[Bryn-gwlad] people labels (was: Ideas about newcomers from...anewcomer)

[Ariana Delbar]

Just a note from someone else who was a newcomer & has drifted away, but 
still lurks on the list. :)

I have to tell you that honestly, navigating my way around PiP wasn't too 
difficult because it was mostly out-of-character and if I couldn't break 
into a conversation circle (which is very difficult for me), I could at 
least watch the fighters practice so I didn't feel like an idiot standing in 
the corner with no one to talk to.

What terrified me was the events. I went to one of them, worked gate for a 
while which kept me occupied, and then was turned loose to fend for me own. 
Baron Thomas did come speak to me, but he couldn't entertain me for the 
entire event and pretty soon I was back to wall-flowering. I think that is 
when I really started to stop participating - since my husband is not 
interested in attending things with me, I had no "security blanket" so to 
speak. If no one spoke to me and I was too shy to approach all of the little 
groups of people who all knew each other & were already involved in 
conversation or games, then I was doomed to an evening talking to the wall. 
And let me get it straight that I am SURE all groups would have been very 
friendly and welcoming if I'd been brave enough to approach, but for someone 
who is new to the SCA & shy, the idea is frightening!

My favorite idea I have seen on this thread so far has been the "adopt a 
newcomer" one. I think if I had had a household that had adopted me and was 
making sure I could navigate through an event, or even just one person that 
was mentoring me and I was allowed to follow them around all evening to see 
what a fully-integrated SCAdian did at the events and had someone 
introducing me around rather than having to introduce myself around, I would 
have felt a lot better.

Obviously from reading some of the posts not everyone wants to devote time 
to handholding for newcomers because it is certainly a job in and of itself 
& probably distracting. But if there are those who would, I know from my 
point of view, it would have made a world of difference. :) You guys are an 
intimidating group to just throw oneself into head over heels, especially 
for someone who is shy AND also afraid of messing up (as in, calling someone 
by the wrong title, wandering into the middle of court, etc). :)


Just some input from a lurker. :) If you all start some sort of mentorship 
program, please let me know!

-Ariana
who used to be Eve


>From: Coblaith Mhuimhneach <Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>
>Reply-To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>Subject: [Bryn-gwlad] people labels (was: Ideas about newcomers 
>from...anewcomer)
>Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 20:05:57 -0500
>
>Sean wrote:
>>Perhaps a simple cloth shield with the colors and Halberd of Bryn-Gwald 
>>could be offered to "Newbies" so that others would know they were...new. 
>>Once these individuals had a clue about what was going on, something I am 
>>still working on, they could turn in these shield for other individuals to 
>>use.
>
>I answered
>>Something like this had occurred to me. But I wonder how many newcomers 
>>would be comfortable with it.. . .I have also thought that it might be 
>>helpful if officers and guild principals wore some sort of insignia at 
>>Populace in the Park.. . .Similarly, members of the populace who were 
>>willing to be general "ambassadors" on any given night could wear the 
>>Barony's badge or green-and-gold bands or something. Then all the folks at 
>>the Hospitaler's table would have to do to is point them out and explain 
>>what they mean (or hail somebody who'd chosen to put one on, depending on 
>>the circumstances).. . .I, as a newcomer, wasn't unwilling to go up to 
>>people and say, "Hi," but I was reluctant to "horn in on" conversations 
>>and harass people who were busy doing other things, and it often looks as 
>>though EVERYBODY at PiP is busy.  If there had been people wearing, 
>>"Harass me, please!" labels, I would've been more comfortable approaching 
>>them.
>
>Robin asked:
>>How about a nice, normal nametag?
>
>You mean for the newcomers, the officers and guild principals, the 
>"ambassadors", or all three?
>
>I have four problems with nametags:
>
>(1)  You have to get pretty close and be looking at the individual 
>face-to-face (well. . .face-to-chest) even to see one.  I think the 
>likelihood of someone scanning the crowd noticing a 4-inch-wide armband 
>with trailing ends (or something similar) is much higher, especially when 
>we're all gathered in little groups chatting (as we often are).
>
>(2)  You have to be even closer to read them.  So, if you said, "Look for 
>Coblaith,", and the newcomer relied on nametags, she'd have to roam around 
>the crowd poking her face in between conversing members of the populace 
>until she saw the right bosom (assuming you either mispronounce my name or 
>spell it for her, so she can recognize it when she does see it).  If, on 
>the other hand, you said, "Look for the Chronicer; she's got black and 
>white feathers on her armband," she could, again, just scan the crowd.  I 
>know which I'd prefer to do.
>
>(3)  They're pretty much single-use.  Even the little plastic pockets on 
>strings aren't exactly sturdy.  Re-usable "labels" make more sense, 
>ecologically and economically.
>
>(4)  They pretty much define "obtrusively modern".  So, if we're treating 
>Populace in the Park as an SCA event (either in general, as ???? and ???? 
>have suggested, or on a specific occassion, as when we have a tiny 
>tourney), they won't fit.
>
>
>Aurelia's said:
>>Instead of asking newcomers to call attention to themselves with badges, 
>>why not give the badges to those who might be willing to become mentors. 
>>Just a button that says "Ask Me Questions!" would do, and then those who 
>>are new would know who to approach.
>>
>>I'd be comfortable wearing a button that says "Ask Me About Costumes!" Or, 
>>"Ask Me About Roman Personas!"
>
>I think that'd be great. . .even those of us who aren't exactly new anymore 
>might benefit.  There's information on the interests of some of the 
>residents of the Barony in the Participants' Registry, but I'm still 
>surprised on a regular basis by the things my fellows can do.
>
>Actually, my initial idea about the "ambassador" armbands was that they 
>might indicate their bearers' areas of expertise or interest, but I 
>couldn't think of an easy way to incorporate that.  "Ask me" buttons sound 
>promising.
>
>
>I think I'll run up a sample Chronicler's "label" or two before the 
>business meeting, so we can start discussing some concrete possibilities.  
>Anybody else want to work up their ideas?
>
>
>
>Coblaith Mhuimhneach
>Barony of Bryn Gwlad
><mailto:Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>


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