There's an old tale of a stranger who wanders into a village with a magic stone that he claims makes soup. So the villagers boil up a big pot of water and he drops in the stone. He tastes the result and declares it's not bad but it needs salt. One of the villagers adds salt to the pot. He tastes again and suggests some carrots would be nice. Someone else produces a few carrots and cuts them up into the pot. Gradually, item by item, the people of the village contribute items to the pot and eventually everyone enjoys the delicious "stone" soup which they all contributed to.
The SCA is one of the biggest pots of stone soup around. Unlike a Ren Fair, where people go to be entertained, an SCA event is a place people go to entertain themselves. From the King and the Queen down to the newest attendee, we make the experience rather than having it made for us. Almost everything you see, everything you experience at an SCA event is a product of SCA members.
While there are many different motives for attending SCA events, we are the event. Collectively, we get out of it what we put into it.
Every time you show up to an event you add something to the soup. Just standing around in costume contributes to the soup pot. Indeed some members have gotten standing around and looking gorgeous down to a fine, high art -- especially some young ladies, but a few older ladies and some gentlemen as well. That's fine. Pretty people in pretty clothes certainly add to the ambiance.
Like any good soup simmering away on the back of the stove, SCA stone soup changes with time. The flavors blend and marry and the taste as new ingredients are constantly added. What remains constant is that the result is entirely dependent on everyone there.
So the next time you go to an event, strive to add some good memories to the pot of SCA stone soup. For yourselves and others.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
IRONSTEED ON THE PEERAGE
(Note: This is exactly what it says. My thoughts and observations on the institution of the peerage. It is in no way, shape or form SCA policy. Further, no one died and made me God.)
A peerage is the King's way of saying "you're what we want to be when we grow up."
Ideally, peers are exemplars of all that is best in the society. This includes character and actions as well as skill.
A peerage is not a merit badge.
It's not a matter of completing a checklist. Character matters, perhaps more than skill. Commitment matters. Just being good at what you do is not sufficient. OTOH, it is necessary. (To make a period distinction.)
To become a peer act like a peer
Strive to practice the virtues of the peer. Those include generosity of spirit, courtesy and trying to live up to the ideals of the Society. Work at your art. Strive to learn and teach what you know. Work for the good of the SCA and its ideals.
Character, actions and skill are everything.
All the junk jewelry in the world does not make someone a true peer.
Being a peer will not improve your sex life, make people love you or even gain you much respect.
You're still you and a peerage doesn't change that. The people who think that being a peer will magically change them are going to be bitterly disappointed.
Making a peer is the most permanent thing a King can do.
Laws can be revoked by the next King. Other actions affect only the current reign. But we're stuck with a peer for as long as he or she continues to play.
The role of peerage circles is extremely limited.
The king decides who to offer elevation. By Aten law he is required to consult a circle of peers, but he doesn't have to take their advice. There is no method for polling the entire order. Circles don't vote, although the King may go around the circle and ask each peer's opinion. A peer can't blackball someone in a circle because only the King decides. There is no such thing as "being passed by the circle". In fact there isn't even a "candidate for the peerage" until His Majesty decides to ask someone if they will accept elevation.
Elevation to the peerage is not fair.
Even with the best will in the world not everyone who should be made a peer will be elevated. Some people who shouldn't be made peers will be through favoritism, politics, etc. It's been that way from the very beginning and frankly I can't imagine any system which would completely eliminate the problem.
A peerage is the King's way of saying "you're what we want to be when we grow up."
Ideally, peers are exemplars of all that is best in the society. This includes character and actions as well as skill.
A peerage is not a merit badge.
It's not a matter of completing a checklist. Character matters, perhaps more than skill. Commitment matters. Just being good at what you do is not sufficient. OTOH, it is necessary. (To make a period distinction.)
To become a peer act like a peer
Strive to practice the virtues of the peer. Those include generosity of spirit, courtesy and trying to live up to the ideals of the Society. Work at your art. Strive to learn and teach what you know. Work for the good of the SCA and its ideals.
Character, actions and skill are everything.
All the junk jewelry in the world does not make someone a true peer.
Being a peer will not improve your sex life, make people love you or even gain you much respect.
You're still you and a peerage doesn't change that. The people who think that being a peer will magically change them are going to be bitterly disappointed.
Making a peer is the most permanent thing a King can do.
Laws can be revoked by the next King. Other actions affect only the current reign. But we're stuck with a peer for as long as he or she continues to play.
The role of peerage circles is extremely limited.
The king decides who to offer elevation. By Aten law he is required to consult a circle of peers, but he doesn't have to take their advice. There is no method for polling the entire order. Circles don't vote, although the King may go around the circle and ask each peer's opinion. A peer can't blackball someone in a circle because only the King decides. There is no such thing as "being passed by the circle". In fact there isn't even a "candidate for the peerage" until His Majesty decides to ask someone if they will accept elevation.
Elevation to the peerage is not fair.
Even with the best will in the world not everyone who should be made a peer will be elevated. Some people who shouldn't be made peers will be through favoritism, politics, etc. It's been that way from the very beginning and frankly I can't imagine any system which would completely eliminate the problem.
Friday, July 18, 2008
WHY I STAY
(This is an excerpt from a letter I wrote someone who was discouraged by the behavior she saw in the SCA. It pretty well encapsulates my feelings on the matter)
I am not going to tell you not to be bitter, because God knows I am bitter about the way the SCA turned out and some of the things that are done in its name.
I will tell you that the SCA does not and never has lived up to the high and noble ideals we profess. As you may have noticed it is frequently a snakepit of backbiting, cruelty, ego and oppression.
So what then is left? Simply this:
Scattered here and there through the group, like raisins in a cheap loaf of raisin bread, are a few people who really are moved by those ideals of chivalry, courtesy, noblesse oblige and true honor. The organization attracts them, even though they remain rare -- simply because they are so rare anywhere.
Those are the people who make it worthwhile and those are the ones you should cling to. Those are the ones who make it worthwhile being in the SCA and even devoting time and energy to making the organization work when you know most of those who will reap the benefits are people who not only don't know what those words mean -- they don't even suspect.
No one can blame you if you choose not to continue to work for the organization, although some of us will thank you profoundly if you do. But find those people, cling to them and enjoy their company. That, in my bitter, hard-won experience, is the only thing that makes the SCA worthwhile.
I am not going to tell you not to be bitter, because God knows I am bitter about the way the SCA turned out and some of the things that are done in its name.
I will tell you that the SCA does not and never has lived up to the high and noble ideals we profess. As you may have noticed it is frequently a snakepit of backbiting, cruelty, ego and oppression.
So what then is left? Simply this:
Scattered here and there through the group, like raisins in a cheap loaf of raisin bread, are a few people who really are moved by those ideals of chivalry, courtesy, noblesse oblige and true honor. The organization attracts them, even though they remain rare -- simply because they are so rare anywhere.
Those are the people who make it worthwhile and those are the ones you should cling to. Those are the ones who make it worthwhile being in the SCA and even devoting time and energy to making the organization work when you know most of those who will reap the benefits are people who not only don't know what those words mean -- they don't even suspect.
No one can blame you if you choose not to continue to work for the organization, although some of us will thank you profoundly if you do. But find those people, cling to them and enjoy their company. That, in my bitter, hard-won experience, is the only thing that makes the SCA worthwhile.
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