[MR] Newcomers and coronets

[Stefan li Rous]

Dyrfinna said:
<<< I have only been playing for 2yrs now and I thought I should chime  
in as
there has been alot of talk about these changes being made to make it
easier for newcomers to identify royalty. >>>

and
<<< Most newcomers (from my experience) don't care about how tall or how
many points, we don't care if they are metal or leather. >>>
<<< It takes awhile for newcomers to really know what the differences  
are
between the crowns and I don't feel these laws will do anything to
help with that.>>>

Dyrfinna,

I've now been in the Society for somewhere near 22 years now. And *I*  
couldn't tell you the differences between a Ducal or a County or a  
Court baronial or a territorial baronial coronet, in my own kingdom  
(Ansteorra), much less the others. However, for me to see the  
difference, because of my eyesight, I would have to be uncomfortably  
close to them.  Unfortunately, for some of the proposed, regulations,  
I would dare anyone to be able to tell the difference between them at  
a distance. Maximum 2 inch height vs. 2 1/2 inches? Huh?  But I've  
been to 18 Gulf Wars, a dozen or so Pennsics, an Estrella War and a  
Lilies. So it's not like I haven't run across a number of gentles  
wearing coronets.  Different kingdoms have different traditions and  
different sumptuary laws. This ruling, will not affect anything except  
those coronets in Atlantia, so it is hardly going make it easier for  
anyone in Atlantia who travels elsewhere.

What I tell newcomers is to give general deference and respect to  
anyone in a coronet. Don't worry about the differences and get  
flustered by what rank everyone has. When in doubt, any Peer or Noble  
can be addressed as Lord or Lady. Any Peer or Noble who objects to  
that probably doesn't deserve the title.  Gently correcting someone, I  
don't consider the same thing. I've had more people correct me saying  
they don't have such and such a rank than being upset because I used a  
lower rank when I should have used a higher one.  Remember that  
courtesy is a keystone of this Society and it works both ways.

In my opinion, the best Royals, and Peers, are the ones who are  
willing to pitch in and wash dishes or whatever needs to be done, Or  
at least who don't consider it below their dignity to do so. Many  
times the Royals are so caught up in running the kingdom, that working  
in the kitchen or whatever, is not a good use of their time.

<<< To truly help a newcomer we should make the effort to
walk them around and point out things to them (how to recognize
royalty, where the fight field is, where court is and what to do in
court, etc.) >>>

Please take a look at the NEWCOMERS section in the Florilegium. See  
the address below if you've never been there. Some of the stuff you  
mention is going to vary from event to event, but things like how to  
act in court, courtesy towards others, picking a name and such is  
covered in that section. And when you've read through that section  
there's about 2300 files on a wide variety of SCA and medieval  
subjects to wander through. :-)

I hope this helps,
Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****