[Ansteorra] Things to think about....

[Michael Smith]

My personal take on the issue of "wanting" an award is to me a logical
progression.

I play this game because I enjoy it.

I enjoy it in part because the other people who play are my friends as well
as people I look up to and respect.

ALL of the criteria for ALL of the awards in this kingdom and I imagine
every other kingdom are "good things to do."

The activities I choose to participate in, I want to do well.  Who woulnd't?

Getting an award, to me, means that my friends and people I look up to think
I'm doing it right.

That last is important, and here's why.  I want to be recognized as KSCA
some day.  There, I said it out loud.  Today and every day I am a knight in
my heart.  I carry myself with honor and chivalry.  I try to fight as well
as I can.  But for the SCA, I'm not "there" yet.

But, to use an extreme example, Hitler and Stalin both thought they were
doing THEIR "thing" right as well.  History would disagree.  The real world
honors those who "did it right" who where in positions of power by naming
building, streets, cities, and museums after people when they're gone.  We
erect monuments to them.  Everything these two did has been villified and
there are no monuments to them...they did NOT do it right.

So, in the SCA, we get a feeling of satisfaction that we're doing our thing
right when we get an award.  It's positive feedback from our friends and
those we look up to that they enjoy playing this game with us.  There are
very few permanant monuments in the SCA.  I didn't know Riccardo di Pisa,
and from what I understand, I wish I could have met him.  But he's there in
the OP. AoA, Thistle, Gauntlet, KSCA, Lion and more.  One more way to
remember a man that so many cherished and valued, and a way that a person
who never met him may stumble across his name and say, "Can someone please
tell me about him?"  Not the only way certainly.  :)

Anyway, I'm awfully long winded at times.  This is of course, just my
opinion. :)

Yours,
Lord Morgan Buchanan
Squire to Sir Duncan, Earl of Ross

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