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

[Anne-Marie Rousseau]

Hey all from Anne-Marie

thjis is very interesting. Right now I'm in the middle of a discussion with
someone about why is it that serious re-enactors wont give you the time of
day if you mention that you're in the SCA.

I guess I cant blame them...a good number of the people in the SCA that
I've met (not all, and not even the majority of the people I hang out with)
really dont care that much about historic authnticity except where it means
they get to justify this Mists of Avalon kind of game. Now, dont get me
wrong, I'm not whining about it, that's the game they choose, and more
power to them. I just choose a different game.

In my experience, if you're in an academic class that has some SCA folks in
it, unless they're also serious academics, they do indeed tend to be "know
it alls", ie "but someone told me different", or my personal fave "I read
it in a book from Ireland, so it must be true". 

With the same brush, if you're attempting to do serious re-enactment, SCA
people can be very enthusiastic until you point out that their thigh high
black patent leather boots really arent appropriate, and even if they DID
have patent leather, is it really appropriate for someone proclaiming
themselves to be a wandering minstrel? Or better yet, that the victorian
ideal of what the middle ages looked like really inst appropriate, but it
looks cool, so that's what they want to do. Right up there with
"declairing" chocolate chip cookies as the "coin of the realm".

Folks from serious re-enactment groups all over the world have been led
down that path before, and I guess I cant blame them for not wanting to go
there again. Its a shame really, becuase there are some folks in the SCA
who really do care about such things, and to whom scholarship IS an
important persuit. The rest of 'em are having a blast too, which is fine by
me! :) 

Announcing your SCA membership right off the bat in my experience isnt the
way to earn respect from academics or serious re-enactors (they've been
goobered before, I'm sure). The proof is in the pudding, as it were. Ace
the test, ask good questions in a respectful, nonchallenging way, show them
your handmade turnshoes with documentation, asking for feedback. Good
manners dictates no less. Earn the respect before you demand it. At least
that's how it is in my book...

Oh, and I must agree with Elaine...not everyone goes to college to "paste a
useless piece of paper on the wall". I worked my way through school, and am
currently doing a job that I couldnt do without my degree (its a bit hard
to teach yourself cell culture and cellular immunology techniques). I apply
these skills to my medieval reserach as well.

well, that's enough soapbox for now! :)
- --AM

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