[Ansteorra] What's happening here?

[Chass Brown]

Responded to offlist :)

Chass Brown A.K.A.
Charinthalis Del Sans of the portable chariot. 
Honorable Recruiter of the House of the Red Shark.
Rear Admiral Northern Region Ansteorran Royal Navy -      Ship the
Red  Shark.  Muddeler of Mead


-----Original Message-----
From: ansteorra-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org
[mailto:ansteorra-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org] On Behalf Of Michael
Silverhands
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 12:55 PM
To: Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc.
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] What's happening here?

I would like to step in at this point, although there's a tiny voice  
in the back of my head screaming "run away!"

I'll respond to two posters (and probably "step my foot in it"... but  
oh well, what's the use of being an Olde Farte if you don't  
occasionally):

On Sep 23, 2006, at 2:49 AM, Chass Brown wrote:

>  ... We just had a Brass hat race and well...... it ended as most  
> do. ...

I'm curious... I know that you've been around for a long while and  
have seen many "hat races", as have I. I've even partaken of one. :-)

But in 20 or so years of being active in the "greater Loch-Ravens- 
Gate" area I have not seen *one* ugly "hat race". I've seen quite a  
few, and all were at least civil. Most of them involved candidates  
who were good friends with one another, cheered each other on to the  
finish, and supported one another after the Crown's choice was made.  
One or two races (that I'm personally aware of, in this local area,  
in 20 years time... there, is that enough disclaimers? *grin*) had  
one or two candidates who didn't run and play well with others... and  
guess what? They weren't the Crown's choice. What a surprise.

So... you don't say what you mean by "most do", but you imply  
"badly". I'm curious: why do you say that? Have you been personally  
involved in one? Personally known most if not all of the candidates,  
and personally heard their side of whatever events transpired?  
Personally heard the Crown's take on the candidates? Or... no  
offense, just asking... was most of your information via "the rumor  
mill", or from one disgruntled side?

I'll grant you: I'm told by friends who live in other areas (which  
shall remain nameless) that their "hat races" are *consistently*  
ugly, hateful affairs with underhanded and vindictive behavior both  
before and after the choice. I don't understand that, having never  
lived in such an environment (and being pretty sure that I wouldn't  
want to stay if that was, indeed, the "status quo"). But I accept  
that it's the norm in some groups. I'm sorry that's the case. I'm  
sure the Crown isn't happy about it either. But that's *definitely*  
another thread. :-/

In any case... on to the next point:

On Sep 23, 2006, at 11:53 AM, Lisa wrote:
> I will admit that this complaint is more appropriately addressed under
> households, as households are where I am seeing most of this  
> behaviour.  BUT
> households are still a part of the SCA and many times household  
> rules and
> dictates spill over into regular SCA life.  I can specifically cite
> households that require you to wear x, do y, and yes even think z,  
> or you
> are not accepted into the household, or can be removed from the  
> household
> for not "following the rules".

Ah-ha! "Households", not "the SCA as a whole".

This is another aspect of the SCA that I frankly don't understand. If  
someone is bossing you around... why let them? Why stay in that  
group, if they're (pardon the generalization, this is a hypothetical  
case with sweeping generalizations... more disclaimers *grin*) a  
bunch of domineering jerks who just want to "lord it over" you?

The SCA is a lot more fun if you're hanging around with people you  
have fun being around. (Q.E.D.) And it's a very, very "big tent". If  
the group of people you're currently hanging around with aren't fun  
*for you*... then hang out with a different group. How hard is that?  
(Rhetorical question... I know, I know... this is much easier said  
than done...)

Or just don't join a "household" per se. Just hang out with "a group  
of friends who happen to like playing together, share feast gear,  
carpool, etc.". That pretty much describes *my* friends in the SCA,  
inclusive of the past 20 years.

When Neassa and I were appointed Baron/ess of Stargate, one of our  
main agendas was to get the households to play nicely with each  
other, and with the barony as a whole. (At that time they weren't,  
and it was a big problem for the barony.) I believe we succeeded  
partly because we had lots of help (including from the other  
candidates who weren't appointed Baron/ess), partly because some  
people got older and mellower, and partly because some of the chief  
antagonizers either quit playing or moved away. So we can't take full  
credit, but I will take some.

Anyway... coming back from that digression... I guess my point is  
this: households are *not* the defining element of the SCA. The are  
*an* element -- and they *can* take on an importance out of  
proportion to reality -- but there are plenty of others. So please  
don't "put down" the SCA as a whole, or write it off as some ugly,  
politicized mess... when what you're really talking about is one  
household (or whatever) that's given you grief.

And like the doctor says in that famous joke: "Doctor, it hurts when  
I do this." "Well, just don't do that!"

Playground rules apply: Have fun. Be happy. Treat others as you would  
have them treat you. If another kid isn't being nice to you... don't  
play with them. :-)

Michael
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