What do you say when...

[Col-Mas Anor]

Hi,

I was just wondering what everyone else says when little kids ask questions like:

• Is that a real lightsaber?
  
• Can you turn it on?
  
• or other such questions
  

[acalsohei]

We just did a parade yesterday, and those exact questions came up. With the really little kids we just say that Master Yoda won't let us use real lightsabers in the parade because it would be too dangerous. The older kids can understand the concept of props, and the really older kids (like the ones who saw the OT in first-run!) love to talk about custom sabers, MR FX sabers, etc. You kind of have to judge by the age of your audience.

If it's one or two kids at a time, I hand over my saber. They're always surprised at how heavy it is. They are used to the plastic toys! It's a great opportunity to talk about safe handling of even toy sabers. Once a teacher, always a teacher!

[JediKai]

Depends on the moment. I'll respond with some version of what acalsohei wrote. If the youngling seems like s/he will get that I'm in character.... sometimes I say, I ignite the lightsaber only for defense, never for play or to show off.

When the adults ask if it's real, and they are serious, I am shocked by how little science they understand. I then tell them that laser science is not that far advanced and try to engage them in talking about prop making.

[Darcu RyMal]

I always enjoy these kinds of conversations, too. I love it when smaller children are so inquisitive and really believe that you are a Jedi. It provides a great opportunity to be a role-model for them.

My responses are pretty much the same as others here. Sometimes I tell them I remove the crystal before allowing children to handle, to make the saber safe. The adults just think it's really cool. I also find it shocking how many adults are quite uneducated about science and technology in general.

[JediKai]

If you ever watch Jay Walking, a bit on the Jay Leno show, it is frightening how uneducated, uninformed and culturally illiterate is the general public....some of the ingnorant people interviewed are professionals...teachers, etc.

[Col-Mas Anor]

Well I haven't run into any adults yet who think my saber is real. I did have one kid who looked around 12-13 ask me. I would have thought at that age he would have realized, but I politely explained it's just a prop. I like the comment earlier: Master Yoda won't let us. I'll have to say something like that.

[Ky-Wan Zann]

I ask if they thin it's real. Then if they ask if I can turn it on, I say that Jedi Code says we shouldn't turn them on in case someone gets hurt, most kids have seen an mr force fx these days so in day time they aren;'t much but it's when they se just the hilt they tend to ask these things.

[Solinbeb Newau]

kywanzann said:

I ask if they thin it's real. Then if they ask if I can turn it on, I say that Jedi Code says we shouldn't turn them on in case someone gets hurt, most kids have seen an mr force fx these days so in day time they aren;'t much but it's when they se just the hilt they tend to ask these things.

I remember reading in one of the books that it was said the "A jedi only activates his weapon if he means to use it."

[Ky-Wan Zann]

yes but that just eggs kids in wanting to see it more. Most like the few I had come up to me today just beg to see it come on.

[Leda EmBorr]

jedikai said:

If you ever watch Jay Walking, a bit on the Jay Leno show, it is frightening how uneducated, uninformed and culturally illiterate is the general public....some of the ingnorant people interviewed are professionals...teachers, etc.

I've seen it. Wow... very true. It's amazing. Although if you ask me anything political I'm likely to be stumped. I do believe I know who my Governor is, but beyond Pesident and Vice... I draw a blank. I probably know more about the politics of Star Wars than that of the real world.


But I know lots of stuff about extrasolar planets, though! ;D LOL!

[Mon-Jas Charan]

I usually say, with gas prices the way they are, I can not fill it up

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

I just saymy saber does not work correctly on this planet

[Stey Fann Jull]

depends who ask. A kids or adults. Kids most of the times are just very impress by knowing its a real lightsaber. Adults well, its just funny when they ask you if its a real lightsaber LOL ut when they ask to turn it on, I just say i forgot to recharge it last night

[Olos Nay]

for the kids, you're the character and not the costumer behind it.
Therefore I don't say its a replica saber. But I say its dangerous. They always know its not real, but do expects you to play your role.
When adults asks about it, that is a totally different story. They don't use their imagination but are asking real facts. I say "its a real replica" and mention I made it myself. (I do most my props)

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

I usually say that the insurance company, of whatever event sponsor it is, won't allow us to use a real lightsaber. For an older kids who might look like they think it's real, I assume that they're just hoping really hard that it is real, and just show them how it works and how it's put together.