[Ansteorra] tagging newcomers (was: Newbie's perspective on NMS and other things)

[Danielle Jennings]

That is a very good idea because it would allow the person to decide when
they are feeling like they need a bit of help.Another thing you hit with new
participants is how long they feel new.

When I went to my second event I started a question with the phrase "So I'm
kinda new." the person I was talking to immediately said "Oh so am! I I have
only been playing for about two years."  I was so astounded that two years
was still new that I lost track of the question I was going to ask, which
obviously was not a very important one.

So it may not come down to how new you actually are but if you feel that you
have gotten your feet under you yet. For instance I have been playing for
about six months and at events in my area or well attended by my home Barony
I have my feet under me quite well, but at event where I do not really know
anyone (I might recognize them but have never sat down and had a
conversation) I still feel like I need a neon flashing sign over my head
saying "Help!"

Pippa

On 19 February 2010 15:50, Fiona the Needleworker
<danab-steppes at tx.rr.com>wrote:

> What if we created some sort of discrete favor of some sort, like a ribbon
> or something that would attach to the belt or dress or something, that we
> could keep a look out and know they were new. And we could/would/should let
> them know that it means that people will be watching out for them, making
> sure they're okay and taken care of. That if they need anything, they would
> be able to walk up to anyone without one to ask questions about something,
> and that they would be able to also see anyone else that was in the same
> boat as them and new to the SCA?
>
> Sorry...long. I know.
>
> Fiona
>
> On Feb 19, 2010, at 3:12 PM, Coblaith Muimnech wrote:
>
>  Donnchadh wrote:
>>
>>> One idea that was brought up was having a badge or sash that we could
>>> give to newcomers.  The idea being that others would then recognize that the
>>> person wearing it was a newcomer and we could offer whatever help and
>>> guidance was needed.  As a newcomer, what would your feelings on something
>>> like that be?
>>>
>>
>> At a recent event, a newcomer commented to me that when her sister was
>> hired as a freshly-minted nurse, she had to wear some sort of identifying
>> doohicky (I forget what it was, exactly) at work for the first 6 months so
>> everybody who saw her would at a glance understand that she couldn't yet be
>> relied on to know all the rules and procedures, and that she felt like she
>> needed something like that to wear at S.C.A. events so people would
>> understand things needed to be explained to her in a way they wouldn't to
>> someone who'd been around for a while.
>>
>> Personally, I've always thought something like that was a good idea.  The
>> only coherent objection that I've ever heard is that it might make newcomers
>> feel marginalized or make the shy ones uncomfortable, and that doesn't hold
>> water if the only people using them are the ones who want to.
>>
>>
>> Coblaith Muimnech
>> <mailto:Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>
>> <http://coblaith.net>
>>
>>
>>
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