[MR] A&S Competitions

[Halima al-Shafi'i of Raven's Cove]

My first encounter with being discouraged to participate in A&S
competition by the clueless was when I was brand shiny new, and found a
great chair I wanted to build.  Had pictures, documentation, etc, and
when shown to the local "expert", was told immediately "That's not
period...".  I could have sworn that in the A&S handbook, they
specifically recommend that you do not use that particular phrase.
 Documentation notwithstanding, they maintained that position.
 Honestly, they never even looked at the documentation.  I guess it's
true that you cannot enlighten the unconscious.  After a year in the
SCA, I still have not entered an A&S competition.

Halima