[MR] Queen's Corner - Peerage discussion

[Shannon Smith]

And then there's the dreaded, "To become "X" in Atlantia, you have to  
have a web page." I have found that being accused of peerage hunting  
has kept many from sharing their knowledge with the world via the  
Internet.  On the other hand, I've also seen many who've been ignored  
for peerages for years until they've "published" online - and then it  
was a very short trip.

I suppose this topic pertains more to the Laurels and Pelicans more  
since the fighting community has other arenas (requiring physical  
presence) in place to sift the wheat from the chaff.

The point can be made that Service and Arts can be done away from  
events or in small groups or alone, justifying another outlet for  
sharing the knowledge.  Or, what if there is a particularly talented  
person who lives where there are few or mostly inactive peers, do  
they "need" a web site?  There are many SCA web sites sharing  
individual's accomplishments these days.  To what end?  We  
medievalists are not only showing our passions to the world and each  
other!  How is this trend affecting the peerages polling habits?  Is  
it easier for the peers to familiarize themselves with someone's  
activities/expertise online than it is for peers to seek/interview  
candidates?  Also, do those hoping for the attention of the peers  
feel less of a need to travel, teach publicly, or write if they have  
a website doing that 24/7 already?  What of those with limited  
ability to attend events or travel?  Do they find having a website  
helpful to their communication with others in the kingdom?

Thoughts, my friends?

Sorcha de Glys
Ponte Alto, Atlantia
sorchadeglys at cox.net

On Jun 21, 2008, at 4:22 PM, Nicole Spaun wrote:


bmcellis at yahoo.com
>> I expect any associate to have the goal of becoming a peer one day  
>> if they officially associate with a peer/household.
>
That expectation is what some people, myself included, consider the  
problem because that implies the opposite... that if you don't have  
the official association of a peer/household then you must not have  
the goal of becoming a peer one day.  So it's perceived that there's  
a less pressing matter to make them a peer.  And time has shown that  
it _does_ generally take one X more years to get an award if they're  
not officially associated with a peer/household.  Not true in every  
case, but in most.  I find that disturbing.  I've noticed that people  
generally say those who aren't officially associated are "doing it  
because they love it, not because they want an award" almost trying  
to excuse why the unassociated don't get awards as quickly.  One  
would think they'd be rewarded _faster_ then for getting there on  
their own.  But, sadly, like many things in life it comes down to  
being a team player so you almost have to associate with a peer/ 
household for said peers to let you become on
  e of them.  Again, not always but often.

And I'm not pointing fingers at Atlantia; it's an SCA wide thing...  
though I will swear I've seen Atlantia give out awards light years  
faster than other kingdoms do so maybe the perception of campaigning  
for awards is just more obvious here since the timelines are  
compacted.  I know brave fighters in the East who have been fighting  
longer, and better, than some squires and yet they make knight later  
or not at all.  I've known artisans in the West who didn't apprentice  
so they could learn from many sources equally and remain neutral  
instead of appearing to be allied with one household or another (ie,  
avoiding cliques), and they've received kingdom artisan awards later  
than apprentices displaying similar skills.  So the irony is that  
many people see apprentices, proteges, and squires as being in it to  
get faster rewards instead of because they truly love it, but because  
they are in those positions they actually do get the rewards  
faster... thus proving that campaigning for an a
  ward, well, works.  Wacky reinforcement, that.  I know one  
independent person who had been busting her arse for years out of  
sheer dedication to helping and it took her best friend becoming King  
before she finally received the Pelican she deserved years earlier.   
I'm not saying that peers play favorites, but I am saying that they  
notice and recognize their official associates sooner.

So if a person wants to be, say, a Laurel, they almost have to be  
apprenticed to eventually get on the team.  Which encourages  
statements folks make like our Majesty cited, "The only reason they  
do XXX is to become a peer".  It's a system time that evolved over  
time by official associations being made and then those associates  
being rewarded faster.  The phrase "teacher's pet" comes to mind and,  
since no one likes teacher's pets except the teacher, then there will  
always be snips about why a person is doing a specific thing.  I  
suspect the reason it's not challenged as frequently in fighting is  
because fighters have ways of dealing with teacher's pets and glory  
hounds- it usually involves miscalibrating  ;)

Not a sermon, just a thought,
~Bianca
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~ Lady Bianca di Bari, Chronicler for the Barony of  
Stierbach, Atlantia 'Per bend wavy sable and azure, a comet bendwise  
inverted and a comet bendwise argent'
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