[Ansteorra] It was me. (was Shenanigans)

[Dragonetti]

Armand here...taking dictation from Mistress Ameline....

Five years ago, I (Ameline) made a sheep-to-shawl Viking apron. Spun, dyed,
wove and sewed with trim also made from that hand-made yarn. In keeping with
the scale of the project, I was also judged on the finishing of the wool
used in the project. I was knocked off a perfect score of 50 down to a 48
for not finishing my wool in a period manner...completely appropriate, IMO.
There were 4 or 5 techniques mentioned that I could have used. I only
remember the one about "Urine" because I remarked to others as I read the
commentary, "They can HAVE those 2 points! ":-)

I thought the judge was fair and had a valid argument to support their
position, because I had put it in my washing machine, after having spent so
much time on the earlier stages of the project. I was tired and time was
running short and I needed to finish the garment. This is a "Yes, but.."
argument. I don't play "Yes, but" because the judge's point was valid. I
took a shortcut. When I put something out to be judged, I am happy with what
I have done. I am displaying for others to see how to do things and to
educate myself, because I think it's fun. I only worry about my scores when
they might affect the kingdom's Champion War Point. Unfortunately, that was
the case in this instance. (They can still *have* those 2 points, cause I
was tired... And it was funny and makes for a good story. And it IS true!)

The next year, at the Kingdom A&S Champion War Point competition, in my
Viking Bead Kiln project, I used actual horse dung! I did NOT get counted
off for period materials on that one. :-)

So sheath your blades, the judges strive hard to be fair and they have a
tuff job. Let's all just have fun displaying, learning and not getting too
wrapped-around-the-axel over the results. Fighters call their own blows. In
A&S, others call your blows for you, so it can feel more judgmental
sometimes. But if YOU like your stuff, and have fun doing it, maybe learning
something along the way, isn't that all that really matters?

Humbly put forth, by one whose been judged at the Championship level for the
last 10 years, (as well as a judge for the last 5),

Mistress Ameline du Bois, OL


-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Schorn

OK, so someone on this list says they know of an A&S judge, or have heard of
an A&S judge, who marked a fiber arts contestant down for not using her own
urine in the dying process.

If that's true, then send me their name.  Because I, me, Master Cadfan ap
Morgan Godrudd, OL--I wanna have a talk with 'em.

Seriously.  My e-mil is peterschorn at pdq.net.  Drop a dime.  Anytime.

But if you don't feel comfortable doing that, if you don't feel like you
have enough evidence to prove that something so outrageous went down...

...then it seems to me you're getting worked up over Nerdistan's equivalent
of the exploding-poodle story.  

It's a great story, even if it just _might_ happen to be bullstuff.  Hey,
I'm a Bard: bullstuff stories are what I do.  And I have a strong sideline
in manufactured outrage, too.

But, see, _I know it's bullstuff_.  I'm not going to go working up a real if
diffuse resentment of A&S competitions, or judges, or judging, for no actual
provable reason.  Because I know the job's difficult enough, and our efforts
imperfect enough, without someone revving up the old FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE
TUCHUX AND I DID NOT SPEAK UP engine.

*sigh*  I don't think anybody's telling deliberate untruths for bad reasons,
or good reasons, or even at all. I do think we're playing a giant game of
indignation-fueled Post Office, each building just a little on one another's
outrage until we've started going just a little postal.

I see that going on enough in the real world right now, so I kinda get upset
when I see it here in the place where I go to have fun.

So I've spoken up and volunteered my own efforts to help resolve it--if it
really happened.  If it didn't--guess this is all the effort I can make.

What's Middle Welsh for "Operators are standing by?"

--Cadfan