[Ansteorra] old examples (grin)

[Lady Einin Ciarnait]

There are some Laurels who do this. If you look at their basic 
personalities they do it in other areas besides the SCA. I don't mind them 
though they are annoying because not all Laurels (in fact most of them) 
don't do this..... How come this old horse gets trotted out to be beaten 
on a regular basis. There are many, many Laurels who don't do 
this. Laurels who try to be helpful, thoughtful and nice. No one brings 
up examples of them so the notion that Laurels are normally bitchy people 
who say rude things about beginners, crushing their spirits, driving them 
away from the SCA and hurting their feelings are continued.

By all means, do say the stories if you want to prove a point but try to 
also include a story about the nice one who sat down for a hour and talked 
about the person's good points. Or found them places to learn how to do it 
correctly, or introduced them to people who could help them. Or are 
generally nice people who also happen to be Laurels.

You are correct...there are many wonderful Laurels out there...just as there are wonderful peers who do their best to make people, especially the newcomer's feel comfortable in the Society.

I am still new to Ansteorra and have found people here for the most part to be especially helpful and friendly ( Even after being warned by some in Caid that you hate Caidans here)

Unfortunatley however, in the Society in general, I have run into far too many who critisize the slightest thing that is not perfectly period ( this over an almost 30 year time in the SCA) and who frighten off the newcomers...Unfortunatley also, most of these are either "New" Laurels...or wannabe Laurels who also critisize anyone who may have as much if not more talent then they have.

When performing my duties as Chatelaine, in Dun Or...one of the things that we did for the newcomers, was to have several "Peers"  come to a meeting to help get past the "pointy hat" fear that many people have instilled in them.

One of my favorite people in the SCA.. Duchess Natalya De Foix...use to have many people refer to her as the "viper duchess" because they didn't know her and were told to fear her...why I don't know. She hates being bowed to and will generally answer...get over here and give me my hug.

OK getting off track here...sorry:)

Einin