NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/rec/org/sca/17004

Text File | 1992-12-23 | 2.9 KB | 54 lines

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Path: sparky!uunet!spool.mu.edu!agate!linus!philabs!acheron!scifi!watson!yktnews!admin!siena!mittle
From: [e-mail] (Josh Mittleman)
Subject: Re: Annual Xmas Depression; moan, weep, gnash
Sender: [e-mail] (NNTP News Poster)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 00:01:08 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
References:  <[e-mail]>
Nntp-Posting-Host: siena.watson.ibm.com
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Lines: 40

Greetings from Arval!  William gnashed:

> It occurs to me that these discussions always center on details in the
> SCA game...  The chief obstacle is the SCA system, the way our group is
> organized.

That's a good observation; our system is indeed almost uniformly
inauthentic.  However, I think your commentary reveals that your approach
to the game is quite different from the average SCAdian participant, at
least in the parts of the Society where I've travelled.  By and large, we
are not trying to maintain a medieval system, we are trying to create a
medieval atmosphere.  Many of us would be happier if the system we happen
to be using were more authentic in its titles, rewards, etc., but I think
that most of us simply don't care enough to do anything about it.  Most
SCAfolk focus on their own work, their own crafts, and their immediate
surroundings.  As long as they feel that those things create a pleasant
medieval atmosphere, they are content and feel that they are contributing
to the Society.  How the king is selected, or how he rewards his subjects,
or how the local baron relates to the crown rarely effects them.  On the
other hand, if someone starts coming to local events in gold lame' wizard's
robes and plastic elf-ears, it effects them immediately.  If someone shows
up at their tourney in pickle-barrel plastic armor, it ruins the atmosphere
immediately.

Even the more learned SCAfolk operate on essentially the same principle.
When Emperor Justin sees someone dancing a mdoern dance, he finds it
irksome because it ruins his personal medieval environment.  It is only his
specialized knowledge that make it irksome, but there are a lot of us who
have specialized knowledge of one kind or another and are therefore irked
by something or other.  That's why I try to avoid inauthentic equipage at
events: Any modern item I bring is probably going to disturb the atmosphere
for someone.

For me, those two principles probably define what I try to do at events: I
try, through my own efforts, to enhance the medieval atmosphere for myself
and anyone else who cares to enjoy what I do, and I do my best to avoid the
game that other people are playing.

===========================================================================
Arval Benicoeur                                       [e-mail]