[Ansteorra] ideas... long

Wed Jan 30 10:55:31 PST 2013

I completely agree with Tina.  I believe the technology of today's
world is starting to harm some aspects of our society.  If you look at
events you will see many people with their smartphones out taking
photos, videos and phone calls.  There seems to be a lack of
consideration for the atmosphere we want to achieve.

Because of this issue I am seeing many reasons for our lower event
attendance.  I would like to address two of this issues: lack of
courtesy and the non-event eventer.  Please know when I use the word
"Society" I am meaning the SCA.

Our modern society has lost most of the idea of courtesy and it has
flowed into the SCA. We, modern society, are a "me, me, me" and a "I
want it now" group. I feel, because of this, we do not care about
putting others out as long as we are given pleasure ourselves. I know
I am guilty of pulling out my phone to take notes during court, photos
to share with friends, and text to let others know who has received
what awards.  Even though I am doing it for a good cause and can use
the excuse "if they had these during the middle ages, they would have
used them" is harming the atmosphere more than helping our Society.

Our Society needs to work on hiding the modern conveniences, if not
leaving some of them at home. Granted, I am not willing to leave the
flush toiletry, air conditioning and running water at home; however, I
can leave the Kindle, the radio, CD player or laptop at home. If I
feel I just have to have them with me, I should either leave them
locked in the car or find ways to disguise them. There are many ways
to make a special covering for the Kindle, Nook, or iPad.  Stay.com
has many books converted or wooden boxes to be used as a disguise for
your modern conveniences. Not only does it help to give atmosphere,
but it will help take your mind off the modern.

The second thing I suggest is an issue for our lower attendance is
what I call the non-event eventer.  Because of issues such as lack of
funds, work schedule, being busy we have many people who are not able
to attend.  The good thing about the modern technology is that those
who can't attend events are able to attend through photos, live video
feeds, and Facebook.  However, because of these we do not feel we need
to attend events to be "there".  So why even make the trip?  Why spend
the time packing and preparing to spend three days and two nights
without our comforts of home when we can get all the latest news asap
because others are posting everything as soon as it happens. This is
causing us to not feel a NEED of being there.   It is easier to stay
in contact with our friends on Facebook when we originally were able
to see them at events.

Why not stop posting immediate information, photos and live
videos/video feed of events until after events?  I use to regret
missing an event, but now I know I can click a link and get
up-to-the-minute stimulation enabling me to feel as if I am part of
the event and never have to attend. Let's call people out (politely)
when they are being discourteous with the modern items at events, park
the cars in the proper parking lot, and teach-encourage-provide items
to help make the event atmosphere better.  I believe if we work on
these things it will help bring people back.  It isn't the whole
answer, but it might be a start.

In service,
Lady Katrine la Escolpiera

Tina Michael <tinabetta at gmail.com> wrote:

It reminds me of the movie Wall-e, where everyone is so dependant on the
technology they had forgotten how to live and enjoy living. I am kind of a
technophobe, even though I am using it now, teehee, I hate it. I don't keep
my cell phone stapled to me at events and never want to be that
"connected". I come to events to disconnect from the modern world and
retreat to a simpler time where we were more in touch with the world and
the people in it. We have gotten so used to communicating with each other
through technology we are losing the ability to relate personally. Very
sad, don't you think?

Tina
old fashioned girl

On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 9:09 PM, Ld.blackmoon <ld.blackmoon at cox.net> wrote:

> greetings
>
> well thought out and well said  : )
>
>
> Be Safe , Be Happy, Have Fun .
> Arthur
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dragonetti" <dragonetti at generich.com>
> To: "'Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc.'" <ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org**>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 11:01 AM
> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] ideas was Presentation at Round Table
>
>
>  Greetings from Baron Armand Dragonetti,
>>
>> First, I applaud the crown's effort to acknowledge and highlight this
>> problem and to take a systematic approach to analyze and address it. It
>> is a
>> serious problem without a simple solution. (Otherwise it would have
>> already
>> been corrected.)
>>
>> IMHO, declining attendance is the result of numerous contributing factors.
>> Tight finances in a poor economy. Too much modern familiarity diminishes
>> the
>> experience for many as well. Some have indicated lack of recognition after
>> many years of effort. Others simply burn out after too much "drama" or too
>> much "work". Personally, I suspect the "aging" of the SCA plays a large
>> role.
>>
>> As a new player, I was excited about the "magic", the potential for honor
>> and chivalry that I found lacking in modern life. When the SCA was
>> relatively young, the majority of players were new. Over time, veteran
>> players who achieved some manner of recognition tended to stay active.
>> Those
>> who did not, tended to move on to other things. So over time, you see a
>> room
>> full of "hats" and fewer and fewer without "hats". A very different "look"
>> than those nostalgic early days. A new participant sees a "long road
>> ahead"
>> to ever attain similar stature, since they quickly learn that a peerage
>> or a
>> hat tends to come after a long period of time. By definition such
>> achievers
>> are now older; a veteran with many experiences on their resume.
>>
>> Naturally, these folks tend to be chosen to lead local groups and autocrat
>> large events, so as not to waste resources with an unseasoned leader's
>> ideas/plans that may have proven unsuccessful in the "early days",
>> ironically, by those same veterans.
>>
>> The fun in the good-ole-days of the early SCA was produced by a much less
>> experienced crew of younger leaders, pioneering the game for us. (The
>> pioneering itself was much of the "fun" that gets remembered.) Not to be
>> discriminatory, but what do you suppose was the average age of a
>> Baron/Baroness in the 1970's or 1980's as compared to the average age of
>> today's leaders?
>>
>> I would suggest that older folks, with kids, mortgages, etc, tend to be a
>> little less "silly" than they were before acquiring those
>> responsibilities.
>> However, silly often equates to fun.
>>
>> It also occurs to me that it is much easier to stay in persona with a
>> stranger or newcomer than with your friend of 15+ years. As a long time
>> friend, I'm likely to be more interested in what's going on with you in
>> your
>> modern life. How's your job? Your kids? Your thoughts on the latest movie,
>> etc. For a stranger or newcomer, I'm interested in your impression of the
>> SCA and am excited to talk about all it has to offer and to impart
>> whatever
>> medieval education I feel knowledgeable on.
>>
>> The creep of the modern-world that diminishes our game is very much the
>> result of aging participants. It will take a conscious, extra effort to
>> thwart this effect. And may require purposely choosing some younger, less
>> experienced leaders, if nothing more than to give a little "hope" to the
>> newcomers that do manage to find us. And who knows, they might be a little
>> silly and create a little more "fun" that brings in other, young/new
>> participants.
>>
>> Just a few random thoughts off the top of me noggin,
>> Bloody Baron Armand Dragonetti
>>
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