SC - Arguing with the Crown

[Elaine Koogler]

No problem.  I only wish that your philosophy could be instituted as "required
reading" for incipient Crowns...or anyone contemplating fighting for Crown.
Unfortunately many people take on positions of power or authority (Great
Offices, Crowns, Coronets, etc.) with the idea that they will be able to do what
they want and be answerable to no one except themselves...and maybe a corporate
office.  My experience has shown that these are the ones who not only fail at
that position (usually) but who earn the disrespect of those around them.  I
think that people who take on these positions should understand that they are
servants of the people...and that their main job is to make sure everyone around
them has a pleasant and worthwhile experience in the group!

Kiri (getting down off of her soapbox!)

Michael Gunter wrote:

> >I think a lot of it has to do with how long you've been in the SCA, how
> >you've
> >moved in the circles that communicate with the "centers of power" within
> >your
> >kingdom and the kind of relationship you have with the Crown.
>
> Heh. I feel kind of sorry for my Crowns. I tend to let them know
> what I think. Of course it does help that I knighted the past couple
> and actually acted as a bit of a mentor when they were squires so
> some of the discussions come out as "Listen Junior....".  But I'm
> an arrogant lout.
>
> >There are a
> >number of people who, if they were King, I could talk to quite honestly,
> >and
> >that honesty would be appreciated.  On the other hand, there are a few who,
> >when
> >given an honest opinion, get angry...one even tried to banish me from the
> >SCA
> >some years ago!
>
> One thing that any Crown, or autocrat or seneschal or basically anyone
> in power, needs to remember is that other people have valuable
> ideas as well. And them's that's in charge need to be able to have
> a valid and logical explination for doing what they do. And also
> to acknowledge that they aren't all-knowing. The worst Crowns I've
> seen are those that believe in the absolute power of themselves.
> I was always willing to listen to what people had to say. I may not
> have agreed with it but at least I had a reason for not agreeing
> instead of "I'm King and how dare you question me?". Too many Crowns
> forget that they step down eventually.
>
> >However, that has never stopped me from being honest...and, at least
> >diplomatically, letting the Crowns know how I feel!
>
> As all members of the populace should do. For better or worse.
> Crowns should know when they screw up and a good one will apologize
> and try to correct it. But it also helps when they are told about
> the good stuff they do as well.
>
> An example of having a good reason for doing something and taking
> the time out to explain happened to me. We had to make a decision
> about changing Kingdom law. Some people viewed it that we were using
> our power to help out a couple of friends. One Peer wrote to us and
> basically said we should call a Court of Chivalry on Ourselves.
> I wrote this Peer and explained why we made the decision we did. How
> the law was a bad law and needed changed, how it was changed at the
> request of the populace it affected and that we would have made the
> change even if we weren't directly involved with the parties it
> affected. I then told the Peer that we declined his request to hold
> a Court of Chivalry on us but that he had our permission to take his
> request to the BoD if my explination wasn't satisfactory. A few months
> later this Peer approached me and thanked me for explaining the
> situation and that he had just been representing some people who
> didn't understand the situation. If I had taken the "Screw you, I'm
> King and can do what I want" stance I could have been considered a
> nepotist and power-mad. Instead I gained an ally.
>
> I think all positions of relative power should remember this. Whether
> it be seneschal, autocrat, head cook, baron or Crown. My apologies
> for the rather long tirade.
>
> >
> >Kiri
>
> Yers,
>
> Gunthar
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