[MR] RE: Quasi-Shakespearean Angst

[Jeff+Karen Hill]

Mes Amis,

Just to clarify, I never defended Eric's tirade and I openly disagreed with
his generalizations.  I have yet to meet a single FS that I didn't feel
deserved their position.  As to female fencers, I see no difference.  My
very first competitive epee bout was against a female, and she cleaned my
clock, 5-0 (turns out she was Jane Litman, a former Olympian, so I didn't
feel quite so bad).  A few minutes later, I went up against another young
lady (this one from Clemson, as I recall) and came away the victor.
Fencing, whether strip or SCAdian, is one of the very few sports where
gender is completely irrelevant.  My own bride is an excellent blade
herself, and the newest rising FS, Marion, certainly deserves the Gold
Scarf.

And yes, Gunny is right, passion is not a carte blanche (sounds like a
discussion more suited for the Period Religions list).  My concern, which
was unfortunately borne out by some, was that rather than understand why
Eric was making these statements and take them in that light, some people
became instantly defensive and lashed back at him, rather than at the
points in his posting.  As for those "points", we've all heard it before.
Heck, there was a knock-down-dragout on the atlantiarapier.net list several
months ago on the "FS is based on who ya know" argument.  I didn't buy it
then and I don't buy it now.  Even if there are some people who received
rewards they didn't deserve, well it's like that in the real world too.
That doesn't mean that the vast majority of them aren't earned by merit.
And yes, I've also heard that SCA should stand for "Society of Consenting
Adults".  While that may be true for some, it's certainly not true for all,
and again, that kind of thing happens in the real world too.  My workplace
is like a soap opera sometimes.

That being said, I still don't feel that the appropriate response was
"parry & riposte to the throat".  Address the core arguments (nepotism,
lack of honor in rapier & kingdom) if necessary, but leave off the personal
attacks.  They only serve to make you look bad.

Adieu,

Renard



--- Jeffrey Hill
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