SCA-reasons-msg

SCA-reasons-msg – 8/11/05

The reasons various people joined the SCA.

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.

Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous

Stefan at florilegium.org

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From: hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu (Heather Rose Jones)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: SCA vs Fishing?

Date: 26 Feb 1995 20:04:45 GMT

Organization: University of California, Berkeley

Beverly Roden (ac508 at dayton.wright.EDU) wrote:

: Why are you in the SCA? Why do you stay active? What keeps you coming

: back, even when some things frustrate or anger you?

Why do I stay in the SCA? Where else could I find one single organization

in which I could indulge my interest in: camping, sewing, reading,

painting, cooking, making music, history, poetry, languages, research,

embroidery, travel, teaching, etc. etc.

For me, being in the SCA is just a matter of efficiency!

Seriously, I did all the above-listed activities _before_ I joined the

SCA. I was the sort of kid who embroidered my school clothes, ground

pigments out of rocks I found lying around, couldn't have fibers in my

hands without absentmindedly spinning them into thread, made bows and

arrows out of old curtain rods and bamboo plant stakes. The SCA gave me

an explainable excuse to keep doing that stuff as an adult. All the

threads just come together in the right way.

Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn

From: hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu (Heather Rose Jones)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 18 Dec 1995 16:56:26 GMT

Organization: University of California, Berkeley

Mike Huber (mike.huber at software.rockwell.com) wrote:

: I challenge all:

: Does anyone claim that there was no element of

: fantasy that first brought you into either The

: Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

I accept the challenge.

What first brought me to the study of the Middle Ages was the experience

of spending my eleventh year living in eastern Europe, surrounded by more

history than a Californian had ever previously even dreamed about. I

fell, and I fell hard, and there has been no looking back (or rather,

there has been no _lack_ of "looking back" :> ).

What brought me to the SCA was the chance to study and experience history

from a wildly different perspective than books could give me. I'd always

been very much into "making and doing", low-tech crafts were almost an

obsession for me (my college dorm voted me Most Likely to Survive on a

Desert Island), and I had always tended to bring an experiential approach

to anything I was fascinated by.

When I joined the SCA, I had plenty of outlets for fantasy already. That

wasn't what I was looking for.

Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn

From: sclark at blues.epas.utoronto.ca (Susan Carroll-Clark)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 18 Dec 1995 23:25:31 -0500

Organization: University of Toronto -- EPAS

Greetings!

Anaximander said,

>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

>fantasy that first brought you into either The

>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

Well, me for one. I came to the Middle Ages through the back door--I was

a classicist as an undergrad and kept getting interested in later and later

periods, until I had been firmly ejected from Late Antiquity into the Middle

Ages. I came to the SCA enamored of Ostrogothic history and wishing to

try to make the clothes and jewellery I had seen in burials and museums

in order to better understand how these people lived. Although I have moved

to the thirteenth century, my driving force is to attempt to

understand the way the people of the past thought and viewed their world,

and to understand daily life via wearing the clothes, trying the food,

understanding the religion, hearing the music, and so forth.

I often shock my friends with how little I know of literary fantasy beyond

Tolkein, some Arthurian stuff, Katherine Kurtz, and a smattering of other

authors.

Although I have come to enjoy the fantasy of creating a persona, I still

think the Middle Ages would be a nice place to visit...but I wouldn't want

to live there.

Cheers!

Nicolaa de Bracton

sclark at epas.utoronto.ca

From: Garick Chamberlin <Garick at vonkopke.demon.co.uk>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 95 20:52:29 GMT

Organization: Drachenwald

In article <4asbhf$193 at moci.mke.software.rockwell.com>

mike.huber at software.rockwell.com "Mike Huber" writes:

> I challenge all:

> Does anyone claim that there was no element of

> fantasy that first brought you into either The

> Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

Not taking up the challenge because I wouldn't stand a chance. I just thought

there should be a voice in this thread that is other than what I think of as an

exception.

My hook was, without a doubt, fantasy, though not elves and orcs type fantasy.

I came into the SCA to be Ivanhoe. My guiding force growing up was one hundred

percent Sir Walter Scott. I thought it was history, until I learned more. Even

as I have been hooked by Real History (TM) I lean heavily towards the

"fantastic" idealism of the Romances. I guess that, like Rat (Sir Richard of

Aldertree), I think that a perfect world for me would not be modern, or

medieval as it was, but medieval as *they* (the writers and followers of the

romances and philosophical treatises) would have it be.

Garick, Proud and happy to be a "knight in Shining Armor" and still striving to

be worthy.

Honor Virtus Est

From: rudi3964 at utdallas.edu

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 19 Dec 1995 11:47:57 -0600

Organization: The University of Texas at Dallas

Anaximander of Xidon (Mike Huber <mike.huber at software.rockwell.com>) proclaims:

>I challenge all:

>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

>fantasy that first brought you into either The

>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

The exceptions exist, but his point is generally true. My primary

motivation is Tolkien, and when I joined in the late 70s, virtually

everybody who joined was mostly brought to it either through Tolkien or

through SF conventions. By the late 80s, we were getting a large number

of people who were disenchanted with D&D, and wanted something more real.

My lady wife, Mistress Adelica Gilwell, joined through an interest in

history, and is often kind of bemused by the rarity of that motivation.

Actually, one of the greatest educational contributions of the SCA is that

people who joined just for the funny clothes, or fantasy, or to hit people

with sticks, are eventually led to an interest in real history. We do a

grave disservice to these people when we belittle the first beginnings of

serious study by comparing it to the work of long-term artists.

Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin

From: david.razler at compudata.com (DAVID RAZLER)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 95 06:51:00 -0400

Organization: Compu-Data BBS -=- Turnersville, NJ -=- 609-232-1245

R>Anaximander of Xidon (Mike Huber <mike.huber at software.rockwell.com>)

R>proclaims: >I challenge all:

R>>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

R>>fantasy that first brought you into either The

R>>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

It was more Tuchman than Tolkien in my case. Really.

Mom got her MA by driving the final nail into the coffin of the theory

that Chaucer wrote The Romance of the Rose, and that it was translated

to French by two French poets (really, they believed that not too long

ago)

Dad got his MA for miscellaneous research, etc. into Western European

history.

But what got *me* into the SCA, in addition to growing up with the

family library, was hearing William the Subtle's twins run up to him

crying "do we really have to go to Page School at Pennsic (IXX) during a

demo I was covering for my paper.

I went to the War to cover the event through local participants - and

went native 24 hours after arrival.

I first read Tolkien in 4th Grade, and have just about a complete

collection of his published works, along with CJRT's publications of his

father's papers. I can point out the differences between the 1st Ed. Ace

edition, Ballentine edition, 2nd Brit. text, HMCO 1st text and the

recent final redacted most-authentic-text, the only one now in

publication in English.

I game-mastered using Chivalry and Sorcery, the game system "dedicated

to the SCA" and am one of the people responsible for crying 'foul' to

the publisher for plagerizing large sections from William Stearns

Davis's "Life in a Medieval Barony" without credit given that delightful

introductory volume to 12th C. culture, an error corrected in the Second

Ed. [as soon as I get confirmation that the copyright has lapsed on the

book, I'll be Gutenberging it and getting it into Society hands] I was

also able to identify the Renaisance and post-Ren sources of C&S

"magic," (mainly period/post-period texts based on Greek Gnostics or

completely synthetic period mss. later translated by the 19th/20th C.

theosophists, Waite, Crowley and the whole "magickle" crew etc.)

I joined the SCA because of, as Peter Beagle said, "the sounds." The

sounds and the smells and the flavors and the sights and the experiences

of period living got me. It was Cariodoc and others who *did* the

medieval thing better than I probably ever will; the sounds of 3,000

foot soldiers in leather and steel taking the field; watching the sun

come up behind a Pennsic campfire, burning off the night smells of wood

smoke, spilled food and drink, sweat and shit; the fact that we did not

give a damn when electric power for the entire region suddenly failed;

the study of the old arts - every feudal trade represented.

And learning things most historians will never know: like *how* to fight

on foot in armour, and why all of those second-hand explanations of how

it was done are wrong. The laws of physics apply - but the only way to

learn is to at least do it for an hour then watch others.

Master Iolo did not just sell me a crossbow - he explained to me exactly

how period bows were made (and the handful of differences between his

and the real thing). Others taught me how to turn wood on a bow lathe,

by building one, how fencers fenced without little wiry blades with

electronic tips, how to (well the list goes on and on)

I didn't come here for fantasy - I came here for the next best thing to

time travel and the most effective and enjoyable form of education on

the planet.

Hands On!

Aleksandr the Traveller here/david m. razler everywhere else

[david.razler at compudata.com]

From: HAROLD.FELD at hq.doe.GOV

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Fantasy has no place in it

Date: 18 Dec 1995 15:27:11 -0500

Organization: The Internet

Greetings from Yaakov.

Anaximader writes:

>Does anyone claim that there was no element of

>fantasy that first brought you into either The

>Society or the study of the Middle Ages?

That depends on how you define fantasy. The SCA appealed to my

romantic (in the non-libidinous sense) ideals. It offered a chance to

play act and role-play within a setting I thought I would enjoy. It

also gave me a common activity with people who seemed neat and who

apparently shared similar ideas.

However, I never had a desire to be Robin Hood, or Erol Flyn for that

matter. I never felt the need to spice up my recreation with

vampires, elves, dybuks or golems. I was an active role-player at the

time I joined the SCA, and that satisfied my desire to pretend to cast

spells or find lost treasures.

The SCA still appeals to my romantic instincts. Here I can write

poetry, tell stories, discourse passionatly, and a host of other

things that the rest of the world consider in bad taste. This does

not mean I enjoy the introduction of non-historic elements.

Yaakov

(Is Colonial Williamsburg a fantasy?)

From: "Joel \"Spydre\" Connors" <Joel_Connors at attpls.net>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 08:55:53 -0800

Organization: Northwind Special Services

ALBAN at delphi.COM wrote:

> Mike Huber/Anaximander of Xidon said:

> >I challenge all:

> >Does anyone claim that there was no element of fantasy

> >that first brought you into either The Society or the study

> >of the Middle Ages? Certainly, authentic history has (in

> >my case, anyway) proved to be more rewarding in the

> >long run, but I won't deny what brought me in.

> i can so claim. i joined in 1975 because it had been

> described as a. . . a . . . you know, i haven't the foggiest idea

Snip

>my nephew then asked "is that what college

> is for, to learn all that useless stuff?" we all laughed, said

> yes, and went on with the conversation.)

> did i join because i liked fantasy? no way.

> alban, old fogey slowly going senile

I myself can make the same claim. While I like fantasy very much it had

nothing to do with my joining the SCA. In fact the opposite could

possibly be said.

I have worked the CA Ren Faire circuit for ten years. I have studied

English 16th century history till I was blue in the face. It seems that

I am a motivational studier of history, no motivation, no study. That

combined with a desire to find a physical activity that I could enjoy

got me to give the SCA a chance that I might not have.

Of course it helped that friends of mine assured me that there were

people n the SCA who did care about history and doing it right. I may

not be a costume nazi, history maven etc, but I probably come pretty

damn close. I would have to say the only reason I am not is I don't

force my history down anothers throat.

If some guy wants to be a vampire, there is not a lot that I can do to

stop him. Not a lot except ignore him and walk away. If I want fantasy,

I'll read a book, join a D&D re-enactor group etc. If I want to live the

"fasinating" parts of history, I'll go play with the peop[le I have met

in the SCA. Heck with all the odd and unexplained parts of history to be

lived, who needs to bring fantasy into it?

Thanks to people like Flieg, Fabian, Tangwystal, Wander, Magnus and many

others I have found not only history, but honor, love, and caring.

With joy, honor happy wishes and fire retardent,

Teirnion Shadauw, The Mists

From: UDSD007 at DSIBM.OKLADOT.STATE.OK.US (Mike.Andrews)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 16:48

Organization: The University of Oklahoma (USA)

I'll admit it right here: I joined for the music.

I joined because the SCA was a place where people were interested

in Renaissance and Medieval music, as I was and still am. Notthing

at all about fantasy entered my mind: fantasy doesn't particularly

interest me (aside from the literary genre), and never has. Real

life is plenty enough to cope with, ThankYouVeryMuch, but the

music is a relief and surcease.

I do other things, too: archery, illumination, some leatherwork,

etc., etc., But the music comes first.

udsd007 at dsibm.okladot.state.ok.us

Michael Fenwick of Fotheringhay, O.L. (Mike Andrews) Namron, Ansteorra

From: email at domain.com (Your Name)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 19:35:02 -0500

Organization: World Lynx

Noble Cousins!

Although I joined a couple of years after Alban, I joined at about the same

time. Further, I had actually heard of the SCA many years earlier. Now

then, what were my impressions? First of all, the SCA was definitely not

a fantasy society. The society was about playing medieval and more

specifically about playing noble. One of my early questions about the

society when actually invited to an event was concern lest it be too expensive.

I was told that while a lot of people in the society like to affect being

wealthy and powerful, most enjoy rather humble stations in life and not to

worry. This corresponds rather well with my first impressions of the

society garnered from an episode of To Tell the Truth and my second impressions

garnered from conversations with someone in Science Fiction Fandom. (This

second person while showing me pictures of Baron Patri and Lord Ivan was

rather derissive of the people in the society in general. That put me off

from actually joining the society for a couple of years, even though I was

eager to join when she showed me the pictures. She was my boss at the time.)

Basically, while some people in the society were interested in fantasy, that

was not what the Society was about, at least in the Easter Rite. Even the

king and queen on the television program many years earlier had a very strong

grittyness too them which was very much non-fantasy.

Your Humble Servant

Solveig Throndardottir

Amateur Scholar

From: howland at noc.arc.nasa.gov (Chris de H.)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: 22 Dec 1995 07:54:10 GMT

Organization: NASA Science Internet Project Office

|> Mike Huber/Anaximander of Xidon said:

|> >I challenge all:

|> >Does anyone claim that there was no element of fantasy

|> >that first brought you into either The Society or the study

|> >of the Middle Ages? Certainly, authentic history has (in

|> >my case, anyway) proved to be more rewarding in the

|> >long run, but I won't deny what brought me in.

I joined for the Ladies. Honestly, I've found

few activities that I can partisipate in where

the Ladies are an active, equal part.

I dance, I fence, I arch(?), done needlle-

point and poetry. I was interested first by the

historic recreation and investigation, having

always been interested in history. Yes, I also

enjoy fantasy and science fiction. But what

got me hooked was the acceptance given to me

because I wanted to try.

I didn't have to be the best at any thing, just

interested and ready to learn.

All that and beautifull Ladies, too? Can't beat

it!

(and before any flames, I am not speaking only

of external, transient appearience.)

Christofer de Hoyland, the Embarrassable

Southern Shores, Mists, West.

From: Bob Lyle <madrabit at metronet.com>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: 22 Dec 1995 14:00:44 GMT

Organization: Texas Metronet, Inc (login info (214/705-2901 - 817/571-0400))

Uh, I hate to say this . . .but I was a fencer when I joined and wanted

to learn broadsword techniques. Of course, I haven't fought heavy in

twelve years, so I obviously found something else.

Lyelf the Lame

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: MDyane at sisna.com (Dyane McSpadden)

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: Sat, 23 Dec 95 16:36:22 GMT

Organization: Source Internet Services

I joined for Three reasons,

I like to make Arrows,

I like to Shoot Traditional Archery,

I like to look at ladies in low cut Dresses,

The rest of the society is a bonus. The dancing, the

comraderie, the FUN. But I always harken back to the

"Thrilling days of yesteryear" when I talk about why I joined!

Chrystopher the Fletcher

Bard-Defender of Carraig Ruadh

From: jfoxdavis at aol.com (J FoxDavis)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: why i joined?

Date: 27 Dec 1995 16:34:32 -0500

Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

Cousins on the Bridge,

I guess I qualify as an official "old phart", having joined when TI was

still being mimeographed and there were only 4 kingdoms. I was enamored

then, and now, with the ideal of the knight. I suppose, having been

guilty of the crime of being only 18 at the time, I made a few errors

along the way, but the ideal still holds, if the vessel is somewhat weak

at 41.

Truthfully, there was little enough fantasy involved in the folk I hung

around with, although one was a fantasy _author_, and she's the one who

dragged me to my first bardic revel. The following interchange was between

the Seneschal of the Barony of Angels, one Lady Bevin Fraser of Stirling,

and one college student, Jim Davis, called "Clueless".

("You're going to a bardic revel. Here, (handing me a purple satin tunic)

put this on."

"Great!" I replied, "What's a Bardic Revel?" (at this point I would have

cheerfully jumped off a bridge to follow the combination of blond hair,

green eyes and big smile I was seeing)

"It's where a bunch of people sit around, sing songs and tell stories."

"Sounds like fun" I replied.)

I think it to my great credit that, upon being presented with the visage

of Edwin Bersark in naught but bathrobe and his own hirsute pelt, holding

forth with some Norse saga I could not understand, I stood my ground.

....I suppose the only fantasy involved herein was that I was hoping for

my chance for more than friendship with the lady in question at the time.

<grin>..(ah, well. The fantasies of youth. At least we're still friends,

and happily married (each to someone else))

The SCA has been responsible, over the last 23 years, for a house crammed

with books, weapons, fabric, instruments, feast making and dining gear,

scrolls, banners, and ghu only knows what else. It has also given me some

of the finest friends, best times, and, to be sure, greatest anguishes of

my life. All in all, though, looking around my home, and rifling through

my memories, I think it's been good to me.

Jared Alexandre Blaydeaux

Angels, Caid

From: dduncan348 at aol.com (DDuncan348)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: Fantasy has No Place in t

Date: 10 Jan 1996 06:23:33 -0500

Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

I find that there are a vast many reasons why people join the SCA. I am

one of the ones who joined during the '80s as a result of the D&D crowd,

but as I have grown older I find that my area of interests has centered

around the historical aspec of the Society.

Perspective changes during life. I would say now if people join wanting

jsut the fantasy aspect, there are many of the live role-playing groups

out there that I would think would appeal to them more.

Now, if one wants a more rewarding experience and learn and have fun, the

SCA is the choice I would make.

I am not knocking down the other organizations.

From: "j'lynn yeates" <jyeates at realtime.net>

To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

Subject: ANST - thoughts on what is the sca all about ...

Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 13:36:29 -0500

> From: iainmacc at juno.com

> That's the true measure of honor: If you're honorable

> even when no one else would know or care.

something along the lines "... to thine own self be true", eh?

(g)

one dynamic that has always seemed obvious to me, is that the scadian

world is primarily made up of intelligent seekers.

most have been alienated from society at large (no surprises there,

can't see how *any* intelligent person would not be alienated by the

popular culture of the last few decades). this alienation & seeking

manifests in *many* areas - the beat movement (literary / cultural),

early rock-n-roll rebellion (artistic / cultural), 60's counter

culture, new age movement (religious / philosophical)., biker,

goth/punk, .... and in this group is scadia.

further, i can see two distict types within ... those seeking

"asylum" from the world and those that seek to enhance aspects of

self while keeping other areas outside the sca active. the former

often manifests in the total-immersion "live the dream" mindset

verses the later "hobbyist". from as long as i've been inside, there

has been at best a uneasy truce between the two camps. but seems

over last years, the sca seems attracting more and more seeking total

refuge. along with this seems to be a rising intolerance of those who

are not 100% 24/7 committed to the sca. this is a concern of many of

those i correspond with especially as the "cult level" of behavior

seems on the rise (won't go into the various cult evaluation

frameworks, they're out on the internet for those interested)

problem is that scadian is many things to many people. it is such a

wide ranging environment (as it was designed and evolved) that one

can find unique things that are relevent. problem is what is primary

for me is not primary for you ... my definitions of concept "x" is

different from your's. is this a bad thing? not at all.... that'

one reason i stay is that i *love* the many interpretations and the

sometimes reasoned and often impassioned debate on these differences

of opinions (keltoi blood i think) ... it reminds me of the old

university years when i could develop and test my understandings

against my peers (the "crucible" i mentioned elesewhere)

it also is a space that makes room for many of the deep meta-programs

("personal honor" in relationship to this thread)that are

increasingly squeezed out in the modern world. also and very

importantly, it's a venue that has historically allowed room for the

radical and sometimes outre' individual to carve a niche for

themselves, especially those of us of the wolfling persuasion (g).

it has tolerated those of us with strong opinion and a willingness to

state our minds freely irregardless of the current politics or rising

star-courts of public opinion.

to those who share these borderlands, ride free along the edges and

be well my brothers and sisters! stay well clear of "civilization",

it is a deadly trap will weaken and ultimately destry you if you stay

inside those walls for too long a time.

'wolf

... has always prided self in being "barbarian" (check your OED's for

deeper meanings of the term)

From: Theron Bretz [tbretz at io.com]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 8:20 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

> So...why did you join and why do you stay in the SCA?

I first heard of the SCA when I was 14 or 15, reading L. Sprague de Camp's

"The Blade of Conan", a collection of stories and articles from "Amra" (a

Conan fanzine from the 60s). One of the articles was by Poul Anderson and

entitled "Richard the Lionhearted is Alive, Well, and Living in the

Twentieth Century", which gave a snapshot of the SCA circa AS 5 or 6. The

notion of people putting on armour and playing knight was too cool to put

away and colored much of my free time for the next few years as I improvised

highly dangerous weapons and somehow avoided killing my brothers with them.

I finally found the Society just before TYC, and my first event was the

Crown Tourney in Emerald Keep that Inman won for Drusilla. I got horribly

ill from heat-prostration (the hole-in-the-ground toilets didn't help

either - another thing I don't miss about the old days), got better, watched

the tournament (which was held on a Sunday) and resolved to keep doing it.

Why do I stay is sometimes a tougher question. With job, family, mortgage,

a nascent writing career (very nascent, barely there at all, really), and

other interests, making time for the Society is something I have to do

consciously. My reasons for sticking around change depending on a number of

factors: a sense of obligation and "giving back", a desire to teach, the

joy of fighting in a tournament, sheer inertia. Often times, Bia and I

find that one or the other is more fired up about the Society than the other

and that helps to keep things going.

But I'd be lying if I said I didn't think once in a while about how much

easier things would be if I gave it up until the kid gets older. But I know

that if I did, I probably would keep finding reasons not to play, so I stick

around.

Luciano

From: Rob rose [onetruewolf at hotmail.com]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 9:51 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

Why did i join? It was new and different. At least to me. Plus it looked way

too fun.

Why do i stay? That's the easy one. extraordinary people. I think that

ordinary people stay home and play payrolls and paychecks. Extraordinary

people do extraordinary things. Somewhere, i found a home amongst some very

extraordinary people. I found family in them.

Ian macleod

From: Paul DeLisle [ferret at hot.rr.com]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 10:29 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Query...

> So...why did you join and why do you stay in the SCA?

Why I joined is not important...a chance occurrence with a fringe Sca'ers in

my early military days...

But why I stayed......

I stayed because I found in the SCA a group of people who valued what I was

taught to value. That Honor, and Honesty, and Courage (yes, with capital

letters) were "important" in this Society. That the values I had been

taught (by my parents) had finally found a place where they were valued.

I found a need to ...explain this...to others...

And so one day, I wrote this little piece...:

WHY I JOINED THE SCA (IN 125 WORDS OR LESS)

Alden Pharamond

(Inspired by the survey at Pennsic;

mentioned in Mary Monica Pulverπs book ≥Murder at the War≤)

Pageantry, colors, and Kings held in awe

Medieval feasts (although sometimes served raw)

...And the bards who put glorious tales in our heads!

(And the heralds who pry us from comfortable beds

And bloodlust in battle! ...and beer later on!

...And the sight of a misty encampment at dawn...

Ladies in Tudor, and fighters in steel

Who believe that, deep down, its no game, that its real.

Where your word is your bond, and that this thought holds true

For the Saxon, and Viking... and Cavalier, too

So... "Why do I stay with this game?" I reflect

Well, for Chivalry, Courtesy, Friendship, Respect

And a thousand small words, but mostly, you see

...For I've lived in the Dream... and now it, lives in me.

In Service, I remain

Alden Pharamond

Tempio, Ansteorra

From: Dom [thunder-domi at coxinet.net]

Sent: Friday, May 10, 2002 10:48 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] Query...

I joined because of my parents. They were driving by a park in Dallas off

of Abrams Rd. and saw some people in "funny looking" clothes and decided to

go and check them out. I was about 3 1/2 to 4 yrs old. I have been in about

29 yrs now and I stay because I have learned so many cool things. Dancing,

Drumming, Sewing, Beadwork, Embroidery, and best of all I met my wonderful

husband. This just to name a few. But I think that the main reason for

staying is out of love for my friends that I have made. They are after all

an extension of my family. There are some aspects of the game that I do not

like but that happens with anything in the mundane world too. I also

believe in my heart that the majority of the children that are raised in

the SCA have more respect for other people and their belongings and most of

all in themselves. Their self-esteem is also higher and in most cases they

are a little too smart for their own britches (I know that I was...sheepish

grin). Sometimes I think about the things that my family and I could have

done instead of always going to an event and I do bitch a little about it

too but I do not regret it for one moment and I plan on bringing my child

up in it also with a healthy dose of other trips too. I am a lifer.

Something really bad has to happen to ever change that.

In Service to the Dream

Hldy Dominique Michelle LeVesseur

Hospitaler of Wiesenfeuer

Matriarch of Rogue Thunder

From: Lady Simone ui' Dunlaingh [simone at elfsea.net]

Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 8:50 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

> So...why did you join and why do you stay in the SCA?

Why did I Join

Because mom said I needed to find a hobby and it looked cool and after

getting to play I found out it was cool.

Why do I stay

Because it has become a part of my life not just a hobby. The friends I have

found here have stood by me in the good times and the bad. Here I learned

how to be a human being. here they showed tolerance as I learned and

continue to live the ideals we dearly treasure. I get to shed off the 20th

century on a regular basis and slip back into a more simpler time. I love it

all the good, the bad the just ok. the SCA is a wondrous thing. and the more

I play the more I love it. I could go on forever on why I keep playing.

Lady Simone Maurian ui' Dunlaingh

From: Chris Zakes [moondrgn at austin.rr.com]

Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 7:31 PM

To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Query...

>So...why did you join and why do you stay in the SCA?

>Lorraine DeerSlayer

I f