[MR] Teenager abuse at Pennsic

[Roy B. Scherer]

At 12:51 AM 8/14/2008 -0400, Lord Mungoe wrote:
>Greetings,
>     I recently observed treatment by adult SCA 
> members towards teenagers at the Bath house at pennsic.
[SNIP]

         This is and has been a fascinating 
thread, dealing with a real problem.  I note that 
there have so far (ten pm Thursday) been nearly 
fifty replies -- serious, thoughtful replies -- to the original post.
         By chance, some old friends came through 
town today on their way back from the war (they 
had been delayed by some mundane trivia about 
another inpending grandchild).  Between the three 
of them, they have attended at least 100 Pennsics 
(one has been attending since PW II), and during 
that time have raised three delightful 
used-to-be-kids-and-are-now-grownups.  All the 
"kids" are doing well, and each one is more 
beautiful and intelligent than both of the others.
         They may have some wisdom to offer on 
this.  I've asked them to review this thread, and 
offer whatever comments they may have.  It may 
take a while, since they aren't yet "back from 
the war", and they are not subscribed to this 
list.  I'm copying them with this messsage, and 
also copying the former teens, with the same 
request.  I might add that the three young ladies 
were often "hanging out at the Barn", and that I 
never knew them to engage in dangerous or evil behavior.
-- YIS,
-- Britton Morgan

At 12:51 AM 8/14/2008 -0400, Lord Mungoe 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.
>========================================================================
>                    The Merry Rose Tavern at Cheapside
>     List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/
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end

		- - Roy B. Scherer
  [ 8 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221; (804) 355-7612 ]
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	"[T]here is nothing more difficult to take in 
hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain 
in its success, than to take the lead in the 
introduction of a new order of things. Because 
the innovator has for enemies all those who have 
done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm 
defenders in those who may do well under the new. 
This coolness arises partly from fear of the 
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