[Northkeep] another opinion

[Hugh & Belinda Niewoehner]

Another personal opinion:
       
I don't think anyone is trying to rain on someone's parade.  Marc nailed 
it with the proper word "courtesy".  Some suggestions:

       
Think of court as a movie theater.  Of course, people make a quick 
comment, whisper, etc. during a movie.  But if their child is screaming, 
they don't like the movie, or their phone rings, they leave the 
theater.  If court is boring (which I agree many are) don't stay--after 
all you didn't have to pay to get in.  I like the current royal policy 
of keeping it to an hour.  Even most children (and those of us raised in 
the TV generation who have short attention spans) can handle being 
bored/sitting for an hour.  If not, I wouldn't come.  The idea of 
threatening people who make disturbances worries me.  I've heard of 
serious fights resulting in movie theaters under such circumstances. 

       
Partying is a part of the SCA.  No one wants to forbid it.  However, 
common courtesy would suggest that if you know you want to make a lot of 
noise, don't camp next to the people who have children who need to sleep 
at a reasonable hour.  I always admired Their Excellencies Thorgrim and 
Sigen for camping 'way out there' so that they could party as loudly as 
they wanted without disturbing others.  Is it an inconvenience to walk 
that far?  Yes.  But no one ever complained about them and they were 
willing to make that sacrifice for the interest of peace.  Kindness 
would not make the people with small children (and us old folks) seek 
the far reaches of the campsite to get a little sleep at a reasonable 
hour.  And no matter how much you like to party, there are limits.  
Nothing illegal should be taking place at an SCA event. 

       
Agreed,we all have our own ideas of what we want out of the Society.  
Does it meet my expectations?  No way near it.  But there are a few 
people I've met who try to play the game the way I hoped it would be.  
Unfortunately, I don't see them often and don't know them well.  But I 
still enjoy associating with those who don't share my views.  I, 
personally, like the way populace meeting is currently run.  It brings 
the atmosphere of the Middle Ages at least partially into the 
picture.    Many people have expressed that they want that and the pros 
and cons were discussed prior to the elevation of the current Coronet.  
Of course, we can't recreate the middle ages perfectly and wouldn't want 
to.  But the flavor, the mood, whatever, can be attempted.  I have not 
seen any authenticity police in Northkeep.  We only last year bought a 
period tent and we've been playing here over twenty years.  My clothing 
is not entirely appropriate to my persona (No one knows what tenth 
century Andalusian women wore--if you do, please let me know) but I make 
a close guess or wear something I like that fits the weather and no one 
has given me any trouble.

       
At this last event two things occurred which reflect _my_ opinion of 
chivalry.  I was walking with a heavy item and a gentle quickly 
approached me and offered to carry it.  "At least some of us believe in 
the old ways," he told me as he did so.  On Sunday morning, however, as 
one of our ladies (not me) struggled to lift a large trash can to empty 
it, two healthy young men sat and watched her.  Should she have asked 
them to help?  Maybe.  But wouldn't it have been more to their credit if 
they had offered?  I'm not suggesting that men must throw their cloaks 
across mud puddles, etc.  It just seems to me over the years that there 
are less of the type of gentles in the first category.  I think this is 
a reflection of our world in general and not just the SCA.  And not 
considering other people's desire to hear court or sleep fall into the 
same category of selfishness in my opinion.

       
Although I probably have offended someone, it was not my intention.  As, 
Lord Angus Gunn said, these are generalizations.  I can think of no one 
in Northkeep that I wish to hurt or offend and if I have done so, please 
accept my apologies.

       
        Ismet FunForemost Sevdah