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

[Deirdre]

I have to tell you - this stunned me as I read it - I started in the SCA in
al-Barran over 15 years ago - my first several bits of garb left quite a bit
to be desired in the period arena, and my mundane tents still are part of my
camp - and in 15 years NO ONE has ever commented on my garb not being
period - I learned as I went along - my Laurel is the only person who's ever
spoken to me about my garb - and as much as I love that dress, I haven't
been able to bring myself to wear it again.
I also will continue using my mundane tent because I really have issues with
bugs in my bed - I won't camp without zippers and floors - believe me, if
they'd had them in period, they'd have used them. And again no one has ever
had the audacity to actually say anything to me. If they did, I'd offer to
let them check my tent and bed, and keep my camp spider free for the event -
or they'd be cordially invited to take themselves somewhere else where the
site of my spider-free tent does not offend them so much.

I DO NOT approve of jumping all over newcomers about their garb - a polite
suggestion, etc is the best way to handle it. And who ever is telling you
cotton is not period needs to have their head examined - I overheard a
hospitaler telling someone once that diamonds are not period. Of course, she
was an idiot.

To the Newcomers: Please do not let people upset you - you play the game as
best you can, time and budget and knowledge permitting - as you're in
longer, you'll learn what is good and what is not. I still wear flip flops
to summer events, because at least I'm wearing shoes at all - which I hate
doing anytime.  And... purple is period and is not reserved for royalty.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Deirdre

-----Original Message-----
From: ansteorra-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org
[mailto:ansteorra-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org]On Behalf Of
lizdenpeters at juno.com
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 11:15 PM
To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
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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