[Ansteorra] 10' credibility tool

[HL Darcy]

I would just like to point out that there is nothing in the SCA governing
documents or incorporation that says our function is to "educate" the
general population.  We are a "self-educating" group as witnessed by the
many universities, colleges and collegiums throughout the Known World.  We
do not put on public performances as many of the groups that are limited to
more restricted time periods (often wars) do.

HL Darcy Evaline o Lasgwm

----- Original Message -----
From: "C. Weed" <cweed at austin.rr.com>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 1:26 AM
Subject: [Ansteorra] 10' credibility tool


> In regard to Marc Carlson's estimation of the infamous 10 foot rule,
Donnel
> writes:
>
> >>>>>>
> The first rule [that just outlines some sort of effort discerned at 10
feet]
> is correct this one [an effort that would fool the eye of a field expert
at
> 10 feet] is  not.
> Donnel
> >>>>>>
>
> Which is an interesting, albeit a somewhat absolutist view.  I think the
> credibility of the sca could be *drastically* improved in regard to the
> historical community, the educational community, as well as the
re-enactment
> community if we adopted Mr. Carlson's standard rather than the one
approved
> above.  If any of you doubt that there is a bit of an intellectual stigma
> attached to the sca as a seriously informative source, bring it up as a
> credential in the circles listed above.  (See groups like HACA/ARMA, and
the
> sundry reenactment groups from the Regency to the Civil War to the
> Buckskinner eras for contrast)
>
> There's a pecking order in the world of
> clubs-where-folks-dress-up-and-make-rules and the sca is nowhere near the
> top.
>
> The scas defining documents present us as "educational" but I think one
> member in ten could say to a group of middle schoolers with an honest
face:
> "Yes, Johnny, this is what people in [insert time/place] looked like."
The
> rest would get some very interesting and pointed questions about tennis
> shoes and about the wearing of athletic supporters on the outsides of
> sweatpants and about animal faces painted on fencing masks and about ninja
> swords tucked into Viking belts and about basket hilts and bargrills and
and
> and ad nauseum ad infinitum.
>
> I have long thought that the "educational" bit of our definition is a
farce.
> I think, in honesty, we're far more interested in our own socialization
than
> we are in informing the external public.  It's not a bad thing- I just
wish
> we could either stop pretending or step up to the challenge the wording
> presents.  Donnels interpretation of the 10' rule says to me: "A t-tunic
> rather than a t-shirt".  Marcs says: "Spend the extra twelve bucks and get
> the linen to really set the mood."  This little hiccough could, of course,
> be rectified if we defined ourselves as a fraternity but that's another
road
> for another horse on another day.
>
> C. Weed
> Who loves the SCA no matter if we live up to our rhetoric or not.
>
>
> Addendum:
>
> It occurs to me that there could be a flood of "But what about Mistress
> Gunnorra: Viking Answer Lady Extrordinaire?" type responses.  Let me say
> this to those before the blood pressure medicine runs out: yes, we have
many
> people who are members of the sca that are *HIGHLY* respected in the
> academic and reenactment world at large.  They stand out as giants among
us.
> Mr. Carlson is to the historical shoemaking community worldwide, a pillar.
> Iolo has crossbows in Museums worldwide and his consultation on the
subject
> is second to no person alive.  On more than one occasion an SCA member has
> won a major costuming competition open to professionals- see Truly Biggs
and
> Dawn Hemphill (Lady Eleanor and Mistress Ariella) as prime examples.
We've
> had (and still have, I believe) Laurels in our Kingdom with PhDs.  But I
> don't think they, in general, use the sca as a credential and I'd even
wager
> that these same people have noticed the same or a similar trend to the one
> I've noted here within their respective specialized academic and
> professional neighborhoods.
>
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