SCA's NEXT GENERATION

[amazing at mail.utexas.edu]

Greetings, Cosyns,

Lyonel ici.

Ghia cites my
>>>...when you invite someone
>to a newcomer's revel or newcomer's class or newcomer's
>quasi-medieval-whatsiwhoosis, you label that someone as a "newcomer."  Once
>you've been so labeled, it seems an eternity before anyone will take you
>seriously. <<

and replies:
>You must have had a bad experience.  I've never seen that problem in my neck
>of the woods.  In fact, most of the time, newcomers are, as I've mentioned
>before, smothered with affection.  Us 'oldies' rush to be the first ones to
>answer the questions, we rush to be the first ones to discover the new
>person's interests and help them find their medieval niche, we 'oldies'
>practically make it a competition.  Most of the newcomers I've dealt with are
>assimilated completely by their third SCA-related meeting.  Mwoo-ha ha ha.
> Ummm, I mean.....
>
>Anyway, as for being taken seriously, what did you mean?  I would listen with
>a grain of salt to any new person who thought they had the ideal solution to
>the an on-going shire feud.  But I would *listen*, after all, they have a
>different perspective and might see something we don't.  And I would never
>patronize, condescend to, or belittle someone just because they are new to
>the SCA.  And furthermore, how many of you who know me have *ever* seen me
>take *anything* seriously?  Larkin?  Marthe?  Cad?  Nope?  Didn't think so.

No, I didn't personally have a bad experience, but no one ever labeled me a
"newcomer."  I started in a small but rapidly growing group.  Since
everyone there was fairly "new," few were in a position to pretend to
superior experience.  Once you'd been to an event, as far as we were
concerned, you were a part of the populace (whether you wanted to be or
not).   Occasionally, however, in various parts of the Known World, I've
heard the complaint "they still treat me like a newbie," especially in
areas chock full of established players (note I did not say "fogeys").

Not being  taken seriously:

"She wants to run an event.  By herself.  She doesn't understand how hard a
job it is."

"He wants to hold office.  This job involves a lot of responsibility.  We
can't just turn it over to a newbie"

"She wants to start a guild.  Who does she think she is?"

"He wants to teach a class.  Sheesh.  Does he know anything yet?"

I've also seen would-be fighters and artists (I'm not saying HERE, mind)
who couldn't get access to a teacher because the peers were all busy with
more advanced students.  (Why the more advanced students weren't taking on
students themselves, I don't understand, but that's another problem.)

Y'r obed'nt s'r'v'nt

Sir Lyonel Oliver Grace
__________________
Dennis Grace
University of Texas at AUstin
English Department
Recovering Medievalist

That's right, you're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway.

--Lyle Lovett