[Ansteorra] Newbie Status

[Charles of Portsmouth]

Greetings All,

 Although Willow's comparison of the yellow star was to the extreme I feel 
that it was not that far off. We have to remember what it was like when we 
were the new kids in school. Being a new comer to the SCA is a lot like 
being the new kid at school. If you were the new kid at school and they made 
you ware a sign/symbol that stated that you were the new kid you would have 
never wanted to go back due to the shame and humiliation you would endure.

 I myself have been around the SCA for about 14 years but have not played 
that much until recently so in some aspects I am one of the new guys. On top 
of being interested in the life during the Medieval times Some Like myself 
are interested in joining is due to the way we treat other as family; 
Unfortunately we do not treat new comers as such so they get discouraged and 
never want to come back because they feel that they will never be able to 
prove themselves. I have had this feeling on many occasions, but I am one of 
the stubborn ones that never gives up.

" It seams that if no one knows you then they will not talk to you and, you 
have to be the one to go to them." " It is hard to get into things due to 
the fact that no one wants to talk or help you if they do not know you."

This was stated by a new member when asked how theyfelt about the SCA after 
being to some events.

Although most members are helpful and only want to see people grow inside 
the SCA like it should be, a few look down on you if you are not 
knowledgeable in the interworking of the SCA. We sometimes forget that we 
once knew nothing, and were the new guys/gals.

We as senior members have a responsibility not only to the new guys/gals to 
all in the SCA to help, encourage, and educate one another.

So my thoughts on what we should do to make the new people feel as if they 
belong is to treat everyone the same. Do not hold judgment on one another. 
We all enjoy what we do from the first time we find out about the SCA to the 
day we die. If this was not the case then we would not be here. So next time 
you find someone that is new or just might not know everything there is to 
know about the SCA help them out by educating them on such matters, and 
encourage them to keep on their quest while in the SCA.

"We are only as ignorant as the those who teach us."

Charles of Portsmouth



--------------------------------------------------
From: <willowdewisp at juno.com>
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 2:02 AM
To: <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Newbie Status

> Dear Sophie
> You are right I was a little much with compareing it with the Yellow star 
> but I have always been an radical.
> I think your advice is good.  There are many "travelers" that visit our 
> groups. Some come from another shire or barony and some come from another 
> kingdom and some come from the modern world. If we treat everyone as guest 
> ad help them maybe they will treat us the same way.
> willow
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