[MR] 5%

[Muirgheal]

I am going to weigh in here just a moment (I was at the event to which the 
orginal poster refered - on staff even)

I just dont believe that comparing what we pay for to go to an event to 
Disney world fair. People save for years to take their families to 
DisneyWorld. The SCA is something we drag our children to on the weekends.

This past weekend I paid $54 for a family of 4 (albeit 1 was an infant) to 
camp in a cabin for 2 nights and we were able to enjoy 3 hot meals provided 
for us. 2 of those meals included all of our dishes. We didnt have to wash a 
thing! Yes we had to clean our own bathrooms and bring our own sheets. But 
where in the world else can a family of 4 get a two night indoor trip with 3 
hot meals?
Certainly not Disney.
For $54 I would expect to have to bring my own sheets and toiletries. That 
is less than the before mentioned Movie and Popcorn. For that $54 we were 
fed, sheltered and entertained. We enjoyed family time and fellowship with 
dear friends we dont get to see as often as we would like.

My lord I say if for $54 you are looking to be treated like a Lord, I think 
your expectations are set quite a bit too high. You cannot stay a weekend in 
a hotel for that.

Frankly to get back to the original post, We had to leave early from that 
event due to a sick child. We had caught what we are fondly calling "The 
Iowa Plague" and did not want to spread it to everyone else. I do not 
believe that 5% of  us are somehow Serving the other 95% if anything its 
50%-50%. I would say if you are only seeing 5% of everyone doing everything, 
you arent looking hard enough. And to those who come and dont help out, you 
are truely missing out on some wonderful people, good times and great 
friendships that can be made in an overflowing bathroom, behind a sink full 
of dishes or just sitting at troll.

Muirgheal
one of the worker bees
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <polearmed at att.net>
To: <tom at his.com>; <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: [MR] 5%


> The day I see you -grinning- coming out of the theatre/restaraunt/Disney 
> World rest-room with a plunger in your hand, is the day I'll let my 
> argument go.:)  We expect more for more.
>
> Median is -not- average, but the middle of a distribution of values. 
> Sometimes it is close, but I doubt this time it is.  I simply cannot 
> believe that the average American makes $17 an hour, especially when 
> minimum is a 5.25.  $17 could be the average wage, but Trump is in there 
> and so is Julia Roberts' $20M a picture.  I certainly doubt the average 
> SCA participant makes that much.  Everyone keeps asking where the 
> abundance of college students are that used to be a part when we were 
> younger.  I believe this is chief among the causes that changed our 
> demographics and raised our expectations.
>
> Falcone
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Tom Rettie & Heather Bryden" <tom at his.com>
>> Hey Falcone:
>>
>> Of all the skills I've learned in the SCA, proper use of a plunger may be
>> the one that is most transferable to modern life.  So if you are willing
>> to take on parking mean people at 2:00 AM, I'll keep unstopping
>> overflowing toilets and papering porta-potties. <g>
>>
>> I did a little research, though, and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with
>> your assessment of the cost of events.  According to the Bureau of the
>> Census, median household income in the United States was $44,389 in 2004.
>> Assuming a 20% tax bracket to cover federal and state taxes, that leaves 
>> a
>> net of $35,511, or $17.07/hour.  So two days worth of the average
>> American's household income is somewhere around $273, rather than the $35
>> you imply.
>>
>> I do agree that everything is getting more expensive.  Around here, pizza
>> and a movie for four will set you back close to $70.  As will a round of
>> golf for one person, or two discounted passes to a local amusement park.
>> By comparison, $70 for a whole day's entertainment for four people,
>> including a 3+ course dinner and maybe lunch, is a pretty good deal. 
>> Even
>> if you have to add a little sweat equity to the price.
>>
>> Elisabeth MacAlester, OP, OL
>>
>> -- 
>> Tom Rettie            tom at his.com
>> Heather Bryden        bryden at hers.com
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