The ALTERNATIVE meet . . . the thread . . . .

[DecadentDoll]

Dont quite get your comment there stonecastle, I dont think Bill was ruling it out just saying (reasonably) that it'd cost money if you wanted to do any messy stuff there

How much money and why would it cost money, what for. To pay for the gunge used or to hire the studio?

Costs money to hire the studio space and have it cleaned up after. Very reasonable i think!

[TottyMcGee]

I wasn't thinking of accessing the mud from a boat, but from the shore. Lack of road access might make this tricky from the photo-shoot POV, though self-WAM might be more feasable if there's somewhere to change that is secluded enough. Good point about the quicksand though - I guess it'd be a bit like Morcame Bay in that respect, and while I know people who do WAM there (the Wamdrogony crew for starters) I believe they have a fair bit of local knowledge to rely on.

...partly local knowledge (or, more accurately, scouting and research) but mostly knowing what quicksand is and how to deal with it. The knack for getting out of quicksand is actually quite simple once you know it and are confident enough not to panic (panic is the one thing guaranteed to bugger up any kind of escape, because you wear yourself out). When taking anyone new sinking I always give them a bit of a theory lecture and sinking/escape tutorial where required, just so they know what to expect - the same way I learnt myself.
Actually it annoys me a bit that education on the subject is so lame when we're talking about something that can actually mean the difference between life and death. It seems the myth of a thousand Tarzan movies dies hard.

Without going into too much detail, here's a few basic points;

1) Quicksand/quickmud is simply sand, soil, peat or similar substance with a supply of water running through it. When disturbed, it is constantly changing state according to the water displacement/resupply, this is what makes it so awesome to wallow in!

2) Quicksand/quickmud is not sucking death, it will not suck you down and once you reach a certain point (usually around the chest area for most adults) you will float - pull yourself deeper (this takes effort) and you'll bob back up like a cork. This is because it's a dense liquid, and therefore takes more weight to displace.

3) The danger then isn't in going under (which is actually devilishly difficult), but in getting stuck at the mercy of more environmental hazards. In the case of tidal quicksand, this is obviously the tide itself (rule number one: never fuck with tides. Look up the tide tables and aim to be as far away as possible from the times when high water is due). In the case of a moorland bog, cold and hypothermia is more of a concern. But, as with everything, considering and respecting the dangers is the key to overcoming them.

4) To get out, gently rock back and forwards to reduce your angle in the mud, so you end up basically lying in it. Because you're floating, once you've reduced the angle to that point you can simply crawl/swim to terra firmer. Don't rush or panic, it's very much a case of more haste less speed. Just keep at it, and you'll make progress.

There's a lot more I could add, but this'll do for the basics.

[DungeonMasterOne]

That sounds a lot like the advice Rob Blaine used to give out too - gradually lie down, then just roll out like a log. And of course you're absolutely spot on about the tides. The info used to be on quite a few Quicksand sites (remember the WAMSAT?), but that element of the WAM community seems to have almost disapeared now.

I've never had the pleasure of real sinking in mud, though it is something I'd love to do.

[TottyMcGee]

The info used to be on quite a few Quicksand sites (remember the WAMSAT?), but that element of the WAM community seems to have almost disapeared now.

I refer you to http://www.deepsinking.org , not only the most comprehensive forum there is about quicksand sinking (with particular reference to the fantasy side, but you'll find stuff about the practical too) but Jiminy Thicket is to phpBB what Clown Julie is to shaving foam, a veritable magician. He's innovated several quality (and useful) features for the forum, at least one of which (the creation of a special forum area where flame wars can be moved to so they can burn out without wrecking the rest of the board) I've pinched for the Wamdrogony board. The "kudos" system is an excellent way of allowing people to respond positively to posted material even if they can't think of anything particular to say offhand and you won't find a more involved (and versatile) rankings system anywhere. And that's not even mentioning the "Sinking Island" text based MMORPG-cum-chat system also accesible by forum members.

[stonecastle]

We would need a few women for a gunging meet up as gunging is no fun at all without women to gunge and to be gunged by. Isn't being gunged by an attractive woman such a great turn on?

[DecadentDoll]

We would need a few women for a gunging meet up as gunging is no fun at all without women to gunge and to be gunged by. Isn't being gunged by an attractive woman such a great turn on?

Yeah, it is a lot of fun. I'm sure plenty will turn up to meet guys who insult their pics and tell them they aren't doing it right too

[DungeonMasterOne]

We would need a few women for a gunging meet up as gunging is no fun at all without women to gunge and to be gunged by. Isn't being gunged by an attractive woman such a great turn on?

But who's talking about a gunging meet up? The idea as I understand it is to have a "non-vanilla" pub meet where people can dress as they please / cross dress / come "in character", as opposed to the more conservative UMD meets. The idea being to say "Hi" and get to know each other as people with a common interest, rather than organise a sploshing session.

Also I'd disagree that there have to be women or gunging is no fun - self-gunging is fun too, you know! As for that matter would be being able to share a laugh and some goo with anyone like-minded, male or female. But organising an actual splosh session would be both complicated and expensive. Supplies, venue, clean-up, changing facilities, bathing facilities, etc - rather more complex than just "lets all go to the Merry Pieman on the Lower Marsh for a few drinks".

[andy250]

We would need a few women for a gunging meet up as gunging is no fun at all without women to gunge and to be gunged by. Isn't being gunged by an attractive woman such a great turn on?

Theres nothing like a bit of trust, nobody in their right mind would just turn up, you need to know what the individual is like, at least have chatted on the phone a couple of times, if not met up for a social gathering before doing a messy session.

Stonecastle seeing as the ladys are not to your standard, why dont you supply the ladys that way you will be happy.

regards

Andy

[leonmoomin]

But who's talking about a gunging meet up? The idea as I understand it is to have a "non-vanilla" pub meet where people can dress as they please / cross dress / come "in character", as opposed to the more conservative UMD meets. The idea being to say "Hi" and get to know each other as people with a common interest, rather than organise a sploshing session.

Agreed! Sorry, that was probably my fault, I suggested that if someone organised the meet I'd offer gunjee equipment!

So now all you have to do is agree on a location? Geographically good for everyone! This is an open meet, so I think the actual venue will probably also be fairly important, where people can wear what ever they want, etc! One not confined by the vanilla rule!

Its so close now, just need to work on a date, a town/city, a venue and try to figure out who is going to go?

[stonecastle]

Sorry, that was probably my fault, I suggested that if someone organised the meet I'd offer gunjee equipment!

Ah come on a gunging meet would be fantastic fun. I used to post on another special interest group about cycling and they were always aranging cycling meets. So on a gunging group why not arrange gunging meets?

[stonecastle]

Sorry, that was probably my fault, I suggested that if someone organised the meet I'd offer gunjee equipment!

Ah come on a gunging meet would be fantastic fun. I used to post on another special interest group about cycling and they were always aranging cycling meets. So on a gunging group why not arrange gunging meets?

[DungeonMasterOne]

Ah come on a gunging meet would be fantastic fun. I used to post on another special interest group about cycling and they were always aranging cycling meets. So on a gunging group why not arrange gunging meets?

So you'd be happy to gunge and be gunged by men and women you'd never met in person before? And who is going to organise and pay for a suitable venue (with good drainage and hose-down proof), shower facilities, supplies, changing rooms, clean-up, etc? You're probably looking at about 50 quid a head (possibly a lot more, especially if we wanted to pay cleaners and thus avoid the long and boring work of cleaning up afterwards (IME, studio clean-up after a shoot takes at least as long as the shoot itself does, and I'd imagine the clean-up from a 10-person gunge meet would be worse than a relatively contained 2-girl photoshoot).

So, say 100 quid each, plus drinks, accomodation, meals, transport, etc. And hoever organises it is going to have a *lot* of work to do (for which I'd suggest everyone present should contribute at least an extra tenner each as a tip).

On the other hand, a cycling WAM meet, including a ride to a secluded mud location, done at the height of summer might have some mileage in it, depending on how many of us are cyclists. But I *really* don't think it'll fly as a pub meet idea.

<thinks some more about pub meets>

Ok, I'll make a suggestion:

Third Friday in March, afternoon meet, The Devonshire Arms, Camden, London. Come dressed in any style you like but be aware it's a Goth pub and has a Goth(ish) dress-code, so one or more of dark colours, black, leather, PVC, fetishwear, etc are appropriate. Anyone in a tracksuit, sportswear, or "townie" style trendy gear (or anything at all in burbery check) isn't going to get in.

Note, just a suggestion, and I don't even know if Lady J can make that date or not. Put forward as a starting point. Any takers?

Recognition: If Lady J can make it, she'll probably be in a long dark green satin formal dress, sitting next to the 6' bloke in either black dungarees or a black boilersuit. Most likely in the raised area at the back of the pub.

Thoughts?

[dirtydids]

Hmmmm nice one Dungeonmaster, BUT regrettably both myself and Mercedes would never be able to attend any afternoon meetup as we both have full time jobs and i know Cede would not be able to get away for this, it could only be Saturday or evening meets for us i am afraid.

I love the thought of this pub though, I wonder however what an "Ol Git" of 59 years would look like attempting to look "Goth" (namely ME)

waiting for the wisecracks now i can take it

[leonmoomin]

Nah!

You'd be fine, just wear black!

Black clothes, black nail varnish, black eye shadow and a black hat! You'll be fine!

[DecadentDoll]

Im so goth i don't paint my fingernails black, i just bash them in with a hammer.