[Ansteorra] Question 11/18

[Paul DeLisle]

Well...Well, you can't make a "roadmap for peace" without knowing the
topography (How's that for mixing my metaphors?? *G*) What I'm trying to
say, is that I can't speak directly to your problem, without knowing the
specific people and situations involved. However, here are a few general
observations:

First off...there are *always* more lazy people than there are workers;
*especially* if they are rewarded for that behavior. You (collective "you",
whoever are the real players in your group) have to make the events *much*
more attractive than staying home and drinking beer (or whatever.) So:
--Talk about how much fun you had at "X" event...and how much you're looking
forward to going to "Y" event.
--Make plans to go to "Y" event...sewing circles (maybe a cloak-making
party, given the weather?)...cooking night, etc...all to get ready for event
"Y".
--Try and make it easier for those who *are* interested, to get to those
events. Offer crash space, a ride, food sharing, etc. You might find out
that "casting your bread upon the waters" will come back tenfold someday! It
also gets the group thinking and working together.

Second, Here's another observation: don't fight so hard. In most situations,
confrontation *isn't* the right answer. Remember, in Judo, sometimes you win
by relaxing. By the same token, you can't be ridiculed by someone who's
opinion Doesn't Matter (*s*.) If they try, they only end up looking foolish.
Admittedly, it sometimes takes some Rank (or noteriety) to pull this off,
but it *does* work. (Believe me, I know... I encountered a group once, where
the "movers and shakers" would actually *vote* on who they would "let into
the Shire." It took a White Scarf, a Baroness, and a *very* harsh light of
reality to send *those* bugs scuttling off...see point number Three.)

Third: Remember that "legal" doesn't just mean breaking Mundane law...it
also means upholding the tenets of the SCA (Ink.) If they aren't following
Kingdom Law, then someone up the appropriate chain of command (Seneschalate,
Marshallate, or whatever) needs to be advised... repeatedly, if necessary.
Remember, thought, that the Seneschal is there to fix problems, not
necessarily to hear endless complaining. Get your facts straight, and put it
in writing (a phone call, or an in-person meeting often helps at least as
much, but you need the hard information as well.) This approach can cause
some short-term problems in a group...but if you are *really* trying to do
it to make the group healthier, you should be okay.

Again, I hope this helps.

Alden


-----Original Message-----
From: ansteorra-bounces+ferret=hot.rr.com at ansteorra.org
[mailto:ansteorra-bounces+ferret=hot.rr.com at ansteorra.org]On Behalf Of
niklas at pbgilbert.net
Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 9:23 AM
To: Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc.
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Question 11/18


Ok, however, let's say that they make concerted efforts (thru various
means and people) to impose their views and idea of the SCA (a personal
party club) on rest of the group, despite efforts to negotiate "peace
and cooperation".

Add to this issue the fact that there are more of them than the folks
that travel and wish to participate in the "true" SCA, not the SCA that
  is practiced in someones living room.

Keep in mind that the attitude of the ones being dealt with do not deal
in logic and trying to "educate them in the SCA" results only in
confrontation, laughter (ridicule) and no results.

Niklas





Paul DeLisle wrote:
> My answer would be this:
>
> They get to play locally...and contribute in whatever way they wish to the
> local group (as long as it's legal)...however, they *don't* get to impose
> their personal view on others, or the group as a whole.
> It's the responsibility of the others in the group (or those that travel
> there), especially those with experience, to see that they do not do so.
> You need to make the Bigger, Brighter, Kingdom-level playing more
attractive
> than the tiny, "safe" little community that might have been created
locally.
>
> Easy?...probably not. But necessary? Absolutely.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> In Service, I remain
> Alden Pharamond
> Tir Medoin, Ansteorra
>
>
>
> A caveat here that may change this equation...
> What if the ones that do not travel, refuse to travel or even
> participate on a local level except in their own skewed view of the SCA.
> Niklas
>
>
>
> Vicki Marsh wrote:
>
>>Cross-pollination.
>>
>>And, if Mohammed won't come to the mountain, then the mountain must come
>
> to
>
>>Mohammed.
>>
>>The *real* leaders of the groups must travel and make connections with
>
> other
>
>>groups that are socially different from theirs in nature. They must make
>>connections with others and work to invite the outsiders to come to events
>>where the insulated populace can meet them and have a sharing of ideas and
>
> a
>
>>shared experience with the "foreigners". Groups tend to become xenophobic
>
> if
>
>>they never come in contact with other groups. It becomes an SCA groups
>
> that
>
>>is almost like the Branch Davidians - Us vs. Them, and my way is the only
>>ONE true way..... I've seen more groups self-destruct when they become
>>"ego-centric" because they revolve around one person's ego and it is their
>>way, or else...
>>
>>Real leaders, whether officers/nobles, or not, will understand that they
>>have to expose their groups to other schools of thought and ways of
>
> playing
>
>>the SCA. They also need to work steadfastly to counter the peer fear that
>
> we
>
>>tend to instill in our new people over time. Leaders also need to lead by
>>example by traveling and teaching, as well as bringing along members of
>>their household/shire/barony/etc., so they can all learn new things
>>together.
>>
>>Rambling from lack of sleep,
>>
>>Xene
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ansteorra mailing list
> Ansteorra at ansteorra.org
> http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/ansteorra
>

--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul Gilbert, KE5ZW		H.E. Niklas Vasilevich
niklas at pbgilbert.net	      CB,CSM,KGA,OTR,ORH,Crane,AoA
936-714-3198 Cellular            Kingdom of Ansteorra
             Society for Creative Anachronism

            Texas Dept. Of Transportation, Radio Operations
            Austin, Texas                      512-506-5141
                       pgilber at dot.state.tx.us

                        "The Eagle has landed"
         "Sable, a double-headed eagle, a bordure engrailed or"

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