[Ansteorra] Story from Crown Tourney

[Michelle Lopez]

As a new comer I have elected to remain silent, and absorb the thoughts of my 
fellow Ansteorran's, but as a mother I find this statement offensive:
Rose states,
"But fighters who want to fight outside in the worst heat, no matter  what, are 
asking the *entire populace* to condition themselves, to stay  out in the worst 
heat, and to listen to their bodies. You are asking  this of everyone from 
toddlers to the elderly. "
    The fighters are not asking anyone to do such a thing.  Everyone is there on 
their own free will and choses to watch.  However, any person who would not take 
a child indoors as needed, as I did at warlord, is being irresponsible, not the 
fighters on the field.  There have been many things I have missed due to the 
needs of my children, but as a parent I do this.  I wanted to attend 30th last 
year, but knew my children would be at risk due to the heat.  I stayed home.  
Please do not imply that any fighter is forcing people to sit in the sun without 
relief.  There was a hall with air conditioning and cool drinks around.  If you 
have an issue with a heat, then accept this and deal with it accordingly.  Make 
plans ahead of time.  As to the elderly they have the wisdom of their years to 
know what they can and cannot deal with, to assume otherwise is disrespectful.
    I am not a heavy fighter, but an equestrian and deal with our weather 
daily.  I am fully aware of the dangers of the heat, and take precautions at an 
event and everyday life.  If you live in Ansteorra it's something you must do, 
unless as one fellow put it, play WoW instead.

Irial




________________________________
From: Rose <rose_welch at yahoo.com>
To: Inc.Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Sent: Mon, July 12, 2010 4:08:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Story from Crown Tourney

The proponents for outdoor fighting makes it sound as though indoor fighting is 
the worst possible scenario. Well, I've been to plenty of indoor fighting 
events, and seen even more indoor fighter practices. Do we have any statistics 
to back up the claim of increased injuries? If so, how to they compare to 
injuries by heat? Facts are good.

I *know* that it's perfectly acceptable to fight indoors. Indeed, that was the 
backup plan for this Crown, if lightning decided to join us. (Because it's okay 
to make accommodations for the worst
rain, lightning, snow, or any other weather condition: it's apparently
just heat that makes the macho bone go 'Ting!'.)

Yes, there was a wonderfully air-conditioned hall on-site. But I didn't drive 
all that way, pay my site fee, and do my share of volunteering to sit inside and 
read a book, which is what I spent most of Crown Tournament doing. Is that what 
the fighters are suggesting that we do?

Robin of Gilwell, your e-mail was wonderfully eloquent. You make it sound as 
though we should all pick up metal swords and run each other through with them, 
for maximum glorious stupidity, and anyone who doesn't agree is a coward.

As I'm sure you know, the rules for our hobbies aren't about mitigating *all* 
risk. They're about working toward *acceptable* risk. I propose that I don't 
find extreme heat to be acceptable and I'd like my voice to be heard.

(I didn't think that people would respond to my simple request to be considered 
as though I'd suggested that we choose a King by having a chess tournament. :P)

I may not be a fighter, but I've been in armor before, and I understand 
everything that Lady Helene mentioned except the desire to fight in extreme 
heat. There are fighters that don't understand it, either. And we are asking to 
be heard. Is that such a crazy thing?

I've repeatedly stated that I understand that most of the fighters want to fight 
outside in the worst heat. So statements saying that fighters want to fight 
outside, fighters should just condition themselves, fighters should just learn 
to listen to their bodies, and accept that they may get heat stroke, anyway, 
don't carry any water.

It's not about risk, it's not about telling fighters where and when they should 
fight, and my request for consideration isn't even about the damned fighters at 
all. (Whom I love and am proud of.) We get it. You want to be macho. That's 
fine.

But fighters who want to fight outside in the worst heat, no matter what, are 
asking the *entire populace* to condition themselves, to stay out in the worst 
heat, and to listen to their bodies. You are asking this of everyone from 
toddlers to the elderly. Quite of few of us are replying:

We don't want to.

And if we can talk about staying staying outdoors in the worst heat because some 
parts of our populace wants to, then we should be able to talk about making 
accommodations in the worst heat because some of our populace wants to.

I mean, there are historical arguments for and against, there are health 
arguments for and against, there are moral arguments for and against, and all it 
comes down the fact that alot of us want indoor fighting during the worst heat, 
and alot of us don't want that.

Are the fighters going to insist that we keep doing this
exactly as we have been, and to hell with the rest of us? Or is it
possible that the resourceful minds of our gloriously brilliant
Kingdom can come up with a happy medium?

This discussion makes it seem as though it would be disloyal to our warriors to 
even try to make everyone happy, or to even put forward a solution. And that's 
sad.



-Rose the Obnoxious
who hopes to actually get to see next year's Crown
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