[MR] Weebling and channels of complaint

[Terry L. Neill]

Regarding perceptions of weebling (Weebles wobble but they don't fall down):


There is something that each one of us who knows a fighter well can do.  And 
that's question such behavior if we see it.

If we see a friend, or member of our household, or someone we know, appear 
to behave unchivalrously in the field, we can quietly speak to the person 
about it.  Find out what happened.  Get their point of view.  Indicate 
concern.

If *every single time* a fighter appeared to behave unchivalrously, his or 
her friends asked about it, I think such incidents would plummet.  There's 
an old adage--behavior that is measured improves.  (Try writing down 
everything you eat for a week.  Your diet will, 9 times out of 10, improve, 
just because you're measuring your behavior.)

We would have to remember we are dealing, often, with an *appearance*.  Only 
the fighter knows what actually happened.  And under our rules, only the 
fighter judges a valid blow.



Those who have problems with individual members of Iron Lance should, as 
with any other problem in the SCA, use the channels for complaint in the 
SCA's corpora, Appendix A.

These start with "1. Avoid trouble. There are many valid approaches to 
Society activity. Members should make room for each other to explore 
anything that supports the Society’s goals, abides by its rules, and does 
not actively interfere with the environment it attempts to create."  Then go 
on to "2. Look for ways around hard choices. It may be possible to break a 
dilemma by taking up both alternatives, either together or at different 
times, instead of wasting energy arguing over which to choose. It may also 
be possible to find a third approach that both sides prefer to their 
original ideas."  and escalate from there, emphasising speaking to people 
directly, going through channels, making a paper trail, and being flexible.

In this case, a sensible discussion with the fighters in question may be all 
that's needed.

Regards!

  - Anarra Karlsdottir

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