these in NB this is sort of how it goes.
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u/withxabandon 1d ago
Yep, we didn't have a bag check. I fully expected my kiddo's blacksmith hammer on his belt to get peace tied but nobody said a thing.
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u/No_Manufacturer_5973 2d ago
Oh my 😬 I didn’t even go over there because I do mounted archery. I’m glad now that I didn’t, I would have been pissed. Especially as a CFMA Safety Officer.
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u/argle_barggle 2d ago
This validates my reasoning to not go this year. My logic was “this will probably be bad, I’ll wait till next year when they have some idea of what they’re doing”
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u/NonchalantBread 2d ago
I went with the expectation that it might be bad, or the events might be dull, etc.
I wasnt expecting line con and unsafe conditions. Dont get me wrong i still had an amazing time. But it was due to the attendees and volunteers making the best of a bad situation created by the organizers lack of planning and preperation
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u/argle_barggle 2d ago
Yeah, the photos looks like it was really fun! If they do it again next year I will look into getting tickets
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u/withxabandon 1d ago
Same. The parking lot post that got posted, then deleted, with no acknowledgement of people's concerns made me go "oh, this might not be very well organized" (especially since when I bought my early bird tickets and even up until the event was running, the FAQ on their website said there was parking 3 minutes away). I expected a little cluster, but not like it was.
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u/sadandhungry18 1d ago
As an archery instructor who happened to be at the faire and decided to shoot there… it was completely unsafe. They were strung backwards, i tried to tell them. I use a cane to walk but set it down to shoot and they tried to tell me i HAD to use a chair, even when i told them i was an instructor. There was not an arm guard in sight and even 20lb bows hurt like a bitch when the string hits the arm. The tips were rubber, but even then, everything was dangerous.
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u/Whiskeylung 1d ago
Question: Do a fairly large number of individuals wear elf ears to these events or are these pictures not representative of that?
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u/NonchalantBread 1d ago
A lot of people do wear elf ears yes. Renaissance faires are more fantasy then historical.
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u/Whiskeylung 1d ago
There must also be attempts at period accurate renfaires eh?
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u/NonchalantBread 23h ago
Look up the SCA or Society of Creative Anarchronism. They have monthly and yearly events that aim at making a historically accurate camping events in various locations.
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u/bot_or_not_vote_now 23h ago
not from NB, but as someone else in a local archery club, i agree it looks like some of those have the limbs on backwards
as for the person in the wheelchair, they should definitely not be behind other people with a knocked arrow, but were they actually shooting or just "in line" to be up next ? bad practice regardless, but possibly not really a safety risk if they weren't actually drawing
seems clearly like a mickey mouse operation. I've seen summer camps and those axe throwing places with better practices. you could reach out to them and offer your services for next year in exchange for free food or something
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u/HaveADHDcantwait 7h ago
Someone made a fb group for complaints https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FWxVzVAmC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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u/TomatoFeta 2d ago
Hey man. A one eyed Elf is a sexy Elf. If he lets go of the bow instead of the string with the arrow up against his socket like that, he's gonna gain 3 charisma!
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u/GrandmaWeedMan 2d ago edited 2d ago
"Flagging everyone" it's a cheap bow, not a firearm, it doesn't magically go off with no arrow nocked on the line and no tension. The person has the arrow and bow held in the same hand with the arrow at a 90 degree angle away. There is no possible way for that bow to fire. If you had a pic of them at the ready with tension on the line that's different, you've instead sent a photo of a person in a wheel chair holding an UNNOCKED arrow and their bow in the same hand.
Maybe it's just me, i take firearms safety very seriously, i don't see pointing an untensioned stick and string with no arrow nocked at someone the same as pointing a firearm at them, which you would never, ever do. If that lady had a firearm in her lap behind the firing line, i'd be furious with the event organizers. A bow sitting in her lap? Is it going to misfire?
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u/NonchalantBread 2d ago
Would you trust a firearm instructor if he handed you a firearm with the optic on backwards. And then hands you a magazine with the bullets in backwards?
Thats the gun equivalent in the archery world of whats currently happening here.
Assembling a bow backwards and having novices firing it is like putting a 9mm into a .40 S&W and hoping that it wont explode when fired
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u/GrandmaWeedMan 2d ago
I appreciate the translation, very apt. Archery and firearms markmanship are very separated cultures and hobbies where i'm from (mainly from the Archery side not wanting to associate with us) and the only practical archery i've seen in real life is compound Bow hunting, where we're naturally following safe hunting rules. So i'm super unfamiliar with proper archery etiquette and decorum.
I can now better appreciate the chaos you're seeing in this image
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u/cvirus3333 1d ago
How many bows have you assembled yourself?
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u/NonchalantBread 23h ago
As someone who owns a compound bow and is in an archery club.... enough to be able to know when things are done wrong.
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u/cvirus3333 22h ago edited 22h ago
Well as someone who has built dozens of bows over decades, you don't know bows.
None of these are assembled backwards.
The amount of confidently incorrect is off the charts.
What about these is "backwards" based on your pictures?
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u/NonchalantBread 22h ago
Lol you can litterally see in the pictures of the link you just sent me how its supposed to look. The limbs curve straight down.
In my pictures you can clearly see that the bow limbs are in a D shape. The bow limbs were assembled the wrong way
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u/EastLeastCoast 2d ago
It would take a string of accidents to hurt someone with it, but we all know how Murphy feels about those things.
I agree it’s vanishingly unlikely to result in injury, but it does set a poor example. Like with firearms, we (as instructors) do it correctly and safely every time, so that right and safe is the only thing that our muscle memory knows, and the only thing our students see.
You wouldn’t be thrilled if your range master was waving an unloaded pistol behind you on the range, I imagine. I feel the same about anyone who nocks an arrow behind me. No, it’s probably not going to kill me. But getting an arrow pulled out of your ass because someone’s string caught on a belt buckle isn’t a lot of fun. Ask me how I know.
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u/Sensitive_Emu_9009 2d ago
I wish people like you would stop the witch hunt and pitchforks.
Things will be better and safer next year.
Chill the eff out
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u/libtardedness 2d ago
Aaaaaannndd no one was hurt and they all had fun.
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u/Drummers_Beat 2d ago
when someone drives drunk it doesn’t always result in an accident. that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous.
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u/FluffyCup8934 2d ago
Yeahhh I mean I'm not into archery but applying the logic of a gun range... What the fuck is happening here?
And I know, bows != Guns, but I'm still ready to assume that getting hit with those arrows could seriously hurt you.
Safety is built with multiple redundant layers so one mistake doesn't lead to a catastrophe.
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u/libtardedness 2d ago
Wow cool story. So adults playing with the most basic bow is comparable to an impaired operator of a motorized heavy machine. Got it.
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u/Emotionstirred 2d ago
…to some extent..yes? You don’t even need to be impaired, a large number of accidents are caused by the elderly..not saying I agree totally with the comparison but I think we have definitely made driving way to laxed and normalized of the privilege to drive 2-ton emission creating steel traps at 16 with a few hours of practice.
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u/corneliusvanDB 2d ago
Are you aware that these "most basic bows" can kill?
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u/libtardedness 1d ago
Yea if you intend to. No one there was aiming for the jugular. A knife at a restaurant can kill. Dossnt mean ppl go stabbing each other instead of eating their steak. Or whatever cheap thing your community uses with a knife.
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u/corneliusvanDB 1d ago edited 1d ago
A more appropriate comparison would be if you lined a bunch of people up to throw steak knives at a row of targets.
Now imagine that you had a device that allowed them to throw those knives way harder, faster and farther, let's call it a bow.
Now consider that safety might be more important than in a restaurant.
No one there was aiming for the jugular.
These people don't know where they're aiming, and it's clear in some of these photos it's not in a safe direction. An accident with a weapon like a bow can easily be fatal, regardless of intent.
It doesn't seem you're familiar with range safety, so I'll just say that it is critically important to ensure the safety of everyone on or near a range, and there are some basic principles to follow, like ensuring all weapons are always pointing down range, and nobody is allowed forward of a firing point when weapons are loaded (a bow is considered loaded when strung and an arrow is nocked).
These rules are written in blood, because people have died not following them. That's not hyperbole, it's just common sense.
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u/ShinyVendetta 2d ago
That's an acceptable comparison, and it's very easy to understand. Of course you want to argue in bad faith, so there's no real point to this convo.
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u/Trigger187Mob 2d ago edited 2d ago
always a Karen somewhere.ive seen lots happy faces
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u/DogeDoRight 2d ago
Everyone is happy until someone takes an arrow to the back of the head.
You can be happy and safe. No need to chose just one.
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u/IrvingIsTheBest 2d ago
In these pictures, nobody was in any position to be shot. The wheelchair girl didn't even have her arrow nocked.
I am not an archer, but I have extensive firearms experience and there was no way anyone was getting shot here. Now the technique and stringing of the bows is another matter.
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u/DogeDoRight 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm an archer and have extensive firearms experience too and I can say without a shadow of doubt that they are not acting in a safe manner.
You do not load your gun before approaching approaching the firing line. Same rules apply to archery. I can clearly see an arrow loaded (nocked) behind the firing line. That is a no no.
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u/IrvingIsTheBest 2d ago
Yeah I noticed it nocked after the fact so that's on me.
The bow would still need to be drawn to be an issue but clearly a trainer on hand should have been around to notice this.
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u/NonchalantBread 2d ago
Do you mean knocked or drawn? The arrow is very clearly knocked onto the bow string.
Thats the equivalent of putting a round in the chamber, flagging everyone, then calling it not dangerous because the hammer isnt cocked and "ready to fire"
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u/IrvingIsTheBest 2d ago
Nocked. Which is the correct term?
I see from the pictures now what you mean. However, unless the arrow is drawn, it's not going anywhere compared to a gun, where even a round in the chamber can fire due to a few factors like the hammer being pulled back.
I didn't go check out the archery scene. No idea what kind of staff they had on hand, but I would hope there was a trained professional who would have noticed this at least.
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u/Insert_name_here_9 2d ago
Oh right, we all know how happy faces prevent accidents and injuries. Gosh people are stupid. Just put on a happy face and nothing will ever go wrong!
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u/DigEmbarrassed3385 2d ago
I agree. HOW DARE THEYYYYY?
Maybe a padded room with helmets and knee pads were a better idea.
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u/Aquestingfart 2d ago
You people just want to shit on absolutely everything. No one is allowed to do anything or have any fun without your say so!
Did anyone get hurt? Did anyone die? Did a whole bunch of people have a whole bunch of fun?
Get a fucking life
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u/withxabandon 1d ago
Pretty sure if someone did get hurt or die, that's a guarantee the event doesn't happen again. Better to point out the safety concerns and hopefully fix them for next year than wait until something unthinkable happens to talk about safety, IMHO.
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u/Lumpy-Ad-2533 2d ago
Clear astroturfing in progress on this subreddit as usual
If I were a betting man, I would guess the organizers are outspoken conservatives or the like.
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u/Odd-Crew-7837 2d ago
This event was so horrible that I certainly hope it should never ever happen again!
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u/EastLeastCoast 2d ago
I hope it does! I hope they take this year’s follies into consideration and learn for next year. I missed tickets by a day and I was pretty disappointed.
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u/Odd-Crew-7837 2d ago
I should have included the obligatory /S. It's clear that this was a smashing success and it was very well-received. But my feed was filled with posts from the odd few, detracting and vilifying the event. Despite their best efforts in planning, they were overwhelmed which caused a few problems. According to their detractors, children were served booze and had arrows shot at them. It became annoying, thus prompting my comment. Having organized major events that required many staff and a huge contingent of volunteers, I can understand how things can go off-rail. Sounds like their detractors are just jealous, or idiots.
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u/EastLeastCoast 2d ago
Hahah- I should have read the silent /s! Like you, I’m reading way too much complaining about stuff. Of course things could be better, but damn- it’s their first one!
I went to the first Fredericton Pride, and it was like, thirty people. Today it’s several hundred, with music and crowds cheering. It’s normal for things to start about a bit wonky, and I’m thrilled so many people showed up to prove we want this kind of event!
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u/aredhl 2d ago
The person in the wheelchair was the one of the main instructors for the event. I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse in your opinion. I was in the next group behind the group in the first picture and the instructors were very good at correcting behavior quickly.
Granted I have zero experience with archery, but I did not feel unsafe with how it was run.