SC - questions

[Michael F. Gunter]

> While I agreed with the
> basic sentiment that we oughtta serve period food, I was concerned with
> the effect of the sentiment expressed in comparatively intimidating (for
> a new person) negative terms. It is against, it violates the intent of
> the SCA, I won't go, neither will my friends.

Thank you, this is something I have had to do my best to correct on this
list almost since it started. The older, sometimes wiser, members of this
list often come across to newcomers in an arrogant and sometimes
threatening manner.  Many of you have changed but it is still intimidating
to someone new to the list.

> Agreed. A minor quibble, perhaps, but I'd rather think in positive terms
> about doing period food than in negative terms about modern food. Period
> food at events is a good thing, it teaches people, it is fun, it
> enhances the medieval atmosphere we try hard in many other ways to
> foster. Those are positive terms. Period food is better than non-period
> food; see above. Comparative or relative terms with a positive slant.
> You've achieved wonders by going around at events offering people small
> treats from period recipes, not by going around saying, "Gimme that
> Twinkie, darnit, this is an SCA event, and that's not acceptable!" ;  )

One of the things I'm most proud of is the increased popularity of period
food at feasts here in Ansteorra over the last couple of years. I'm sure
you all can imagine how hard it is to get Texans (and Okies) to change
their minds about anything. But, and I do attribute the influence of this list
to a lot of it, the crusade for period cooking has been done in a spirit of
"Hey, this is cool! And see the neat things we can make and be period!"
Rather than, "Period food is the only way to go if you hope to be a
proper artiste!".  We've pushed for enthusiasm rather than intimidation
and it is working.

Thank you, Master Adamantius, for being a source of not only excellent
information but as one who presents it in a wonderful, non-threatening
manner.

> Adamantius

Yers,

Gunthar