We've all known them and usually enjoy their company. The recently revived Capstick post got me to thinking. What is it that make these characters so good at what they do. I have a friend who is a master storyteller. I've been on a quite a few trips with him and they were no where near as much fun as the stories he tells of them. I've probably had more rained out, cold, snowed in and miserable trips with him than all my other friends put together. I think I go with him so that I can hear later how much fun I had.
Bfly

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I think I go with him so that I can hear later how much fun I had.

aint that the truth!!

Some people are talented and then some are just gifted.

My claw mts wouldn't work so am working on having a set made, will let you know how things go.

Fairgame is a heck of a storyteller and also an artist (one of his paintings was posted on here last year). I would guess there's something in his DNA that makes him better able to recognize the images -- whether actual or mental -- that will engage a listener's (or viewer's) emotions. As DOJ says, it's a gift.

As to Fairgame: Motion seconded!

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Originally posted by sandyhunter:
Fairgame is a heck of a storyteller and also an artist (one of his paintings was posted on here last year). I would guess there's something in his DNA that makes him better able to recognize the images -- whether actual or mental -- that will engage a listener's (or viewer's) emotions. As DOJ says, it's a gift.

+1

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Originally posted by Black Fly:
I've been on a quite a few trips with him and they were no where near as much fun as the stories he tells of them.

Imagine how boring those stories would be if all you got was the unvarnished truth.

I realize some people don't appreciate the way some people like Capstick abuse their poetic license. I don't think of it that way; I think of it as "adding value."

A good imagination is the difference between an outstanding story and a textbook.

The difference is Observation, Imagination and Communication. Some folks can weave a hunting story into a gripping tale. It's a talent that I certainly don't have.

If embellishing facts makes one a story teller, then there are plenty of "story tellers" on AR.

Merely embellishing facts doesn't make you a story teller.

To make the cut you have to do it well.

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Originally posted by Blacktailer:
The difference is Observation, Imagination and Communication. Some folks can weave a hunting story into a gripping tale. It's a talent that I certainly don't have.

Those are part of it, but I think the main quality may be having great Attitude.

I have one friend and hunting buddy, also an American from the Chicago area, who lives near me in Japan that has not gone far in life, financially anyway, but he always sees the best in what he experiences. He is just so darned cheerful about it. He puts everyone and everything in a great light.

As just one example, he goes on a guided wild pig hunt in Florida a few years ago with a borrowed shotgun, manages to chase the pigs all over hell across streams, sloughs and fences until utterly exhausted, got one small pig (smaller than the inoshishi we have running around my neighborhood every night here in Japan) and had an absolutely wonderful time. And, oh yes, while chasing the pigs he got bitten on the ankle by a rattler. Mild annoyance. You can't make these things up.

Also, I've found that memory of the bad fades faster then the good. I recall hunting in the Kafue in Zambia in shorts and getting no less than 65 tsetse fly bites per leg, when my smarter, more experienced buddies hunted in heavy blue jeans. Man, did that hurt. I was slathering single malt on my legs, much to the amusement of the PHs, who also wore shorts but seemed immune to the bites. Their wives weren't, though. I took a tip from Capstick and brought out a couple of heavy wire fly swatters, which were promptly "borrowed" by them and destroyed in a frenzy of swatting in less than two days.

I do remember those events, but the wild game has stuck in my memory much better.

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Originally posted by Anjin:
I was slathering single malt on my legs, much to the amusement of the PHs, who also wore shorts but seemed immune to the bites.

You were slathering single malt on your legs in Zambia, and your PHs were amused.

Did these guys operate a distillery in the off season? Is Zambia awash in decent scotch?

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Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:

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Originally posted by Anjin:
I was slathering single malt on my legs, much to the amusement of the PHs, who also wore shorts but seemed immune to the bites.

You were slathering single malt on your legs in Zambia, and your PHs were amused.

Did these guys operate a distillery in the off season? Is Zambia awash in decent scotch?

There was no great shortage, as I recall, because most hunters brought their own and left the excess. I had picked up a quart of Glenmorangie in the duty-free shop coming through Heathrow. You might thing it was a waste to use it that way, but you had to be there. <g>

I guess you had to be there, using Glenmorangie as a lotion (on the external body) is just bad, unless it was ten year old.

Personally, I wish that folks would not make up hunting stories. If their nasty lives are so boring that they have to make stuff up .. well, do something different. I always believe people until I catch them lying .. if I do catch them at it ... I never believe them anymore ... about anything - without verification ... I just love hunting so much.

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Originally posted by Anjin:

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Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:

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Originally posted by Anjin:
I was slathering single malt on my legs, much to the amusement of the PHs, who also wore shorts but seemed immune to the bites.

You were slathering single malt on your legs in Zambia, and your PHs were amused.

Did these guys operate a distillery in the off season? Is Zambia awash in decent scotch?

There was no great shortage, as I recall, because most hunters brought their own and left the excess. I had picked up a quart of Glenmorangie in the duty-free shop coming through Heathrow. You might thing it was a waste to use it that way, but you had to be there. <g>

Glenmorangie?! I'll give you my remaining Laphroaig for you next trip. Smear some of that shit on your skin and nothing from mozzies to rabid starving hyenas to you wife will touch you.