[Namron] Speaking on general issues...

[Jennene Stanley]

Greetings on a Wednesday, (don't forget charter painting tonight)

    I've been playing this game for going on 20 years now. I have been 
entourage for 6 crown reigns and have seen more then my fair share of 
politics. I've been in the middle of some bruhahas when I have had to 
stand up for what I believe is right. It has been proven in 
interpersonal studies, that when a group grows more then 13 members then 
sub-groups form. When you have more then one person then you will have 
politics. That is a fact of human relations. Nobody is going to "get 
along" with everybody. To expect this is unrealistic and down right naive.

    There are many facets to the politics. Unfortunately it is very easy 
to sit in the safety of one's home and hidden behind a computer screen.  
It has been my experience that people will say on list not what they 
would say to a real person. (and before anybody say that I fall in this 
category... don't go there. I do speak my mind to peoples' face and have 
been labeled a "trouble-maker" more then one time for it). The list is 
*NOT* the SCA. It is not even a *fraction* of the SCA. Those who think 
otherwise need to reevaluate their priorities. (i.e. Get a Life!)

    So to keep everybody happy does this mean that I must tolerate 
everyone? Does this mean I must play the hypocrite and smile false 
greetings to those who have wronged me and others? The fact is that this 
organization attracts more then our fair share of people that have some 
serious issues and are less then honorable. Some of these people are 
pretty benign and do not constitute a real danger, others are not. I 
believe in giving a person the "benefit of the doubt" and giving a 
"second chance". I do not believe in giving a person a 8th ,9th,10th... 
chance when their actions show a pattern of behavior that is harmful to 
the group and individuals or in some cases down right dangerous. It is a 
fact that there are some people out there who relish the idea of hurting 
people. There are people who are abusive. There are people who delight 
in breaking up relationships because it somehow bolsters their lack of 
self esteem.  I do not tolerate those who hurt me and others. Period. 
The SCA does not tolerate such people. Just a couple of months ago the 
SCA corporate came out with a statement condemning a man (in East 
Kingdom) who was convicted of molesting children. If he moved here and 
started playing here should we tolerate him? Others bring foulness to 
our group and from time to time we have to deal with it. That is another 
fact of life.

    I am a sheltered person and work very hard to stay that way. Thomas 
(Brad) and I both work our patootees off at our real life jobs so we can 
enjoy playing. There are some things in this world that I will not 
tolerate and that is that. No amount of "pie" or "let's get along" is 
going to change that. Period.

About pirates.

    Yes, they are period. So is the black plague and other nasties. I 
have no issue with a person playing a pirate. But they have to take in 
the fact that pirates were not accepted by gentle folk (privateers are a 
different matter... sorta). Pirates were not honorable. They stole from 
others, killed people and were the scourge of the sea. Pirates were the 
period version of our modern day terrorists.  If you want to play such a 
person then you must expect others to treat you as they would have in 
period. You cannot have have your cake and eat it too.

About newcomers-

One of the things I have always tried to do is welcome newbies. (the Moo 
Manor is a SCA-student halfway house). I wish we could recruit more 
people. Fresh blood and new ideas are the future of our organization. We 
need new people.

I want to have fun. And 90% of the time I do not breathe fire. I get out 
my dresses and go "moo", I have my painting sessions, siege meetings and 
House Moo parties.  BUT I will not apologize for the other 10%. I do not 
start fights but, by God, I will finish them.  I am human. I have my 
opinions and am not afraid to voice them here.

HL Anya Gordon Lamont
a.k.a (in my very full real life)

-- 
Jennene Stanley
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  "There is nothing like an appeal to honor. It is a virtue that all
   crave, even those who lack it. Fundamentally, honor is itself a
   debt, a code of behavior, a promise, something inside yourself
   that you owe to the others who see it in you."
			      -Tom Clancy, "Debt of Honor"
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Email: Mooharpist at cox.net 	website: http://phelan.ou.edu/anya