Mimes

[lindalove]

Why do so many people hate mimes? Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't. Then again, it's so rare that I see a mime. But I've never understood why mimes are so unpopular. Did a mime do something bad to a bunch of people and now everyone hates them or what? It's such a mystery to me.

[Siege]

Well, from what i've seen, the majority of them imitate someone that's around. This can often offend people.

As for me, I don't really care because my encounters with mimes are rare and as such, none of have tried to imitate me.

[ObieX]

I've never seen a mime in real life. Ever. If i did, i would sit down and enjoy.

[Rodney]

Originally Posted by Seige

Well, from what i've seen, the majority of them imitate someone that's around. This can often offend people.

Yeah. If you're walking down the street deep in your own thoughts and suddenly realize that a mime is imitating you, it can seem intrusive; or or she has involved you in his act without asking, and imitating someone else's behavior can be seen as an irritation. Just watch kids complain on the playground about another kid "copying" them.

If a mime just does his or her thing as a separate performance, or only interacts with people who are giving their tacit permission to be "part of the act," then there's no reason to complain. And most mimes that I've seen do this. There are just a few obnoxious types that set the stereotype.

Aside from that, it's just something odd and fun to boast about hating -- like accordions :-).

[Pip]

Originally Posted by Rodney

If a mime just does his or her thing as a separate performance, or only interacts with people who are giving their tacit permission to be "part of the act," then there's no reason to complain. And most mimes that I've seen do this. There are just a few obnoxious types that set the stereotype.

That's it. When you go see a stage performance or stop and watch a street performer it's your choice to take part by becoming an audience. A performer that drags passers-by into their performance takes away that choice. There's an ongoing discussion in the theatre world whether things like that and "stealth performances", where actors play out scenes on the street and the passers-by don't know that it's actually a performance, could be classified as theatre when there is no initial "agreement" between the performers and the audience.
I'm personally not fond at all of stuff like that. I don't even like "candid camera" and prank call shows, because it turns unaware people into performers. Frankly, I'm surprised so many agree to let the clips be aired. I'd refuse.

[Johnny Pyro]

I don't like mimes because they just don't amuse me. I think they're a little creepy. Not creepier than a clown though. I've seen people get dragged in their so called "performance" and its just embarassing. I don't hate mimes, I just don't like them. Go away mime!

[ratbastid]

Yeah, they're uncanny and startling like a clown, plus pretentious like an artist or actor. It's the worst of both worlds.

[Cynthetiq]

ummm... because things like this make it totally scary?

http://kkmime.com/