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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.
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lots of sarcasim implied
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"Want a beer?"? ;-)
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That's pretty awesome. :) Seriously, I'm glad you have such a good group. It's often difficult to find good fannish groups of any species, and it sounds like the SCA has its own set of problems. In any case, I know you'vwe been enjoying it a lot and that the fighting really satisfies you, so huzzah! on your behalf.
I would probably get more involved with the SCA here in Boston if it wasn't for the fact that ministry and aikido commitments generally take up a good deal of my time these days.
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Hm. Interesting. In my region, I have it on decent authority that the titles are largely social decoration for minor achievements. (Of course, I'm aware that these things can differ from place to place.)
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I'm aware of that, but it's the current state of affairs I'm working with.
And as to minor achievements - not quite. The amount of work behind a SCA peerage is pretty impressive.
An amount of craftwork, playing at an undersubscribed martial art, or organising things in your spare time are minor compared to everyday, ordinary things.
I achieve as much, if not more in a month's work than any Laurel achieved getting that award. Ariel, for instance, puts far more effort into her job than any Pelican ever put into organising things. We'd all be pulped by Olympic fencers. In the greater scheme of things, the peerages are minor achievements, even if they're fine things in and of themselves.
And it is a different (parrallel) social order for those who chose not to partake in regular reality.
That's fine for them, but they have to recognise that not everyone playing is playing at that level. Some can't, and some don't want to.
Further, no matter how immersive it is for some, it doesn't constitute an actual parallel social order - everyone in the SCA has day-to-day non-SCA things to do, and lives a life outside it. And that life affects what they can and do achieve in the SCA. It may be occasionally divergent, but it's not parallel.
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errm, yes and no.
you underestimate laurels there and I have seen pelicans litteraly put years of work in. Etienne was kingdom seneshal - and that was a 40 hour a week job for 15 months. and he has done more before that and after that to become a pelican.
Knights are blackbelt level fighters. And I have pulped olympic fencers. badly. olympic as in the style. Sadly i have never faced Dean Rafael, who was working on getting on the US Olympic team.
And a lot of Laurels can easily compete with professionals in their field(s).
as to being a parallel world - the SCA has it's own economy to a certain extent and some ppl literally completely live there, yes they have to interact with mundane autorities and stuff, but they have chosen to live their lives in the SCA. I have done that for a while.
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I've had problems here in Drachenwald. Heck, I was fired as ID seneschal. I was very successful as a baronial seneschal and as a kingdom seneschal. What was my problem? I had to explain over and over again to two individuals high in rank that they couldn't do what they wanted to do because it went against SCA rules. Basically, I was fired for doing my job and daring to speak against people who thought they knew everything. *sigh* If I don't know something, I'll admit it. But heck, I've been in the SCA since 1979. I've served in shires, baronies, principalities, kingdoms and even a little at the corporate level. The current SCA president was my student. I was student to two amazing Pelicans (one also a Laurel) and a former SCA steward (also a Pelican and Laurel). I learned a lot -- and I learned to ask questions and look for answers. And I've learned now how many people support me and wish I were still seneschal. Oh well. :)
But I also learned over the years that the SCA is about enjoying yourselves. And if someone, particularly someone who is a relative newcomer makes a minor slip, you control yourself and don't jump all over them. I believe the person who corrected you (tell me privately if you want -- I think I know) actually doesn't know as much as that person thinks s/he knows. Even if it's a major slip, you work with them privately and on an individual basis. And you're not pedantic about it.
I don't know it all about the SCA, but I know quite a bit. And I know to encourage newcomers -- not to knock them down. *sigh* I was so angry when I learned someone had 'corrected' you last summer.
Ireland plays the SCA the way I remember it being played a long time ago. That's why we're coming over for Yuletide. The events in Ireland are the way events should be.
Seriously, if you go anywhere and someone starts being condescending, use me as your attack cat. And I bet two certain peers in Ireland would be an attack wolf and an attack lizard as well. ;)
I play SCA as a hobby. I have a life. I have a fulfilling career, I love my husband, I live in a nice house, my cats are nifty, I have a lot of cool friends and I do a lot of things besides the SCA. There are some people for whom the SCA is about all they have -- they don't like their jobs, they're having all sorts of mundane problems etc. The SCA is the only place where they feel they have any control. I feel sorry for them.
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But those are just my feelings; what do I know? ;)
I don't want to be an officer any longer; I just want to sit back and point and giggle.
And wear male garb to events because it's so comfy and freeing. :)
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At that event I saw quite a few of the area's metalworkers and their work. I'm not a blacksmith, but the ferrous people seemed to be really good. I was less impressed by the small metals. There were a couple of people who were "stars" (not anyone on my flist) whose skills were not all that good. Meaning, in at least one case, not up to many of the people who have been through my beginner's class. Not my business, and there are certainly some superb craftspeople in the SCA, including small metals- but the standards of the SCA itself did not seem rigorous, and the respect seemed more based on "spin" than on skill. Not my cup of tea. *shrug*