[MR] behavior towards gift givers

[Becky McEllistrem]

I’m more than a little concerned at the trend in
conversations about gifts these days.  When a
woodworker makes a box for a friend and tells the
friend “you cooked a neat feast at that last event. 
This is my way of saying thank you.” the immediate
reaction from the recipient is “thanks!”  When a
seamstress does the same and makes a cool tablecloth
for a friend or a weaver weaves a belt for a stranger
they also get thank you’s.

However these days when a scribe makes a scroll for
anyone they might get a thank you, or they might get
“that’s nice” or even better – they might get some
sort of public histrionics because their gift wasn’t
exactly what they wanted.  This is beyond appalling.

We in SCA created the scroll concept because we wanted
additional gifts added to a momentous occasion.  There
is no law that requires a scroll and there is no
mandate that gives award recipients a right to a
scroll.  There is a tradition of gifts we created for
ourselves.

In a society of courtesy no one has the right to
public histrionics.  No one has the right to demand
that the giver redo a gift.  If you don’t like the
gift you were given, work out a private commission!!

Does scribing for court business make the Crown look
good and perhaps give me attention?  Certainly.  Does
that mean I have no right to be treated well because
I’m a scribe and did not give you exactly what you
wanted in a free gift? Absolutely not!!  

As I have said a couple of times – we are great at our
courtesy to Royals.  It’s our courtesy to each other
that we often forget.  We all need to take a step back
and rethink how we treat each other - especially over
free gifts.  

As a side tangent – I’m also stunned at our
willingness to use personal diaries, blogs and even
public web sites for attacks towards someone we don’t
like.  In a society this diverse don’t you have
anything better to do with your free time than post
some sort of personal attack?  Those that do not have
anything better to do receive my pity.  How sad your
lives must be!  If you want I’ll get you started in
scribing.

Rebecca