<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2>In a message dated 6/3/2002 10:50:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, mungoe1@msn.com writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">We are in a club of people that volunteer their time to play with each other, and we have to play nice. You cannot make people play the way you want to, then they will go away.</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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The thing that separates the SCA from any other "historical recreation group" of which I am aware is the fact that we DON'T have a set minimum of authenticity for participation. It is our greatest strength as well as our greatest weakness. <BR>
The fact that someone can come to participate with a minimum of expense and initial effort is great. It gives a much larger proportion of people the opportunity to experience the good things which we have to offer. Once someone has gone to an event or two and decides that this is something they wish to be a part of, the need for the "minimum attempt" begins to dissipate.<BR>
We begin to enter the realm of the eternal question in the SCA, which is whether we should require established members to put forth a stronger effort to make things more period. Personally, I favor more stringent rules for everyone after an initial trial period. It is far too easy, and relatively inexpensive, for people to put forth a bit of effort to make the illusion stronger for everyone.<BR>
Through the years I have repeatedly put forth this notion to established members and have repeatedly been crucified for my convictions. I don't want to see us get as anal as the CivWar guys, but I do think that there should be a concerted effort to move forward as a group toward more of a historically viable look and less of the fantasy/theme party atmosphere.<BR>
Through a little effort and a relatively small amount of money, everyone can add to the atmosphere of the middle ages. Paying attention to the laws regarding smoking and original containers should be a no-brainer, but perhaps we need to start enforcing these rules as a beginning. <BR>
There are people in this kingdom doing better stuff than has ever been done before. I don't know of any of them who won't take the time to help and teach anyone who asks. If you aren't making the consistent effort to become more period, then you are taking away something from all of those who are making the attempt.<BR>
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Just Another Unsolicited Opinion,<BR>
Hrothgar</FONT></HTML>