[Ansteorra] Why aren't we doing this?

[Danielle Jennings]

Well said!

Speaking as someone who is fairly new (playing just over a year now) The
main thing I like about our society is that you are allowed to grow into.
You start out with a t-tunic over jeans, catchers knees and a camp chair and
instead of being criticizing people show you what they have and very kindly
offer to loan you a pattern or show you how it was made. Not all of us have
the space skills or funds to acquire anything other than a simple camp chair
and that (at least in my experience) is ok we are allowed to grow into the
society as far as we like at our own pace.

 When you get right down to it we are all out here to have fun. Personally I
think it is fun to do the research and try my hand at making something new.
The only thing I find more fun is being with my SCA family, doing something
we all enjoy sharing a meal and listening to stories that begin with phrases
like "So we were at Gulf..." and "We had this revel once..."  and to be
honest what we are wearing the furniture around us the catchers knees on the
ground beside us and the cooler in the corner don't even occur to me.
(except on occasion when I remember that the cooler holds some tasty treat.)

I do agree that it is often hard to recognize the new guy. So we should
consider that before we start to criticize someone's kit. We may know that
they have been playing since AS 12 but the new guy behind us just sees
someone nit picking.

Respectfully,
Pippa