[MR] raising and lowering expectations

[Becky Day]

> Your Majesty.. rather than decrying the lack of period
> ambience... offer a spare surcoat to cover the jeans and instead
> of bitching about the bottle of mtn dew.. share a mug to pour the
> contents in... then it will be 'in period' will it not..
>


Okay, hold on.  I joined the SCA in 1983 when I was a very poor college
student.  I spent 50 cents on a tacky looking metal mug at a yard sale (it
had Jo & Bob Forever, or some such thing engraved on it.)  I wore loaner
garb for my first two events until I saved the $10 or so it took to make a
t-tunic.  I didn't have a chair for events, folding, period or otherwise - I
sat on the chairs in the feast hall or during camping events I sat on the
ground.  (You can do that when you're 20.) I'm grateful for the help I got
and
try to offer help to new members now.

The point is, that while we should help our newcomers, some of the
concerns being raised are not about newcomers but about long time members.
We are adults (mostly) who choose to be a part of this organization which is
supposed to be dedicated to at least a miminal level of "medievalness". I
don't think His Majesty is responsible for making sure someone who has
played in the SCA for several years has a mug or surcote.  It's not a matter
of expense - as many people have pointed out, you can cover your mundania
for minimal expense and it costs nothing at all to put on garb you already
own.  It's a matter of choosing to do so.  I know there have been times
where I chose not to go the extra effort to pour my soda into a mug, or put
on garb when I should have.  It wasn't because someone else didn't help me,
it's because I was lazy.

Just my tuppence,

Mairghread