[MR] Queen's Corner - Peerage discussion

[David Wendelken]

<< And then there's the dreaded, "To become "X" in Atlantia, you have to 
<< have a web page." 

I've been doing this so long that I remember when people used to use
mimeograph machines to disseminate information.  Don't know what a
mimeograph machine is?  Count yourself young! :)

Most people didn't have access to such a machine, so most people couldn't
use it.  

Then we started using photocopiers.  That was much more convenient, but
pretty expensive.  It still is, but it's a whole lot cheaper than when they
first came out!

And, of course, you still had to find the person and know to ask to receive
a copy.  

Now we use web pages.  It's effectively free once you have a computer, and
free computer access can be found at schools and libraries.  Tools like
google can introduce you to someone's work all around the globe instead of
in your group or your kingdom.

It's called progress and it happens all around us.

Publishing information has never been a requirement to be a Laurel.  

But why complain because it's now easier and cheaper to do so!?  And why
complain because you can help way more people with way less effort?  Gosh, I
would think it's a cause for rejoicing, not lamentation!

<I have found that being accused of peerage hunting has 
<kept many from sharing their knowledge with the world via the Internet. 

In the thirty-three years I've been in the SCA I've seen lots of misguided
and misinformed reasons to do - or not do - lots of things.  That's one of
them.  It was misguided in 1975 and it still is.  That's one thing that
hasn't changed.

Have fun.  Learn stuff. Do stuff.  Help other people have fun, learn stuff
and do stuff.  Let other people know you have fun, learn stuff, do stuff,
help other people have fun, learn stuff and do stuff.

It has always been that simple.  

If that's what you are doing, you're having fun and you're on the right
path.  If that's not what you are doing, well, now you know you're on the
wrong path.  You can change paths or you can get out a machete and try to
hack your way thru the wilderness and make a path of your own to the same
destination.  (But I don't want to hear complaints about your arms getting
tired when there's a perfectly good path right next to you that doesn't
require a machete.)

Andras Salamandra