[MR] Fwd: Re: Your suggestions please => Newcomers thread

[David Chessler]

 ------ Original Message ------
  Received: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:29:20 PM EDT
  From: "David Chessler" <chessler at usa.net>
  To: Siegfried <siegfried at crossbows.biz>,
<atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org>
  Subject: Re: [MR] Your suggestions please => Newcomers thread
 
 
 
  
   
   
   ------ Original Message ------
    Received: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:30:22 AM EDT
    From: Siegfried <siegfried at crossbows.biz>
    To: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
    Subject: Re: [MR] Your suggestions please => Newcomers thread
   
   
   
   
      > I remember the first two events very clearly where I showed up in
        > period garb and no one spoke to me. For someone who is very shy,
this
        > is really heartbreaking. The first event was a 12th Night in
Northern
        > Virginia. The second event was an outdoor event at a church in
        > Herndon.
       
        Unfortunately, I have seen this situation happen often. And while not
        making excuses for it, it is definitely a 'blind spot' in most
SCAdians
        radar.
       
        Specifically, that we expect newcomers to be contacting local
officers,
        showing up at local practices/meetings, and getting their slow
        introduction to the SCA, long before going to an event, and at that
        point, having 'friends' already to hang out with.
       
        (Or, at least, showing up at an event in blue jeans saying: "Can I
        play?" And therefore getting quickly handed over to a Chatelaine for
        the day.)
       
        I've heard this story often ... about the newcomer who does all the
        research ahead of time, shows up in period (or 'attempt') garb,
trolls
        in without issue ... and then feels left out because there is no
        interaction with them.
       
        Mostly because, heck, everyone is off doing their thing. And one
person
        wandering by in garb doesn't ring any 'newcomer who we need to
welcome'
        bells, versus 'random scadian off doing their own thing and we
shouldn't
        bother' bells.
       
        All that being said, I don't know exactly the best way to 'fix' that
        specific situation. Other than maybe asking as people troll in, if
this
        is one of your first events, and if so, talking to them more, making
        sure they have someone to show them around, etc.
        
I assume we don't want to give them period tags that say:
       
Hail!
I am Johannes the Smith yclept
       
       
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