[MR] That was then, this is now

[Duane Moore]

> --- On Wed, 9/30/09, Terri Morgan <online2much at cox.net>
> wrote:
> 
> >> It seems to me that the recent debate
> > reflects the shift in outlook that the
> > Society has undergone. It used to be, "We're all here
> to
> > have fun" with an
> > emphasis on the old-timers helping the newcomers to
> do
> > that, to learn to
> > love and enjoy what we do. 
> 
...Dame Hrothny, this must be specific to your experience,
because this is precisely what I see going on, espically in
regards to fighting, every week. 

> 
> So a hoary ole scary-good
> > fighter would create a
> > handicap for himself when the newbie fighter/less
> gifted
> > fighter had taken a
> > crippling blow - because that kept the fight going for
> a
> > little longer and
> > increased the newbie fighter's chances of winning
> that
> > bout... "I won
> > against Duke Almighty! Wow! Okay, well, he fought with
> one
> > arm behind his
> > back after he legged me but still... I am SO gonna be
> > practising some more!
> > Next time he won't need to give me an arm..." and the
> > fighter walks away
> > stoked. Even if he lost (which is more likely), he was
> out
> > there swinging
> > away for more than the three seconds it takes for the
> Super
> > Fighter to kill
> > him.
> 

Hm, this sounds like a bit of a RetCon to me. :-) True i've only been fighting since the early 90's but I can assure you that wasn't or ever has been the opinion of the vast majorty of the fighters, espically the Chivalry I have had the pleasure of training with in that time. 

I have to ask...is this based on conversations you had with
'Duke Almighty' yourself or are these just your impressions
of what you think used to happen? Because, it's very clear
that not everyone of the 'old timers' shared or share this
belief. As evidence:

"If you take an opponent's leg or arm, in some places, it
is applauded if you stop using one of your own limbs. Why?
It seems to me there are only two reasons people ever do
this. One reason is to show off, "I'm so good I can beat you with one shield tied behind my back." The other reason is to
show off, "Aren't I a wonderful guy? Even though I've lopped
off this schmoo's arm on purpose, I'll make a grandstand play of giving up an arm too." (It's usually not the same
arm they've taken.)"
- Duke Gyrth Oldcastle, Fundimentals of Oldcastle Sword and Shield, C 1991 (though written earlier) 
 
> > 
> > Nowadays, it seems the emphasis is on winning.
> *Thawk*
> > *Thud* "Next!"
> > 
> > Great for the really good fighters, slightly boring
> for the
> > medium ones, and
> > - - have you noticed that we're getting fewer and
> fewer new
> > ones?

Through dumb luck and persistance I am happy to say that in
my Barony we get more new fighters now than we did 5, 10 or
15 years ago, by far. New fighters coming in doesn't seem to
have anything to do with those types of attitudes, one way
or the other. There are a lot of factors that are involved
in getting and maintaining new fighters and most local
 groups/practices are pretty terrible at that in general.

As to the orginal subject of changing the name of Chivalry
Prizes to Courtesy Prizes, perhaps we should also look back
to our past for some inspiration on that subject:

"A lot of tournaments give prizes to the most courteous fighter. Courtesy is a noble virtue which all knights should
possess. But courtesy has little to do with chopping up
people. This is like giving a prize to the best-armored
 lady-in-waiting. Courtesy is that behavior most appropriate
 to attendance at court. Chivalry is that behavior most
 appropriate to killing my noble chivalrous peers in
 tournaments."
 - Duke Gyrth Oldcastle, Fundimentals of Oldcastle Sword and
 Shield.

What we do on the field is Chivalry, by it's nature and practice. Misunderstood? Oh yes. 
 
For those that have never read this important Atlantian Text:
 http://scamelee.freeservers.com/oldcastle_1.html 

Regards to all, 
 byram

Sir Bryce de Byram,OL,OP (Duane M. Moore) 300%Peer-Evil
Baron Caer Mear