[Ravensfort] Thoughts on Authenticity

[Jeremy Meaux]

Greetings, 

After reading the post that have been written in the
last few days I'd like to throw in my share of
opinions. First, the defining minimal effort in the
SCA is impossible, one the SCA as a whole is to
widespread of a time frame and allows too much area
for persona's. Two, there are very few sumptury laws
that say what and who can do something. Even these
such as coronets and such basically mean nothing. I
too often see people of low are no rank call peers by
their name with no regard for who is in hearing
distance. They earned the title use it, one way to
improve the game. Cover your mundanity and move your
car. If the hosts of an event go to the effort respect
them in common areas that are for public use, ie. not
your camp site. Respect peoples camps, in period
walking in to a camp unannounced could have resulted
in death, or the very least a beating. Same with
titles. 
Complaining about being authentic is an easy out. If
you go to many of the other reenactments out there you
will see that you have to be "juried" before you can
enter the event site. Why, they put a monumental
effort into recreating a time period to truly
experience what they are trying to portray. The
"stitch Nazi's" for the most part are those with self
issues and need to vent them on someone else. The
people that truly love what they are doing will take
the time to work with you, not against you.
The biggest part is living within your persona and
trying to learn. We have non profit status because we
are supposed to educate people. If you can prove what
you wear is authentic, cotton/polyester, then carry
your documentation. But don't cry to me if your
wearing purple polyester in 10th century Norway and
someone questions you about it. If you want to strive
to be a peer, then prove why your work is peer level.
If you want to be a Pelican, get off your butt and
work for it. If your aspiration is to be a knight,
then learn what a Knight was. It's not about being
good at swinging a stick and kissing ass. It was about
how much land your dad had, and in a few cases how
well you fought. So, the SCA as a whole is not
authentic, but after thirty some odd years, you can
either change it, or allow the reputation it holds in
the reenacting community to grow by the attitude that
" I'll do it my way, why does it matter if its
authentic, it's the SCA".
Too often we all take short cuts on authenticity. Work
a little harder and all your efforts will be rewarded.
Some may not appreciate your effort but only you can
be the judge on your own life and what you put into
it. 
Well here it is, flame away, but in my persona I have
the right to "judicial combat" if I feel offense. So
if you want to do the persona thing and truly "play
the game" watch your step.

I am
Lord jean-michel de Meaux

ps. anybody slam Clarissama's food you'll have a lot
of pissed-off fighters. Its period, good and she
remembers that I get sick from greens and doesn't put
them on my plate.
Pss. Sewing on a machine and then slamming someone's
hand sewing is unforgivable, they sewed, you didn't,
your Singer did.  

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