[Nordskogen] Accessible Helpful Support was demos -

[A. B.]

   I  have  been  keeping  up  on the doings of the Barony and the SCA in
   general,  even  though  I have not attended any meetings or events for
   quite  some  time. I have been following this "discussion", and I feel
   that  it  is time I speak out on this subject. I am going to be blunt,
   and I make no apologies for doing so. If you don't want to "hear" what
   I have to say, just hit the "delete" button right now and you will not
   have to worry about being offended.

   Thank you Devin (Brenda) and Iriye (Elizabeth), for stating what I was
   trying  to  say  to  people last year (and it seemed to fall on mostly
   deaf  ears  then). Not everyone has oodles of money available to spend
   on  the  SCA.  Not  everyone has oodles of time to do SCA things. Some
   people  have enough trouble just getting by while indulging their need
   for  interests outside of the home. Those who do have lots of time and
   money,  good  for  you  --  but  PLEASE do not expect everyone else to
   participate  and  or be as authentic at all times as yourselves. There
   really  are people who truly wish to be a part of the SCA, yet are not
   able to shine nearly as brightly as those in the "Inner Circle".

   I was helping to set up a Court one night at a weekily meeting (it was
   a  Folkmoot  night), when one of the "Royalty" snapped that she wasn't
   helpless,  goddammit,  she  could do things for herself. I was made to
   feel,  whether  intentionally  or  not, that my help was very much NOT
   welcome.  Things  like  this do not make people want to volunteer very
   much  at  all,  because what's the point of volunteering when you will
   not be thanked for it anyway.

   And  when  ANYONE  in  ANY  position  of  Authority  even implies that
   something  just  has to be done "this way and not that way", it really
   DOES  come  across  as  being  a "Royal Decree". Even when the implied
   "decree"  is just a suggestion. Those of you who are in such positions
   of  Authority  should wait  before hitting that "send" button and read
   what  you  have written, just to see if there is any possible way your
   message can be misunderstood -- no matter how good your intentions may
   be. I hope we all know what the road to H*** is paved with.

   Hopefully,  now some people will see at least one of the reasons why I
   decided  to  take  some time away from active participation in the SCA
   and  leave  all of the petty bickering and politics which seem to have
   become  such  an  integral part of the SCA. Real Life -- "Mundania" --
   should  have more than enough politics for everyone. And by "politics"
   I  mean the practice (whether conciously or subconciously) of snubbing
   others because their "kit" isn't "good enough" or other such things.
   ---Artúr Dúbh Mac a'Gobhaínn
       ______________________________________________________________

     From: "Elizabeth Chase" <elizabethlchase at msn.com>
     Reply-To: The Hall of Nordskogen
     <nordskogen at nordskogen.northshield.org>
     To: "The Hall of Nordskogen"
     <nordskogen at nordskogen.northshield.org>
     Subject: [Nordskogen] Accessible Helpful Support was demos -
     Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:42:59 -0500
     I  have  a  suggestion...... how about changing this thread to 'how
     helpful can we be'? Attempts like this at some kind of
     mediation  make me grind me teeth. I agree that in substance, there
     was no 'decree of authenticity' concretely stated..... however,
     as  in  all forms of communication, the effect on the recipients is
     what is important.... if they feel that the decree is there, then
     it is implied.
     snip............snip

     .
     Leaders, intentionally or not, defacto or implied, set the example.
     We need to quit telling other people what fish to eat and start
     teaching  them  how  to  fish for themselves. Individually, hand to
     hand..... They will teach someone else how to fish......
     ... or so the story goes......
     Anyway, one more stir of the spoon......
     Iriye
     (who is secretly hoping to just get folks thinking)