[MR] Teenager abuse at Pennsic

[Becky Day]

While I agree that the basic point (we don't do as much as we should very to
retain our teens in the SCA) is valid and ought to be addressed, from what I
understand, there was clear signage in the bathhouse about the hours it
would be closed and that items left behind would be removed.  It may seem
arbitrary and stupid, but it's a rule, and part of the process of teens
becoming adults involves learning to follow the rules, even when they're
irrational.  Prepares them for such things as income tax regulations and
zoning laws. *g*

And anyway, I suspect that's probably a Cooper rule, not an SCA one, even if
SCA personnel were enforcing it.  There's been concern over teen use of the
bathhouse for a long time.


Margret


On 8/14/08 12:51 AM, "Lord Mungoe" <mungoe1 at msn.com> wrote:

> Greetings,
>     I recently observed treatment by adult SCA members towards teenagers at
> the Bath house at pennsic. (I had to do this quitely as my teenage daughter
> would accuse me of spying on her.) I had heard from her some of the things
> going on up there, but wanted to verify for myself what was going on. I was
> realy apalled by the manners many of the so called adults extended towards the
> teens and young adults that gather at the bathhouse.
>     Example-A female merchant whose booth was 25 feet away chewed out a group
> of youngsters for their lanquage while her 5 year old was at the bath house by
> himself. I noted that the 5 year old was by himself, out of site and sound of
> his mom when the incident occurred. This  is against the rules of pennsic
> according to the book. He apparently came back and asked his mom what a
> orgasim was. While I would not want my kids at that age to hear rough
> language, it happens at Pennsic. (For crying out loud, large pink penises have
> been know to be paraded through the merchant area.) No were in the rules did I
> see anything about censurship.
> 
>     Example-All of the personel gear left in the bathouse one night was taken.
> You would guess that it went to the lost and found. Nope, laptops and other
> gear was tossed in the dumpster. The kids retreaved it, and were then
> confronted by some SCA security types and told to back away from the gear they
> were going through, or they would be kicked off site in 15 mins. The gear was
> gather and they were told it would go to lost and found. Guess what, never
> showed up there. I found some of it, you know it, in a dumpster.
> 
>     By the way, how many out there have dumpster dived on the last day of
> Pennsic?
> 
>     We have a appalling drop out rate of our kids in the SCA. This sucks. In
> many ways I would like my children to continue in the SCA, but the way my
> daughter and friends were treated by the so called "adults" kinda sours me on
> the idea. Yes, they are slackers up there, but so were we all. I have never
> seen any crack or meth up in the bath house, just teen banter and some D&D.
> Those that know me can verify that I am a very over protective father. (He he
> he, remember that any teen boys reading this!) and would not let my daughter
> hang out there if I thought there was a problem. Only problem I see is the ill
> manners of some of the adults. That is a area were we are losing some of our
> best future members.
> 
> If a covered both was provided outside the bath house so that a teen refere
> could sit, I would do so and give the kids their privacy (MAjor thing for
> teens, tribalism.) and provide a adult voice for them in times of trouble.
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