[MR] reactions to competitions

[David Wendelken]

>
> My problem with A&S compititions now and over the
> last
> several years here in Atlantia, is not the fact that
> I didn't win, because I have, believe it or not! but
> the fact that my entries have also been called
> "stupid", I was told "they have no place in the
> SCA at all, let alone
> in an A&S contest", and the fact that "I shouldn't
> be
> using "Introduction to..." books as part of my
> documentation" for a first attempt at a specific
> art,
> even though the rest of the documentation notes that
> several other sources state the the "Intro to...."
> was
> the best and most historically correct source to
> use.
>

Stupid, eh?  Well, I would have to agree that was pretty rude indeed!
And they put that in writing?  Seems to be pretty stupid, to leave
evidence of their rudeness in writing. :)

I suppose if someone entered a home-built nuclear-powered rocket-ship in
an SCA competition, I I might go so far as to suggest that the SCA
wasn't the appropriate venue for this particular talent...  :)  I would
hope I would have the presence of mind to compliment them on their
metalwork and ask to see the documentation that led them to believe that
this mode of conveyance was used in medieval times. :)

Also, I suggest that if people don't like the way judging is done, then
volunteer to be judges!  Despite any ignorance you may claim, surely you
could do a better job than the person who wrote your entry was "stupid".

On the other side of the coin, I have to confess that I have actually
seen (a very, very few!) entries that could only be honestly qualified
as "stupid".  I'm pretty articulate and I would have trouble finding a
more apt term.

I'll give an example from another kingdom from a long time ago.  I've
removed as many details as I can in order not to cause anyone any
embarrassment.

I was part of a panel of judges for a garb contest.

One lady stepped out of the crowd wearing her garment.  It had beautiful
trim on it, just like the Energizer bunny.  It just kept going and going
and going - right off the edge of the garment in all directions!  The
trim just hung there limply, up to a foot off the bottom and sides of
the garment.

One of us managed to stammer out a question about the unusual manner in
which the trim had been applied to the garment.  I hope it was phrased
something like this, "Um... I've never seen trim applied in that manner.
Why did you do it that way?"  But the mental shock of such an entry
could very well have caused a short-circuit in the brain, causing a form
of verbal diarrhea in which one's thoughts just spurt out unchecked by
any grace of civility.  She didn't look like she just got slapped upside
the head after we asked, so I think we held it in that time.

Her response was that she thought the trim was so beautiful that she
couldn't bear to cut it.  Her answer made us speechless for a while,
which was just as well for our reputations for courtesy.

We did manage to agree with her that it was, indeed, very lovely trim
and suggest she find the courage to cut it and complete the garment.

So, you tell me.  Was that a stupid entry?

Even if you agree that it was, it wouldn't justify telling the person
that, particularly in a public forum!
However, it would be equally rude not to give her guidance for the
future.  Otherwise, she might not learn from the experience and might do
it again.
That's a tough balancing act with one's friends and even tougher with
strangers!
Sometimes judges will get it wrong. :(

>
> All these comments were written directly on my
> Judging
> sheets, Some Judges were named, others were not. I
>still have them and pull them out when I
> feel creative and want to enter a contest - then I
> just forget it & go do service - no one tells me I'm
> stupid and my efforts don't belong in the SCA when I
>try to help out!!

May I suggest a different course of action?

Sponsor a "most offensive or rude judging comment" contest and be the
judge of it.
Challenge others to come up with a worse story.  In other words, make
fun of those who would make such rude comments.
I'll contribute a prize.  I suggest that a contest rule be that the
comment was made to the contestant, not a "friend" or a "friend of a
friend".

>
> I am not the only person with this complaint, and if
> the A&S judges and MOAS's would listen closely, you
> will find that those of us who do complain are not
> complaining of not winning, but of being beaten to a
> bloody pulp!!  There is a difference!

I do know that people have been listening.  There are a number of folks
who have been going to a great deal of effort to make it easy for
autocrats to locate qualified and polite judges.  I also know that a
number of autocrats have gone to great lengths to make sure that the had
good judges scheduled, and have read all the judges comments as a
quality check - just in case.

I know that may not make anyone who just got a slap-down feel any
better, but there really has been an effort underway to improve the
situation.

I also agree that standards for documentation would be good to have.  We
have to balance that with not discouraging new artisans by raising the
bar too high to make an entry at all.

Andras