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There was a shire meeting last night, at which I took notes, listened a lot, and watched people. I didn't say much, although I participated a bit more in the site-finding discussion afterward.
I've also read the mailing lists with close attention lately, trying to pin down a few things that are annoying me. I've been unable, for one reason or another, to do anything SCA-wise for about two months now, and the space is making some difference. I think I'm close to pinning those things down, and I think they are the pedantry and the pedantry, with a dash of politics.
We went to an event in August. I got authorised, we were very pleased with the event, things were good. When we got home, we put up some pictures, and the very first response I got was from someone saying that a title in the captions was wrong. The writer provided a four or five paragraph discourse on the correct title, and why giving people the wrong titles was a Very Bad Thing. I replied saying, basically, "Thanks, but, uh, go away, you pedant". A day later or so, a version of the mail I received was sent to a regional mailing list, where it was challenged by half a dozen different people. I felt somewhat justified, but some damage had already been done.
Since then, I've seen that writer respond to a number of mails, always with an objection or a point of order, or some other proof that the writer notices More Details and is therefore A Better SCAdian. To be fair, they did say some very good things about a recent event, and seemed to disagree with some else's pedantry, but I'm not sure it's coming from a good basis. Yes, I'm bending over backwards to not identify this person; I'm talking about a type, albeit with this person as a prime example.
And then there's the politics. These are pretend titles, handed out for what are, in real terms, very minor achievements. And people fight and argue over them, disagree, and make very real impacts on each other's lives and emotions. That, in a word, sucks. It's a game, but it stops being a game very rapidly when you, by direct action, make someone cry.
So how come I'm still interested in this, you might ask. Well, for some unknown reason, Dublin (and Elpaheimr, Glen Rathlin, etc) seems to be different. I can identify no schisms in the group. There were about twelve people at the meeting last night, and virtually all decisions were unanimous, or very close. We have enthusiastic people (not just here, but coming in from outside, too). The only possible pedants in the group are good-natured and easily distracted by shiny things.
So what it's coming down to is that I can expend money and effort trying to get to events and things in other places, and get pedanted at, or I can expend money and effort trying to do more for the Dublin/Irish group, and enjoy it. The choice is pretty easy.
I've also read the mailing lists with close attention lately, trying to pin down a few things that are annoying me. I've been unable, for one reason or another, to do anything SCA-wise for about two months now, and the space is making some difference. I think I'm close to pinning those things down, and I think they are the pedantry and the pedantry, with a dash of politics.
We went to an event in August. I got authorised, we were very pleased with the event, things were good. When we got home, we put up some pictures, and the very first response I got was from someone saying that a title in the captions was wrong. The writer provided a four or five paragraph discourse on the correct title, and why giving people the wrong titles was a Very Bad Thing. I replied saying, basically, "Thanks, but, uh, go away, you pedant". A day later or so, a version of the mail I received was sent to a regional mailing list, where it was challenged by half a dozen different people. I felt somewhat justified, but some damage had already been done.
Since then, I've seen that writer respond to a number of mails, always with an objection or a point of order, or some other proof that the writer notices More Details and is therefore A Better SCAdian. To be fair, they did say some very good things about a recent event, and seemed to disagree with some else's pedantry, but I'm not sure it's coming from a good basis. Yes, I'm bending over backwards to not identify this person; I'm talking about a type, albeit with this person as a prime example.
And then there's the politics. These are pretend titles, handed out for what are, in real terms, very minor achievements. And people fight and argue over them, disagree, and make very real impacts on each other's lives and emotions. That, in a word, sucks. It's a game, but it stops being a game very rapidly when you, by direct action, make someone cry.
So how come I'm still interested in this, you might ask. Well, for some unknown reason, Dublin (and Elpaheimr, Glen Rathlin, etc) seems to be different. I can identify no schisms in the group. There were about twelve people at the meeting last night, and virtually all decisions were unanimous, or very close. We have enthusiastic people (not just here, but coming in from outside, too). The only possible pedants in the group are good-natured and easily distracted by shiny things.
So what it's coming down to is that I can expend money and effort trying to get to events and things in other places, and get pedanted at, or I can expend money and effort trying to do more for the Dublin/Irish group, and enjoy it. The choice is pretty easy.