[MR] 5%

[polearmed at att.net]

All,

I feel my opinion on this may be unpopular.  My thoughts aren't meant as accusatory, but simply my observations of changes that have occurred in the 23+ years I have been invoved and the 11 years I have spent in this kingdom.

We all remember a different and earlier time, those of us with the longevity to brag about or bemoan, anyway.  Yaakov use to sign his posts with a line from some Hebrew writing that said something like "don't ask why today is different from yesterday.  The question does not spring from wisdom."  Still, I think there are a few reasons for the perception that only 5% do the work and why it is, or at least feels, different from our past.

"Non-Profit" - When site fees were a few bucks and sites were mostly primitive, the idea of pitching in was easier to stomach.  Most were always willing and many did pitch in and do whatever needed doing.  We rarely had 200 people at a baronial or even kingdom event and every shire's or canton's bank account was in a "growth" period.  A family of four spent about fifteen bucks to spend a day(and maybe feast as well) in the current middle ages.  People felt like doing their part since the Canton would make maybe $100 off the event.  Today that family spends around 40 to get on site and pays another 30 if they want to eat feast.  If you want me to pay twice what most americans make in a day for a glimpse of life as a lord in the current middle ages, I better get treated like one.  I am pretty sure Lords didn't do dishes, dig sumps, put paper in a porta-potty, move tables and chairs, park angry mean people at 2am, etc.  So, I think alot of people feel that if you want to put a c
 ouple grand in your canton's bank account and have "no risk" event planning(low break-even point), then you need to pony up the labor becasue next week I am working my butt off all weekend trying to swell my local branch's coffers.

"Somebody's else's Job" - How many times have people offered to help and been politely refused?  How many times have people tried to help, only to be thumped by the new person, or the person being polled by the fishies, or the person up for the service peerage, or whoever, held onto the credit for the work like it was gold?  I can name both instances and it takes both hands and feet to count them all in each category.  Simply, we aren't friendly like we used to be.  We all have too much invested in our silly game sometimes.  Many set too high of expectations from our involvement in the SCA.

"Somebody else's turn" - We are a group of people that can really get full of ourselves - me included(somebody thinks that about this post I am sure).  How many of us have said, "I did my part long ago.  It's time for me to take it easy and "let someone else have all the glory".  Of the reasons I have mentioned, this is the most deplorable.  Those of us who have been around for many, many years and have really thrown down for the cause earlier in our involvement have a sense of entitlement that is not a credit to our character, nor the make-up of our organization.  In fact, it is poison to a group like us and those of us(me included) that set this example should be ashamed.

I guess you can tell my Daddy was a preacher.  He loved his flock, too.  While I am not the kingdom's pastor by a long shot, I love the kingdom and don't like where it is going in this regard.  The only hard thing about saying what I have, is going to be doing dishes when I really want to go home or hang with my buddies, or papering the porta-potties, etc.  Perhaps I could specialize in parking angry mean people at 2am, but only if the site is wet. :)

Falcone
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Adrianna de Bois <adrianna_lechat at yahoo.com>
> No matter what event I attend, I always seem to find myself in the kitchen.  I 
> find my way back there and look for things to do.  I personally am not one who 
> can go and do nothing (unless I'm constantly told otherwise).  That's just how I 
> like to spend my events.
>  
> Not everyone has the same......disposition.
>  
> Not everyone thinks the same;  not everyone has the same ambitions.
>  
> Some (most I think) see the SCA as a pasttime activity that they wish to have 
> fun with.  Most do not see "working" as fun.......
>  
> Mon deux francs;
> ~Adrianna
> 
> 		
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