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I'd like to throw in my two cents if nobody minds. I feel that m'lady
Clarissa (my apologies for leaving out other honorifics, I don't know what
she's got) has a very good point. Since when did winning become"bad"? Isn't
part of chivalry having the maturity to <i>win and lose</i> gracefully?
By not declaring a winner I think that we do all the participants of Gulf
war a disservice. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging another's superiority,
whether it's Ansteorra or Trimaris or Meridies...... the point is that
we, as mature adults, ought to be able to admit that even at our best there
is room for improvement. If everyone "knows" who came out on top
then where is the harm in publicly announcing who won? The gentleman who
said that part of the fun is to acknowledge a good hit and then go have
a beer together is absolutely right. It is as much an honor for me to admit
defeat to a truly superior foe as it is to be the recipient of the victory.
If you've done your best then there is no shame in losing....a goodly part
of the fun lies in the striving. Also, contesting with others by fighting
or through the Arts and Sciences is a good way to find out where
your own weaknesses are and to <i>improve </i>those weaknesses. As for
Gulf war not continuing if a winner is declared....Pennsic has a winner
and they've been putting that war on at least as long as Gulf has
been happening. As for the wars with the Middle and the Outlands
ending the year that Ansteorra dominated....well ...so long as the judging
was sound and the fighting honorable...those things happen sometimes. If
the attitude being displayed by the other kingdoms was " you wouln't let
me win so I won't play with you anymore" then bad on them.
On the other hand if Ansteorra was obnoxious enough in her victory to chase
her opponent away then bad on us. If one kingdom loses
the war one year don't you think the likely response will be to come back
the next year twice as good? Trimaris has been a good and worthy for (
from what I've heard) why would they change just because they'll lose occasionally?(Yes
gang Ansteorra will lose sometimes too).</html>