[MR] raising and lowering expectations

[EoganOg at aol.com]

I realize that His Majesty does not need anyone to jump to his defense, but 
this is rediculous.  Here he is, on a medieval re-enactment list, talking to 
a group of medieval re-enactors, and he comments that he is seeing too many 
blue jeans, mountain dew bottles, and nylon camping chairs at events (in 
court even).  And he gets jumped on for this?

I read his message.  It didn't sound to me like he was calling for the 
exclusion of anyone who can't go 100% period.  He just said it was a 
"disturbing trend" that people are being more and more lax in their 
authenticity.  I have noticed the same disturbing trend.

Yes, all we are required to do is make a "reasonable attempt" at pre-1600 
garb.  But when you see someone walking around at noon on Saturday, in the 
main event area, in a Pennsic t-shirt and jeans, and you know he has half a 
dozen changes of garb, is he making a reasonable attempt?

Folks, we are not talking about the newcomer with a tabard thrown over his 
mundane clothes here.  We are talking about long time participants in the SCA 
who just don't seem to showing the same amount of zeal for the atmosphere of 
an event as they used to.  And, as one person has already stated from 
first-hand experience, this can have the undesired effect of discouraging 
newcomers to aspire to more period garb and accouterments.

The result?  An increasing trend toward the mundane.  This isn't just a 
camping party in the woods.  It's re-enactment, re-creation, whatever you 
want to call it.  We have to at least be able to pretend we are living in the 
past.

If you want to have your nylon chairs, plastic 2-liter soda bottles, and wear 
a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops at your private camp, go for it.  No one will 
complain.  But when you are in or near the main site, please *try* to dress 
in period.  Pour your coke into a mug or tankard.  And if you have to sit on 
a nylon camp chair, because you can't buy/build/borrow a more period seat, 
that's fine.  We won't burn you at the stake.  But it should not be the 
*norm*, and this is the fact that His Majesty is bemoaning. 

Aye,
Eogan Og

Tighearn Eoghan Og mac Labhrainn, CP, OPE
http://www.albanach.org
Sacred Stone Pursuivant
Web Master for the Canton of Hawkwood
"Checky Or & Vert, two lions combatant, tails knowed, in base a mouse 
couchant, all within an orle of roundels, Argent."
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