[Ansteorra] Telling someone that what they are doing is notperiod

[Ann Milliron]

Well said Lady Nuala.  The one thing many forget is that we are a  CREATIVE 
group.  Like you time and money stops many from playing myself included. 
Then to top that with being critized by the period police.  Makes you look 
for other activities that takes less money, and the little time we have to 
spare with friends.  We want to be seen as we are not as an art piece to be 
critic.

Love your tag line as well.  Going with that line changing it to  other 
questions on this thread.

Being called Sir, Master, Mistress doesn't make you a Peer, actions do.

HE Anastasiya


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lizdenpeters at juno.com>
To: <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 11:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Telling someone that what they are doing is 
notperiod


> Good Gentles,
>
> This is a subject close to my heart as I was "blasted" numerous times as
> a newbie for my apparel.  In the Knowne World Handbook, it advises " Be
> gentle to the stranger.  If it is necessary to offer advice or correction
> (as when someone in modern dress wanders onto the field), speak in a
> friendly manner, informing rather than reproving him and doing everything
> necessary possible to help him find proper attire."  I was told in the
> beginning that as long as I made an honest attempt to look "period" even
> if it was inept (and trust me, it was), that I would not be chastised.
> That proved to be untrue.  And, at my second event, I was roundly blasted
> at least eight (yes, eight!!) times for my attire.  It made me very angry
> as I had been working a lot of overtime at work and staying up very late
> to finish clothing for my husband and myself.  The ninth time it
> happened, I just smiled as sweetly as I could (seething inside, of
> course!) and said that since I obviously had no idea of what materials to
> use or what to make that perhaps the lady could make me something
> appropriate to wear and I would thenceforth wear what she made me with
> pride.  The woman was speechless.  During the course of my second event,
> I was compelled to repeat that another time.  And I did the same thing at
> every future event I attended when my garb was criticized (and it was)
> and probably still is.  (I am just not confronted as much as I used to
> be.)
>
> The SCA is an expensive avocation even when you do your best to economize
> on things.  I wear cotton garb (I have been told many times that cotton
> is not a period material.) and will continue to do so.  It is very
> comfortable in the Ansteorran summers and a very practical material as
> well as relatively inexpensive. (Will you wear several layers of felted
> wool in 100 degree plus weather??) I hope to make something of linen when
> I can find a color I like at a price I can afford (Don't hold your breath
> on this one!).  I try to approximate a "period look" since that is the
> best I can do.  When I can afford a $3K Panther Pavilion with all the
> various accoutrements to go with it as well as hire people to set it all
> up and take it down and pack it all for me, I will do that (Again, don't
> hold your breath on this one, either.)  Until then, I will use a nylon
> tent because it's what I can afford.  Starting out in the SCA is an
> expensive and time consuming proposition.  It requires a real commitment
> from the newcomer as well as the welcoming group.  You are talking about
> a dedicated wardrobe with accessories, camping equipment, feast gear, and
> many other miscellaneous sundries.  Mentoring and spending that precious
> quantity, TIME, to help a new person is essential.  Getting to know them,
> just a bit, will make any constructive criticism better received.
> Unrealistic expectations from either the group or the newcomer only lead
> to bad feelings on both sides.  An excellent and under used tool to help
> new people is the Known World Handbook.  I wish I had known about it and
> been able to obtain a copy much earlier in my tenure in the SCA.  It
> explains so much -- I refer to it for many things even now.
>
> We all forget stuff even when we have a pretty complete SCA "kit"  -- I
> always seem to forget to bring a mug these days. Today I attended an
> event and forgot my mug but remembered to bring some fabric to "cover the
> mundanity" -- go figure.  Some days I forget feast gear.  Other days,
> other stuff.  Certain mundanities will "creep in" for various reasons,
> even if you have been doing this for a while.  For myself, I try to
> overlook as much of this as I can (ignore the Coke can, the modern chair,
> etc.) and try to focus on the costume, ambiance, heraldry, etc. that make
> the SCA so special.  To do this is the minimum that chivalry and honor
> demand.  Forgive others who are not as attentive to some of these details
> and you will find that they will want to emulate you with your attention
> to these very details.  Lead by example.  Share information gladly.  This
> way we all win.
>
> Your in service,
>
> Lady Fionnghuala the Fair "Nuala" and/or my evil twin, Cedric
> "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a
> garage makes you a car."
>                              Laurence J. Peter
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Message: 3  Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 11:55:21 -0700 (PDT) From: Donna
> Nesbit <themaefare at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Telling someone that what they are doing is not
> period
> To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc."
> Greetings, Thank you Duchess Willow for bringing up this topic.  I have
> seen several newcomers in recent times be put off because someone
> questioned their garb. I am in a group that is trying to bring in
> newcomers and restart a group.  We are trying to be very cognizant of our
> demeanor and all of the comments thus far have helped. One thing many
> people must understand is that some of what is period just would not work
> today.  Recently, I saw a book on the history of undergarments.  In times
> it was quite acceptable to reveal parts of the body that we would get in
> trouble for revealing
> today.  Also, some silhouettes that were considered beautiful in the past
> are not appealing today.  We must remember that we are looking at past
> dressing through modern day eyes.  Lady Penelope Miriam Darling
> (SNIP!) "willowjonbardc at juno.com" wrote: Greetings everyone I have a
> special request of you. How can we tell people that what they are doing
> is not correct? That it is not period, but at the same time not make them
> feel bad. (SNIP!) Now as a citizen of the SCA I feel it is my duty to
> inform people that their work may be better if they would stay in period.
> (SNIP!). We need to tell people the rules of the game, but we need to do
> it in a nice way. Does anyone remember a time when someone set you on the
> right path and did in a way that made you feel good? I would like to hear
> about their techniques. Courtesy is one of the pillars of the magic that
> is Ansteorra. We are smart people. We need to figure out how to tell
> people things without hurting their feelings. Duchess Willow de Wisp
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