SC - Grape juice inquiry-calrification

[DianaFiona]

Cooks!

 I must say I don't like people responding to a post when they don't know 
the original question, as I did!  Seems like the original question was 
possibly  "Why do people post queries for documentation here, instead of 
doing the research themselves and sharing the results?" 

How many people post "can this be documented" questions because, like me, 
 they have come across recipes that seem likely, but they don't have the 
resources to research it, or perhaps don't have need for something in 
that category at this point?  The recipe I posted for instance, sounded 
distinctly like something that might have been served late period, 
especially in England, because a) the people serving it 100 years later 
were from England. b) its style and ingredients are similar to things I 
know via Cariodoc and a few housewifes books, edited for the general 
public, that I have read.  However,  I don't really need to know right 
now.   My current need is for Eastern European soups and stews.  I intend 
to look into the Marlborough pie question at some point and probably 
would have asked the documentation question then.  Why? 

1.  There is a chance that someone here has already got all or part of an 
answer.  You don't start a thesis before finding out if someone's done 
that question before.  I wouldn't want to go to great lengths, only to 
discover that what I've discovered is common knowledge to those with more 
experience. Not that I expect never to find I've done that, but it would 
be nice not to feel I'd wasted a lot of time and effort. I don't expect 
an answer containing  full documentation! More likely just a comment to 
try looking at (name of resource) or look for something on  (name of 
country and more particular time period).  If I were in a position to 
save someone a few steps by sharing even such a little nugget of info 
that I didn't realize I had in my mind until asked, I would be glad to.  

2.  It's possible that someone researching another item could come across 
a recipe for a pie that reminds them of the one I mentioned.  At the very 
least, they could pass on the name of the source they were using.  More 
generously, they might actually copy the relevant information for me.  In 
a stroke of astounding luck for me, they might even decide that the 
recipe suits them, research it for their own purposes and post it.  
Depriving me of the work, darn it!  No, I'm not saying I hope someone 
else will do the work.  Just, well, it could happen if my stars and their 
stars were aligned all exactly right!

3.  Putting an idea out there allows me to have limited access to texts 
in languages I don't speak.   I wouldn't have thought of this except 
someone posted privately a recipe that was pretty darn close.  But since 
the original is in German, and since I don't read German  I _never_ would 
have found it.  I would never have even started looking in German texts!  


To a newcomer like me,  the question begs to be reversed.  Why isn't it 
appropriate to post a general can this be documented type question?  Is 
SCA-Cooks a place to post completed research only?   Is it a place only 
for those with access to more direct sources to post their 
pronouncements?  I'd hoped for a place for those without the skills or 
resources for more scholarly research to post a question in hopes of 
answers ranging from minimal advice to complete documentation.  Of course 
you shouldn't ask for assistance in documenting nacho dip, but a request 
for assistance with a recipe that consists of appropriate ingredients 
doesn't seem like it should be off limits. 

At least 3 people privately posted to watch out for flaming over such a 
request for documentation.  Happily, that didn't happen.  (yet?)   On 
another list about a completely unrelated interest, the FAQ attempts to 
train newbies what not to ask and train the rest of us to strictly ignore 
a certain type of inevitable and yet inappropriate post.  One person who 
was tired of flamewars over it responds off list why such a thing isn't 
possible.  It usually works, but the arrangement requires having that one 
person dedicated to fire fighting.   Most people I know have a life and 
no time for safeguarding a list to such an extreme.  But if it makes her 
feel needed . . . *shrug*.

BTW  Is there a FAQ I missed somewhere along the line?  Nothing I 
received from the listserv indicated there were limitations on 
discussion, so I would have eventually asked about the pie.  I only asked 
Friday because someone's response seemed to match my circumstances.

Anne 

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