[MR] In defense of inauthenticity

[Kymber Miner]

Gorm, et al -

Clarification - combat boots are not banned.  Per http://marshal.atlantia.sca.org/Rules/BlatantlyModern.html 

<exerpt>
The following guidance is provided for determining acceptable forms of footgear: 
Leather or leather-look boots, in a color consistent with period practice are acceptable. This includes standard leather combat boots, but would exclude leather/nylon boots. 
Use of borderline acceptable footgear that is of a color that causes it to stand out (from at least 10 feet) from the rest of the armor is not acceptable.

Kyneburh

-----Original Message-----
From: gormofberra at direcway.com
Sent: Oct 28, 2003 9:55 AM
To: Lord Lyon Filshenri <lordlyon at lairhaven.com>
Cc: Merry Rose <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Subject: [MR] In defense of inauthenticity

"Or one of them"

Precisely...*one* of them.

I don't do the SCA for the garb (anyone looking at most of my outfits would certainly agree).  I understand that I have to wear something vaugely mediveloid to go to an event, soas not to be Overly jarring to those who choose to specialize in garb.  OKay, that's the price of admission and what distinguishes us from the Ren Faires, fine, I can work with that.

Last I checked, we weren't required to do *everything* right, or even close to right...if I wanted to do everything right and be judged on the quality of my reproduction, I would go do Trayned Bandes(sp), or ECW, or other "Hyperauthentic" groups.

I am in the SCA to see the *wide* variety of things people in the middle ages did, pick and choose those that make me go 'Hmmm...I could do that, and I might enjoy it' and pursue those.  

Once I decide to pursue something beyond the dilletante level, then I can worry about being "correctly period" at it.  As an example, I am working on learning papermaking on my own.  Currently, I have to use a number of very modern tools, because I am trying to learn how the process works.  Once I actually am able to *make* a sheet of paper correctly, then I will worry about making pulp without using a blender, and hand creating a deckle, and all the other stuff that goes into "Proper" papermaking.

As for heavy fighting, I'm a dilletante, and yet I've spent well over $1,000 and countless hours of my time on my kit.  I have kydex knees and use kydex plates in my coat of plates because I was able to acquire a pair of knees and legs that fit me and stayed roughly in place in kydex, and the material is (for me) 1000 times more forgiving than metal is, and yet it still protects me adequately.

I don't expect any awards or recognition for the quality of my kit.  In fact, I expect a certain level of derision, and I get it (generally good-naturedly).  However, it allows me to do the activity to the level I wish to do it.  I can be "entry-level" as long as I want.  If, someday, I want to kick it up a notch, then yes, the first thing on the adgenda is to replace the kydex knees with something better.

However, fighters in my situation should be able to make the decision on when or if we want to do that on our own schedule, not have it thrust upon them by those who chose to devote their attentions to swinging sticks.

Similarly, why do I have a Coleman Chair?  Simple, because it works for me.  I do not have the time, money, or ability to make a good looking and sturdy curule chair, or anything else.  In fact, I attempted it once, and almost broke my back when it broke on the third time I sat in it.  It isn't my skillset, and woodworking doesn't really intrigue me enough to acquire much of the skillset.  I have built a couple of plywood chairs, and they work, but they weigh a ton, and aren't very easy to transport around an event to the various places I need to sit down.  A coleman chair, on the other hand, was inexpensive, is strong enough, and very portable, so it allows me to focus on the aspects of the SCA that *I* want to focus on.  Bonus!

I'd love to have a million dollars and adequate time to study all of the aspects of perfect medievalism and have the "perfect" kit.  It ain't happening in this economy.  I choose to focus on how to serve the organization to the best of my ability, and pick and choose the crafts and activities I want to learn.  It's taken me 6 years, but I'm figuring that out.

Explain to me why that's a bad thing?  *Then* tell me I can't bring my folding chair to an event, or fight in my black combat boots (which a casual observer wouldn't notice, but are still banned on 12/1..."spats" don't make them any less noticeable, if anything they say "Hey, there's something under here that needs to be hidden, so pay more attention to it!").

Gorm

----- Original Message -----
From: Lord Lyon Filshenri <lordlyon at lairhaven.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 8:21 am
Subject: RE: [MR] Re:  authenticity...and the SCA as a joke

> I never understood the whole question of "why do you bother?". 
> That's like
> asking someone who joined a soccer game why they bother running up 
> and down
> the field when they could just stand around and drink Gatorade.
> 
> Dressing correctly for your persona when you leave camp isn't an extra
> bother; it is the point of the game. (Or one of them.) 

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