private-Re: SC - [fwd] [Mid} sca becomes a general term

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/22/99 1:31:28 AM Eastern Standard Time,
lainie at gladstone.uoregon.edu writes:

<< As an academic, I will not dismiss the SCA as just a bunch of
 'play-actors'. And as a SCAdian, I will not dismiss the academics as
 'snobs'. But I must recognize that there are some of both, in both, and
 try to be careful when moving between the two.
 
 since 'Elaine' never attended University, I must sign this
 Laura >>

It certainly was not my intention to diss the entire Academic comminity/ As I
reread my post, I can see that that is exactly what it appears that I have
done. :-( My apolgies. Please forgive me. There is good and bad in both groups
as you pointed out.

And the reason I appear to 'portest' too much is that at 2 different times, my
amateur research was used by professor's and presented as their own work. The
old addage of 'once burned.....'.

Anyway, my INTENTION was to emphasize that much legitimate research is
conducted by dedicated amateurs and many times the entire basis of an academic
discipline is based entirely on the work of amateurs (i.e. paleontology,
emtomology, photography, cinematography and electronics come immediately to
mind). You seem do be an exception to the rule that not a few degreed
ihndividuals automatically dismiss a person's work as 'irrelevant' or 'of no
account' merely because they do not have a paper to prove they know what they
know.

My own field of study, period cookery, is a perfect example of an area of
reserch were the so called experts more often than not continuously publish
and teach totally false and erroneous information (i.e. spices were used to
cover the taste of spoiled meat in the MA).

BTW, I did get that piece of paper and I burned it in a fit of youthful
romantic ire 23 yrs ago and have not seen any need to replace it. I would like
to close with the thought that anyone can learn anything if they have a mind
to do it. I am saddened that there is not a system in place whereby folks can
'test' for their particular field of expertise without the necessity of
spending huge sums of money to do so. I am aware that some universities
provide for such tests but 300 to 1000 dollars to take a test is an outrageous
price to pay for a few sheets of paper (i.e. the test ) and a person to
monitor and grade it.

So, sweet lady, I close with the thought that it is not the individuals in
Academia that cause my concern in this area. After all, butt heads are
everywhere, in all stratas and fields. It is the Institution that appalls me
and  I don't understand why those who are in a position to change itdo not
make an effort to do so. :-(

Yours in Service to the Dream,
al-Sayyid Ras
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