[MR] RE: Troll vs. Gatekeeper, etc.

[David Wendelken]

>
>Good Gentles,
>
>I really think, for the sake of my stress level, I'm going to 
>have to quit reading the Merry Rose. 
>On the other hand, a part of me thinks I should continue, 
>so that I'll know who it is that's trying to spoil 
>what I like about the SCA.
>

I think that's going a bit overboard. :)

Folks have discussed this **specific** issue quite pleasantly for 
the most part. We don't have to agree with one another, but we can still
have
a polite discourse to bring up topics of interest.
The fact that so many people chimed in on this topic only proves that
it **is**, in fact, **of interest** to many.  That makes it fully
appropriate to discuss, and this is as good a forum as we have for 
just this sort of issue. 

Folks who don't like a set of terms have suggested replacements for
those
who don't like them either.  All parties are free to use which ever set
of terms that pleases them.  And we all still get to get along with one
another and have just as much fun together.  So what is the problem?

Long ago I came to the realization that the SCA was really two 
totally different clubs that happened to share the same set of
rules and meet at the same time.

Club number one, the most numerous when I joined, was a social club
with a medieval flavor.  

Club number two, far less numerous, were hands-on scholars of the
Middle Ages, determined to master whatever they could.

As long as both parties respected one another's goals, everything went
well.

The awesomely medieval folks set a high standard and taught and inspired
others
to work towards it.  The social club provided the social fun and
framework
to support the more authentic members, and a ready supply of newly
awakened
hands-on scholars.

It's a win-win situation for both groups.

I think the rather strong feelings about the debate over the word choice
isn't
really about the words, it's about the attitude towards the SCA that
people are
subconsciously using to decode the request.

It's a conflict between two different ideas about what kind of
organization the
SCA should be.  Personally, I think the traditional strength of the SCA
has been
that it was both kinds of organizations **at the same time**, with both
camps 
being on friendly and respectful terms with one another.
If either group is made to feel unwelcome or unappreciated, then our
organization 
as a whole will suffer.

That's my two ducats worth.

Andras