[MR] A&S issue (Now: Some Perspective)

[Marsaili Johnston]

Since I don't want to sound like I'm whining to the entire Merry Rose, I'm going to keep this short -- if it were a one-time thing, I'd have shrugged it off and figured it was some idiot trying to stir up trouble.  And that was, indeed, the nastiest thing I've ever had written on a judging sheet.
However, the negativity has been a consistent thing for several years now.  I know other people that have completely quit showing anything they do because they've been shot down in such unkind, unhelpful ways.
As I said in a previous message, there are some gentles who have been extraordinarily helpful/accessible/willing to sit and talk to me about whatever questions I've had in their area of expertise.  And I am very grateful to them -- they've been a godsend.  Too bad there aren't more of them out there!
So much for this being short! <G> 

Lady Marsali Johnston   Barony of Stierbach  Kingdom of Atlantia   

--- On Sat, 12/3/11, ldmolly at md.metrocast.net <ldmolly at md.metrocast.net> wrote:

From: ldmolly at md.metrocast.net <ldmolly at md.metrocast.net>
Subject: Re: [MR] A&S issue (Now: Some Perspective)
To: Atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011, 1:29 PM

While this response in mainly for Lady Marsali (and one that I hope will give her some comfort), it is my hope that it will provide some perspective on this issue. 

For Lady Marsali: why are you giving so much weight to a nasty, unhelpful comment left by someone who was too busy (or too much of a coward) to leave their name? Why are you allowing this one comment to shape your experience in A&S (or at least your experience in competitions)? Give it the weight it deserves: none.

Now for the perspective part...I _swear_ those little comment boxes got a lot smaller once I was elevated to the Order of the Laurel. One week, they were huge (if sometimes more empty that I would like), the next week, post-Laurel, I was struggling to fit all of the words that could encourage and inspire an artisan into a space that would be comparable to a postage stamp. Conspiracy, I tell you!! (Smile)

So, to remedy this where possible, I leave what comments I can (with my name AND e-mail and an offer to discuss my comments at the event or afterwards). Now, I am hardly a poster child for the "ideal" Laurel, nor do I suspect they would choose me as their spokesperson. But here is the truth...they are volunteers. Some give of their time and energy more willingly than others, we each have different standards of what is "great" and we have different levels of emotional intelligence. I have met very few who operate with the mindset that "everyone sucks but us, and we're going to poop on everyone else's effort until they go home." It makes nice drama, but it's simply not true of the many artisans I know. 

Now, we all get lazy. We all have days where we want to give to others, but don't really have it available. Good sense would tell us to put down the pen and step away from the judging sheets. However, common sense isn't as common as we would like. If you really want feedback, another option is to ask some of your local artisans to sit down with you and go over your project(s). Have them look at your documentation. There's no need to wait until a competition for feedback. Often it's hard to find the time to really discuss an artisan's work when you're in the midst of judging an entire display, because you can really hold up the process for the rest of the judges or the A&S minister _really_ needs those judging sheets 15 minutes ago. 

Also, keep in mind that judges are not limited to peers. I think one of the best things can be for "regular" artisans to volunteer to judge a display. Walking on the other side of the fence really does make a difference and it increases the pool of available judges.

I don't expect this e-mail to make a huge difference to those who've been hurt & frustrated by the A&S Competition process. I've been there (heck, I've even sometimes been the a$$hole, unfortunately). I just know having these types of experiences made me determined to not be "that guy" when I became a Peer. You can be impacted by the situation or make an impact on the situation. The choice is always yours. I hope the flame of inspiration and creativity continues to burn brightly for you and that you decide to share your efforts (in whatever capacity) to inspire those around you.

Molly
(Mary Isabel of Heatherstone, OL) 

On Fri 12/02/11 11:46 PM , Marsaili Johnston ladymarsaili at yahoo.com sent:
Been there, done that.  
Have been told (anonymously, of course -- they didn't have the intestinal fortitude to sign their name to it!) that my work 'sucked' and I was wasting the time of the judges entering it into competition.
That I had 'too much documentation,' or 'not enough documentation' (from the same piece!)
After awhile, it's not fun any more.  Since I do my work for my own enjoyment, I no longer feel the need to be 'judged' on it.  Which is why I don't bother with the A&S competitions.

Lady Marsali Johnston Barony of Stierbach Kingdom of Atlantia  

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