[MR] raising and lowering expectations
Kenneth G. Samson - Delmarva Arts
samsonkg at dmv.com
Fri May 31 11:58:15 PDT 2002
If you'll forgive the indulgence of a newcomer who has attended just one
event so far, I'll weigh in.
I was a little disturbed when I saw the 'encampment' and saw that everyone
had little pop-up tents in bright colors. When I was packing for the event,
I brought a bunch of blankets and slept on the ground without a tent,
because somehow I had expected to find most everyone else doing the same, or
at least sleeping in period tents. [Never mind that I got a bad back cramp
at 3 am and ended up spending the rest of the morning sleeping in my
car....] I had brought a little wooden stool to use at the campfire, but
when I saw all the coleman chairs, I pulled out mine, and put the wooden
stool back. [guilty, sheepish look on my face...] The point is, I found
myself taking my lead from the rest of those in attendance. I took the easy
way out because I saw it was going to be easy.
I also saw a number of people in blue jeans and plain sneakers, etc., while
others were dressed top to bottom in garb, all of which would swing me back
and forth from present to past. Part of me was saying to myself -'well, this
is going to be too easy. All I have to do is slap a few things together,
since nobody cares.' and the other part was saying 'But, I much prefer to
feel as if it were for REAL!'
There are still ways to get around the period tenting. There are still
square tents made of watertight canvas, which can be modified with some
period frilly touches to make them more realistic. Sure, you'll have to work
a little harder to erect it, since it will not 'pop-up' and erect itself,
but it'll make the campground retain an encampment flavor.
Perhaps the restrictions have grown slack because newcomers take their lead
from the members, and over time, the attempt to recreate the period becomes
less intense in favor of a mundane camping experience with some period
clothes thrown in.
Yours in favor of raising expectations,
Ken Samson, as yet still mundanely named.
On 5/31/02 1:59 PM, "Lauren" <lauren at silverquill.net> took keyboard in hand
and wrote:
> I agree that some slackness is inexcusable. It is not difficult to pour a
> drink into a mug and throw away the original container. However, the
> general populace does not always have the time, money, and space to
> replicate entire living arrangements in the style of periodness. Most
> people do not have the vehicles to carry all this equipment, and most are
> excluded from parking where they wish to unload the heavy and obtuse
> equipment. I know I use nylon chairs because I don't think I could carry a
> wooden bench from the parking lots to the field let alone my cabin without
> damaging some internal bone structure. Period tenting as well is heavy and
> VERY expensive. I just don't see how its practical for the populous to be
> held to these lofty expectations.
>
> My opinion as well as many others,
> Engelsvind
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Logan" <dukelogan at directvinternet.com>
> To: "Atlantia" <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 1:34 PM
> Subject: [MR] raising and lowering expectations
>
>
> how far should we stretch those limits then? if we find orange and green
> hillary tents to be acceptable whats next? i think the trend has been going
> the other way over the last few years. original containers, blue jeans
> under tunics, coleman chairs, etc all seem to be the norm these days.
> personally i find that to be a more disturbing trend. when i go to a court
> and the couple sitting in nice period style (or at least resembling a period
> style) chairs, with nice garb, drinking from period vessels look out of
> place in a sea of jeans and nylon chairs and mountain dew bottles, i think
> we have become too slack and allowed too much.
>
> just my opinion
>
> logan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: atlantia-admin at atlantia.sca.org
> [mailto:atlantia-admin at atlantia.sca.org]On Behalf Of pandora at his.com
> Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 12:57 PM
> To: James.Harvey.Davis at pmusa.com
> Cc: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
> Subject: RE: [MR] Festus Autumnus
>
>
> Gerlach,
>
> Thanks for the reply however I think you are missing my point. I realize
> that
> there might be enough cabin space but this is not the first event
> announcement
> that I have seen that states something like this. I find it a disturbing
> trend.
>
> Usually when it is stated that there is cabin space it is a limited amount
> and
> usually it is barracks style camping. There are people who are not
> comfortable
> with that type of arrangement and/or may not be able to rest in that type of
> arrangement. If they do not have a period pavillion in this type of
> situation
> they are then excluded from participating. I have even seen one event
> announcement (I believe it was a crown tourney or coronation) that actually
> stated that non-period tents are discouraged.
>
> As I said, I find this attitude disturbing. The SCA has always been a more
> or
> less inclusive group but this is not what I am seeing with announcements
> like
> this.
>
> That is the point I am trying to make but thanks for your differing point of
> view.
>
> Chimbai
>
>
>> Chimbai,
>>
>> I think that you might be looking at this from the wrong angle.
>> Rather than being exclusionary for those who don't have Period Pavillions,
> I
>> would say it's rather that there are cabins for people to sleep in and if
>> you have gone to the extra effort to get/maintain a period pavillion, you
>> may camp in it, if you chose to do so.
>>
>> If there was not cabin space, the site probably wouldn't be used.
>>
>> Gerlach
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: pandora at his.com [SMTP:pandora at his.com]
>>> Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 12:16 PM
>>> To: Gracie V .Boone
>>> Cc: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
>>> Subject: Re: [MR] Festus Autumnus
>>>
>>> So by this announcement am I correct in assuming that if you do not take
> a
>>>
>>> cabin space and do not have a period pavillion you cannot camp?
>>>
>>> If that is a correct assumption, when have we become so discriminatory
>>> that we
>>> will not allow people to participate because they do not or cannot
> afford
>>> a
>>> period pavillion. Yes I realize there is cabin space at this point but
>>> suppose
>>> there was not?
>>>
>>> chimbai
>>>
>>>
>>>> Greetings to all in the Tavern this day...
>>>>
>>>> The decadence of Rome awaits you high in the mountains of Crannog Mor.
>>>> Come one, come all and cheer your favorite gladiator onto victory.
>>>> Reserve early! Spend your day fighting, feasting and reveling in the
>>>> splendour that was Rome!
>>>>
>>>> Arts and Sciences: Rome has always been a place of beauty as well as
>>>> strength. Categories for competition will include: Brewing and
> Vinting
>>>> (documentation requested, but not required) Entries will be separated
>>>> into 3 categories: Beers, Wines, Cordials. Winners will be selected
> by
>>>> popular vote (ID required to judge). Our Bardic Competition will have
>>>> an open format and in keeping with the theme of the day, an open A&S
>>>> competition for all things Roman will also be held. Documentation is
>>>> required.
>>>> Martial Activities:Will include Heavy, Rapier, Archery and Thrown
>>>> Weapons.
>>>> Site: The Site will be Camp Skyranch , 634 Sky Ranch Road, Boone, NC
>>>> 28607 Site opens at noon on Friday, Sept 13 and closes at 6pm on
> Sunday
>>>> September 15. Site is handicapped accessible. Discreetly wet (NO
>>>> original containers). Cabin spaces are available and tenting is
>>>> permitted in Period Pavilions only.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -------------------------------------------------
>>> This message was sent via http://webmail.his.com.
>>> http://www.his.com/
>>>
>>>
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