Out of the frying pan. . . .
LANGJ@mail.syntron.com
LANGJ at mail.syntron.com
Wed Mar 1 15:47:30 PST 1995
Having watched the "discussion" for the last few days, I have
decided to add my own observations to the soup (coloured by my
experiences, derived from many years in a chair near "the fan").
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is precisely what it
says, a society. As such it has no fixed boundaries. It exist
wherever two members meet to discuss common concerns and
interests. If it can exist in a library meeting room, a coffee
shop, or a cow pasture, this forum is unavoidably encompassed as
well.
This "space" is an extension of the SCA, by it's name, and its
orientation.
Here, members of the SCA (and interested parties), "meet" to
discuss the SCA's affairs, trade ideas and information, and
generally commune with others of similar interest.
If there is anyone who receives this echo who does not want to be
troubled by a continuation of these discussions (and their
fallout) at physical events, he should consider eschewing one or
the other. Most of the discussion so continued will be related to
more pleasant aspects of these discussions, but alas, that is not
certain. Reality seldom shows much concern for our perception of
how things should progress. Wether we like it or not.
Galen, who has stood a watch at the helm of Ansteorra (the Crown
directs, the officers steer), has to my amazement refrained from
relating his personal and official interactions with persons who
have sent venomous missives by several media. Once the letter is
in the post, or the <send> keyed, the matter of the
confidentiality is in the hands of the recipient. A letter is not
an article. The recipient may not offer it for sale, but may
distribute it as he will. Alas, many a former member of the SCA
forgot the simple and inexorable fact that once spoken/sent, your
words cannot be recalled. Privacy is no defense against
prosecution for threatening or obscene mail or phone calls. The
net still exists in a grey area, but I suspect it will not remain
there for long.
Today, at least, anyone in the SCA who sends abusive postings to
anyone else in the SCA will have to deal with the consequences.
Not on the net, but somewhere, perhaps it will be in a court (we
would like to believe that an outraged husband whose wife has been
the target of an obscene diatribe will remain more civilized that
the perpetrator of the offense). It will not matter to those who
must deal with the matter wether the offensive "letter" came with
a stamp, or over a wire.
I would prefer that the resolution of these matters was not sought
here, that is not why I am here, nor I hope, do the rest of those
who read these words wish to be part of any puerile contest of
invective.
For over twenty years, I have sought my dream in the SCA. Those
who have the same goal may sometimes need to be reminded (as often
do I), that we have built this place from the stuff of the dreams
of the modern world. It is often poor stock, but I'd not trade it
all for one of the wonders that I have found here.
"Dip into the pool of chaos, and fashion therefrom a Wonder,
contentment will come from no other."
bran
[langj at mail.syntron.com]
More information about the Ansteorra
mailing list