[Ansteorra] a question

[Chris Zakes]

At 09:13 AM 4/29/03 -0700, you wrote:
>--
>[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
>hi,i have a philosophical question. on sunday i heard a knight say that
the sca is ninety nine percent politics and only one percent other. since
there is no honor or chilvary in politics, only nderhanded deceipt. does
that mean that if a equals b and b equals c that a equals c?just an observer


<shrug> Mostly, it depends. *Some* politics can be pretty messy, especially
if people aren't willing to "play fairly", but the same thing can be said
of SCA fighting. But saying that there is *no* chivalry or honor in
politics is as absurd as saying all SCA fighters are rhinohides out to win
at any cost.

The trick is to use the same ethics that are common on the field--giving
your opponent the benefit of the doubt, calling your own blows fairly, not
hitting from behind, obeying the rules even if nobody is watching,
etc.--when you're dealing with a "political" situation.

As Robert Heinlein said, "Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes.
Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend."

	-Tivar Moondragon