Whine, whine, whine

[Aodhan Ite an Fhithich]

Vicki Marsh wrote in a message to All:

 VM> From: zarazena at io.com (Vicki Marsh)
 VM> Subject: Re: Whine, whine, whine

 VM> If I might interject, Gilli was active in the principality of
 VM> Ansteorra - in Archery - when I met him in 1978.  Iolo joined
 VM> around 1979 and started making crossbows almost right away.  Steve
 VM> Jackson (previously known as Vargskol Halfblood, Baron Bryn Gwlad)
 VM> still has an early 'Iolo' Crossbow sitting in his living room.

Zara Zina, I'm hurt that you forget how long we've known each other.  I've been
playing since before we were a principality - I'm well aware of how long Iolo's
been making crossbows (although I must admit I didn't realize Gilli was a
dinosaur, too).

 VM> I beg to disagree.  I know there were Academies of the Bow starting
 VM> over seven years ago in Middleford 

But... Seven years ago *is* recently (especially when your SCA life approaches
geological timeframes).

 VM> Looking at it with some perspective - How would a fighter feel if
 VM> she dropped her favorite sword in battle only to see a fighter from
 VM> an opposing force purposefully stomp on it and walk off?

They'd probably think "what a dork" and whack 'em harder next time they met. 
(unless the stomped sword broke - in which case they'd probably avoid that
gorilla like the plague.)

 VM> In my humble opinion, archery is a fighting skill unto itself, much
 VM> like rapier.  It is a sub-community that contributes a great deal
 VM> to our Fair kingdom, and as such, I think it deserves a separate
 VM> award. 

Then why not the same for dance or heraldry?  Do these sub-communities
contribute less than the archers?

Aodhan