From: parr@acs.ucalgary.ca (Charles Parr)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: swords
Date: 9 Nov 92 22:47:34 GMT
Organization: The University of Calgary, Alberta

In article <1992Nov9.185650.13581@ee.gatech.edu> ldh@eedsp.gatech.edu (Lonnie D Harvel) writes:
>Greetings to the Rialto, and His Highness Prince Brian.
>
>
>Alas, I have been fortunate in the events that I have attended.
>I have been aware of thefts at events, but the attempts to
>force entry into revel sites is distressing.  However, is their
>a wide problem of individuals threatening the poplulace with
>weoponry or otherwise inflicting bodily harm?  

Heck no! You can be forgiven that assumption, beacuse of the
furor it has aroused, but no, it isn't at all common.
The only reason it's an issue at all is that the consequences
are so severe it behooves us to consider them.

>I admit that
>I am not well travelled, working full time and going to
>school full time doesn't leave much time.  But I was 
>unaware that the threat of physical violence had escalated.

This is different, physical violence is a very real possibility
for SCAdians who leave the site in garb. I have had some
reports of SCAdians being harassed by "mundanes", and have
had it happen to me on one occasion. Physical violence
could have occured in these cases (though it did not),
but at the same time these cases could have been avoided
by simply changing into mundane clothing before
journeying into the local small town.

>I will heartily agree that safety should be overly stressed!
>It is quite possible that my obviously incorrect perception
>is the product of excellent safety precautions taken by
>hosting groups.  For myself, I have only autocrated events
>in Camp Rutledge - Hard Labor Creek State Park, and one
>day events held in local facilities.  And besides having
>some Wardens/Marshalls patrolling the camp entrances and
>keeping an eye and ear out during the night, I have never
>instigated extensive security.  Either I am very fortunate,
>or Camp Rutledge is a relatively "safe" site.

Most State parks are relatively safe, but the parks in Canada
are not nearly as well patrolled. And private land is, of course,
not the concern of park rangers at all.

>For reference:  from 1981 to 1990 I was a member of the 
>Barony of Bryn Madoc in Meridies(Athens, GA).  For the
>last two years I have been living in South Downs(Atlanta, GA).
>I have been on hiatus for most of the last two years, but plan
>to become more active in the coming year. 
>
>If things have indeed become dangerous, I would like to know
>in advance especially before events which my lady wife attends
>with me.

My advice to those who express concern, around these parts,
is as follows...You are safer camping at our events than you
would be at the next campground down the road, *but* you are
not *absolutely* safe. Gentles should continue to use the same
essential cautions that are sensible at any time. You are, in
general in considerably greater danger while driving your car
to the event, than you are at risk while you camp.

I will add that part of the reason I can say that you are
safer at our event than at the campground down the street,
is that we have a constabulary fairly dedicated to ensuring
that this is so. We do our best to make sure that thou
shall pass thy time uncaring at these, our revels...

Carolus Malvoix
Montengarde An Tir
-- 
Within the span of the last few weeks I have heard elements of
separate threads which, in that they have been conjoined in time,
struck together to form a new chord within my hollow and echoing
gourd. --Unknown net.person
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