[Ponte Alto] Re: On safety after dark

[Kevin Maxson]

---- Original message ----
>I advocate for taking a proactive position of strength,
>say, something like volunteers for moonlight patrols
>to hunt for the type of creep that would attack woman
>or man. I would do this rather than take a fearful
>position that places the added responsibility of
>arranging an escort for women.

Sarah (and others),

Part of what causes the friction here (among the discussion,
not the crime) is that people try to place Victorian ideals
of courtly love onto 21st realities.  I myself wonder at
some of the people who force their services upon women to
accept them as their hero and protector.

As another person mentioned on the kingdom list, these are
the modern times, and no amount of funny clothing or pretty
jewelry makes someone honorable or trustworthy.  We'd like
to believe that those who play our game hold themselves to
the same standard that I know you and I hold ourselves. 
However, when it comes to matters of safety, this dream
doesn't provide security.

(And I fear that scouring the highways looking for "creeps"
may harvest some of my unsavory, yet harmless, old friends.
 No comments from Siobhan.  ;-)

It would seem to me that the happy medium here is to *use*
the construct of our game, the foundations of courtesy, to
arrive at a pleasant solution.

I suggest that it be a common and routine practice to simply
offer or ask for help.

A simple, "Good my lady, in the interest of safety, may I
escort you to your next destination?" can be asked by
anyone, male or female.  (One could also ask this of a
gentleman, but I don't believe it's quite as necessary in
our culture.)

Just as important - if not *more* important - is encouraging
the practice of those who wish to be escorted to feel free
to ask for one.  "It's late, and quite dark on the road,
could someone escort me to my next destination?"  I have
never turned down a request for escort, though I'm not often
asked.  It's appropriate to do so.

This seems to dovetail in our ideals of common courtesy,
which I believe solve a great number of problems in general.
 It's something that I also see fading as time goes by. 
Marshalls are required to take a field marshalling class
once every two years to maintain their warrant.  I often
wish that we could require a courtesy class every two years
to maintain one's membership.  But therein, my friends, is a
 larger topic entirely.

I remain, true to Their Majesties' service.

  +   Kevin of Thornbury, OP
 +++  (Kevin Maxson)
  |   Kevin at Maxson.com