[Ansteorra] Same-Sex Consorts

[Rose]

"I know several powerhouse groups, in several kingdoms.  These groups do 
not always win Crown now because someone is either unable to find a 
consort, the consort (wife, girlfriend, etc) does not want to rule; or 
that fighter never really thought about it."

That all seems very unlikely. How many Crowns have we had that have ruled with persons that they were not romantically involved with? If finding someone to rule with you is that hard, then there is likely some other issue at play.


"Bill fights for Gene who fights for Ray who fights for Tom who fights 
for Phil who fights for Kelly who fights for Bob who fights for Tim who 
fights for Mark who fights for Al who fights for Bill."

I've met quite a few powerhouse fighters, but none that would participate in this type of scheme. If I were Sir Bill, Sir Gene, Sir Ray, Sir Tom. Sir Phil, Sir Kelly, Sir Bob, Sir Tim, Sir Mark, Sir Al, or the knight who had spoken for any of them, I would be pretty offended at the idea that I might participate in such a scheme.


"That is 10 
fighters who are amazing fighters, and normally would not compete for 
whatever reason.  But now, to keep their group in power; they each chose one as a consort.  At the next Crown tournament, the same group (minus 
the ruling pair) do the same."

The solution to this is simple. The first Crown looks at the Letters of Intent for Sir Bill, Sir Gene, Sir Ray, Sir Tom. Sir Phil, Sir Kelly, Sir Bob, Sir Tim, Sir Mark, and Sir Al and politely declines them leave to enter the list, as any of our honorable Crowns would do.


"Not only does this link one powerhouse 
into the Throne for years to come, but wives, girlfriends and other 
significant others are unable to rule with their partners because the 
group decided it is better to win over and over than to honor the 
relationship."

Again, the big problem I see with this scenario is that the fighters that are good enough to win are too honorable to participate in this kind of scheme, especially because it would be obvious to everyone. I mean, can you imagine what the procession would look like, lol?

And, of course, we already have ways to 'game the system'. One way would be for two 'superdukes' to leapfrog one another, which they can do right now. Another way would be for a small number of dukes to enter the list with the intention of beating the entrant that they don't want to rule, and then ducalling out. (Of course, one might call the latter scenario a quiet sort of 'check-and-balance', rather than 'gaming the system', but I digress.) My point is that IE is not going to make the system any more susceptible to dishonorable superdukes, or those who would like to be dishonorable superdukes.


-R


 
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I know that you believe you understand what you think I meant, but I'm not sure you realize that what you read is not what I wrote.


________________________________
From: Janice Dean Simpson <janicedean88 at yahoo.com>
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Same-Sex Consorts

I am not looking at the sexual preference part of the debate.
I am looking at a side that is a bit worrisome to me:
I know several powerhouse groups, in several kingdoms.  These groups do not always win Crown now because someone is either unable to find a consort, the consort (wife, girlfriend, etc) does not want to rule; or that fighter never really thought about it.  Let's say same sex consorts are allowed:
Then:
Bill fights for Gene who fights for Ray who fights for Tom who fights for Phil who fights for Kelly who fights for Bob who fights for Tim who fights for Mark who fights for Al who fights for Bill.
That is 10 fighters who are amazing fighters, and normally would not compete for whatever reason.  But now, to keep their group in power; they each chose one as a consort.  At the next Crown tournament, the same group (minus the ruling pair) do the same.
Not only does this link one powerhouse into the Throne for years to come, but wives, girlfriends and other significant others are unable to rule with their partners because the group decided it is better to win over and over than to honor the relationship.  

And, no; I do not think saying you can not fight for someone who is a consort will work, as many husband-wife pairs fight for each other.  Both are fighters.  You can not say that the consort must be in a relationship with the fighter:  because then you must define relationship.  If I am your friend, then we have a relationship.  If you are my team-mate:  we have a relationship.

Too much of a slippery slope to settle in one sitting.