[Ansteorra] The poor sad remnant of the SCA??

[David Brown]

We must remember...always try and encourage people. People like to be involved, so always try and get new people involved even if it is in a small way.
Vivat the King and his words of wisdom.

HL Devin




________________________________
 From: Chris Zakes <dontivar at gmail.com>
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 7:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] The poor sad remnant of the SCA??
 
At 11:00 PM 2/5/2013, you wrote:

> I have been reading these discussions with interest. There are a lot
> of great ideas, and I hope that many of them are implemented.  But as a
> relative newcomer I'm kind of embarrassed to say that I AM having fun; the
> events ARE magical; court is FULL of pageantry; and I've met with LOTS of
> chivalry and courtesy. I gather that it used to be better, and I guess I'm
> kind of naive ... but I think what we've got is still pretty great.
> 
> Vigdis


For whatever it's worth, the notion that things were better in "the old days" is not a new concept. Here's a quote I like to dust off for situations like this:

"What is become of the gentility and inbred courtesy of ancient noble gentlemen? Where is the magnanimity of the honorable knights of  foregoing times, whose virtues as they are recorded in histories herein we read of them, so ought to have been left to their posterity that in them we might see the image (now forgotten) of ancient true nobility? But since all things fall to decay, it is no marvel though virtue (I speak with all due reverence and favor) be not found but in few: for surely there be many in whom nothing remaineth but the bare title of nobility, in that they be gentlemen born: who in their manners wholly degenerate from their ancestors, and make no account either of honor or dishonor, giving themselves to such pleasures as their unbridled appetite leadeth them unto."

                -Vincentio Saviolo, "Of Honor and Honorable Quarrels" 1595

That, you will note, was written over 400 years ago. I believe Socrates said similar things about the world going down the tubes 2400 years ago. As Vincenti said, lots of people are looking at the past through rose-colored glasses, glossing over the bad bits, the mundanities, the ugly politics and only remembering the things that were fun and worth remembering.

How do we fix this? Well, in a way, we can't; there will always be bad bits, mundanities, and ugly politics. But that doesn't mean there won't be fun bits, too. So focus on those fun bits and if you can, create a few of your own. Make that new item of clothing that's been niggling about in the back of your mind; go to an event in a place you've never been before; start an A&S project, maybe in a discipline you've never practiced before; volunteer to serve the feast or work the gate at your next local event; try fighting or archery. If you're new and shy, try stepping out of your comfort zone a bit and ask someone about their craft or clothes; if you've been around for a while, and a new person asks you about something, take the time to really *talk* to them about it, don't give them a three-word answer and then brush them off.

Just griping here about how things were so much better in the "good old days" won't do much. Get out and *do* something, and you'll probably see better results.

        -Tivar Moondragon
        Ansteorran fossil 
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