ANST - Why am I playng this game?

[C. L. Ward]

HL Anya said:
>An altercation occurred between 4 people (2 being peers) and
>another person who is also a peer. The four obviously had a
>grievance that they wished to discuss as they initiated the
>altercation. While I was not privy to the subject matter (nor do
>I wish to be) I was rather distressed by the raised voices (one
>screeching) of the people initiating the discussion. From what I
>can see, they had the one peer backed up against a display with
>no real means of escape. They then proceeded to reduce the
>single peer to tears. This was conducted in a *very* public
>place with many non-SCA people watching (if not hearing). I am
>not sure if I can ever show my face in that establishment again.

I haven't seen a peer speak to this issue yet, but I'm still wading through
my mail that piled up whilst I was on vacation.

There are certainly times when it is not just appropriate but absolutely
necessary that peers police one another.  People are all the time griping
about bad judging, but what people do not see is how the Laurels' Circle
can and will go to a judge that has acted badly and explain the facts of
life to them.  In general when this is done politeness is attempted, and we
always try to do this in private.

Without knowing *which* peers and *what* situation, I am unwilling to
comment on the specific situation.  I do have to point out though that it
could have been a lot of things - imagine what you and your friends would
do if you saw a man hit a lady at an event, for instance, or if you saw a
child being abused, or other inappropriate behavior.  Many people would sit
and later bitch, but some would attempt to intervene, I suspect.  Without
knowing BOTH sides of the story, that of the one and that of the many, you
cannot judge whether the behavior was appropriate, good, or right.

Now I will say that no matter what it was, it probably should have been
done in private.  But I will also say that sometimes people will not allow
you to make it private.  If I go to a person and tell them that I need to
talk to them and they refuse to withdraw to a private place, chances are
quite good that I will have that discussion with them right there and to
their face.

So, overall, we'd all prefer it to be a private encounter,  But it's
important also to recognize that there are times and situations in which
instant action is needed, no matter how unpleasant.

My suggestion to HL Anya would be to speak to the Crown if members of more
than one peerage circle were involved, or speak to the Circle if one
peerage group was all that was involved in the incident.  The Peerages *DO*
police our own.


Wæs Þu Hæl (Waes Thu Hael)

::GUNNORA::

Gunnora Hallakarva, OL
Baroness to the Court of Ansteorra
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Ek eigi visa þik hversu oðlask Lofstirrlauf-Kruna heldr hversu na Hersis-Aðal
(Ek eigi thik hversu odhlask Lofstirrlauf-Kruna heldr hversu na Hersis-Adhal)

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