[Ansteorra] History

[Susan McMahill]

This too, I will have to disagree with. While I cannot say what the 'community' as you call it, was like 20 years ago, I think that many or most newcomers do find a sense of community in the current SCA as well. I know that I certainly do. What is frustrating, though, is to hear people continue to tell us that we 'shoulda been here yesterday.' That devalues the experiences that we are having now. Apparently our experiences aren't as good as we thought they were. Some of us are having a wonderful time....or at least we were until we were told how bad things are.
 
Times change, lifestyles change, society changes, and the Society has changed. That does not necessarily make it bad, but it does make it different. As a relative newcomer, I, and many like me are finding fulfillment, family, and all the things you old-timers that dream of the past, are saying are lacking. I am not saying that twenty or more years ago was not great, but that these days are not so bad, either. It's a matter of perspective and experience. Again as a relative newcomer (6 years), hearing people going on about the good old days without simply telling a tale, is kind of like watching a group of old fogies sitting on the front porch bemoaning fashions, television, everything. It's so easy to forget the positive things that have happened in technology, medicine, health, and everything else when you dwell in the past.
 
Within the SCA, our knowledge base has grown. Research sources have increased dramatically. The armor and equipment are safer. People are safer. The arts are in an amazing state. Our recreations are more accurate than ever before. Considering the fact that most people have less time to devote to this wonderful game, this is amazing! The future is now and it is not as bad as you make it out to be. There are more people in the SCA than ever before and the numbers continue to grow. Something must be going right. The thing is....you have to look forward into the past, not backwards.
 
 
Lyneya
Well-behaved women Seldom make history - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich



> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 21:51:50 -0700> From: richard_fitz_hervy at yahoo.com> To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] History> > > I too, disagree. What I think they are recalling is> the sense of community, even of family that is sadly> lacking today. I think that lack is one of the main> reasons that caused the disillusion of the western> region and several groups. I also think that we all> are chasing the same dream, but in different ways.> There is not a "paint brush", we all try to show> newcomers all of the many aspects of this society that> can be participated in so that they can choose their> own way to be a part of The Dream. But if everybody is> interacting mainly online with each other, working on> their own projects, and maybe going to just a few> events, then there is no sense of family. The internet> is great for research, quick communication, even> discussion of various topics when we aren't together.> It shouldn't be the main method of interaction,> though. We should be helping each other, sharing our> mutual interests, all by personal interaction...with> all of the members of your local group and the rest of> our Society. The "older" members should help newcomers> to find their place in the Society-their own "dream"> within The Dream. The telling of tales of the "old> days" is but one way to do that. > My humble opinion...> > Ld Richard fitzHervy> > My Cup Runneth Amuck...> > > ____________________________________________________________________________________> Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ> _______________________________________________> Ansteorra mailing list> Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org