[Ansteorra] Recognition (WAS: Travel)

[Evil Sara]

Well said Lady Gabriele.  Some people, like myself,  play this game
for the sheer romance of it.  They aren't fighters or artists or
historians or go-getters, and just like to dress up and socialize with
others that see the world a bit differently, too.  According to the
recent census results, I'm not the only one in this category.  I have
no desire to be a peer.  That isn't what I want from the SCA.  I've
been playing this game a long time, and a lot of my friends are peers,
and squires/protégés/apprentices.  As a friend, I will help out when
I'm asked to help out.  Does this deserve an award?  No, and I don't
expect one.  But appreciation and recognition doesn't have to come
from a piece of paper from the Crown.

I am, however, motivated by recognition.  People are motivated by
different things.  You learn in people management that one of the big
common motivators is recognition.  I agree with HE Myfanwy that if you
are new and/or don't know what someone has or what they should get,
write a heartfelt letter to your B&B/the Crown.  There has been a lot
of advice on what types of things to point out, and how to get more
information.  A kind word from the B&B of a Barony is a huge thing to
newcomers.

That being said, my lord has begun a simple tradition of
thanks/recognition that (imho) is pretty powerful.  He always has a
bag of largess with him at events - items from personally cast tokens,
to store bought trinkets and even old site tokens from other kingdoms
(without event names on them).  When he sees the good works of others,
he makes a point to give them largess and it has been impactful.

For instance, a few members of The Company of the Crimson Phoenix did
me a great service when I had a flat tire at BAM.  My used SUV didn't
come with a jack, and these gentleman (I'm *so* sorry I can't remember
their names!) spent the better part of the afternoon coming up with
ways to help.  We all see people do these kinds of things all the
time, as it's part of living the dream, right?  Yet these small acts
of chivalry don't have a standardized award system.  My lord found
them and thanked them each personally with a token of said
appreciation for helping me while he was "away at war."

All rambling aside - say thank you! Take the time to make someone's day.

Lady Sara



On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 12:25 AM, Michelle Dodd
<lygabrielerdb at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> SOME people leave, not because they don't get awards, but because they don't get acknowledged or thanked for the things they do.For years I played because I loved the dress-up & hanging out with friends. Then I started learning things. (Something I value.)Then I started doing things for my Barony. I recently received a service award from my Barony. That gave me almost as big a thrill as when I was called into court to receive my AOA, the only other award I've received.I do however receive thanks for most of the things I do & the things I don't get thanked for, I know are still appreciated.So I will continue to do the dress-up, hanging with friends & learning things. Along the way I will hopefully continue to contribute to my Barony. And most importantly, I will continue to thank the people  I see do things for others. Tho too often these people are ones I have grown used to seeing do for others & my eye starts to pass over them, for that I apologize & thank them now.Awards ar
>  e wonderful to receive, but quite often a simple show of appreciation, like a thank you or a well done, will go a long way in making a person want to stay around.That is often all the recognition most people need, even when they deserve more.
> Just my opinion.Lady Gabriele
> The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are allowed to remain children all our lives. (Albert Einstein)
>
>> To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
>> From: kevinkeary at aol.com
>> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:03:09 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Recognition (WAS: Travel)
>>
>>
>> I'm all for getting people recognition they deserve. The ideas being expressed are generally good.
>>
>> I dislike the thought of playing this game to get that recognition, and doubt people leave, most of them, because they don't get it. People stop playing games because they aren't fun, not because they don't 'win'. And being taught that garnering recognition is how you win, and that failing to be recognized with awards equals losing the game, or not playing well, yeah, that's a great way to make the game no fun.
>>
>> I realize there's a thousand and one ways to play any game, and none of them are 'wrong'. I didn't always, but I do now.
>>
>> Don't teach the newbies that role-playing is wrong, that, just for instance, a song that the group at the campfire laugh and applaud and sing along with is less valuable than a period piece in a language hardly anyone understands that the Bard-Laurels love, or that play-acting the damage you think your persona would have taken in the armor he would have been wearing, even if it costs you the fight, is stupid compared to only accepting blows that are 'legal' in our rules and felt in our safety equipment. (I'm thinking basket hilts used as bucklers here.) There are examples in everything we do.
>>
>> Those of you who enjoy grinding and leveling up, more power to you. Me, I'll keep on role-playing, and trying to make sure other people are having fun.
>>
>> And thus I will enjoy this game.
>>
>> Kevin
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