[MR] newbie (fwd)

[Craig Levin]

Eventblues:

> I attended my first event in Atlantia not very long ago.  I won't say where 
> or when.  I would like to describe my experience and see if you can come to 
> some consensus for an answer.
> Saturday, during the event, I could get almost noone to talk to me.  

I don't know what to say, exactly. I'm a herald, and one of the
things a herald does is chat up the new people, to help them get
started on their SCA names. I'll often try to set up a formal
consultation table-this is no big deal, just a table with book on
it, a herald on one side, and open seats on the other. Often,
there will be a plate of nibbles (nothing much, typically some
cheese or some fruit) there, as sort of a "sweetener" to attract
people.

> However, no matter how many people I tried to make friends with -- people 
> just generally ignored me.  I tried to strike up conversations with different 
> folks who were not otherwise engaged in an activity.  They would make polite 
> conversation for about 1 minute, then leave.  Later, they would look at me as 
> if I did not exist.

Zoiks! I don't know what to write. It sounds really bad.

> Many people would not even make eye contact with me during the day.
> And, I noticed that I was not the only one at the event in that "no man's 
> land".  Many other people were likewise ostracized.  By about 3:00, I just 
> gave up and sat in a corner and watched what was going on.
> The people at my feast table were nice (they were newbies, too).
> But when the feast was over, the cliques of folks started again.  I looked 
> around for some of the other folks who had been "left out", but they all left 
> either before, or as soon as the feast was over.
> Now I realize that folks like to visit with their friends, but does mean 
> excluding people  who could add to your list of friends?  Does no one have a 
> heart when someone is obviously new or in unfamiliar surroundings?  I admit 
> that I am a little shy, but I have a good sense of humor and have a lot to 
> contribute.  But noone bothered to find out.
> Not sure I will ever go to another event.
> Any suggestions?

If you decide to give us another try at Coronation this weekend,
please hunt me down. It looks like there's several people who'd
like to celebrate the Jewish New Year at Coronation, and so my
lady and I are going to come down. If you'd like to welcome in
5763 with us, you'll be welcome!

Pedro

-- 
http://pages.ripco.net/~clevin/index.html 
clevin at rci.ripco.com
Craig Levin				Librarians Rule: Oook!