From: parr@acs.ucalgary.ca (Charles Parr)
Subject: Re: Even Mongols may eventually "get it".
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 17:50:32 GMT
Organization: The University of Calgary, Alberta

In article <DOCONNOR.93Jan9134551@potato.sedona.intel.com> doconnor@sedona.intel.com (Dennis O'Connor) writes:
>
>vader@meryl.csd.uu.se ("]ke Eldberg") writes:
>] Greetings from William de Corbie!
>]
>] Buri Dogshin (Dennis O'Connor) wrote, apropos my efforts to
>] do something about the fantasy aspects of the SCA "system":
>]
>] Thus, I think that your observation rests on reality; sociologists
>] have found, whether they have investigated a whole country or any
>] subset thereof, that there are 10% who are, in various ways, the
>] active and leading ones. The other 90% prefer to have things remain
>] "as always". They will grudgingly accept changes when such happen
>] -- and then the new situation will become their "as always", which
>] they absolutely don't want to change...

>Baloney. The Society exists for the majority of the Society, not
>for some set of self-elected "intellectuals" who think they are 
>the "active and leading 10%". If the intellectuals want something
>different, fine : organize your own elite little bunch, play
>by your own rules among yourselves, and play by the rules the majority
>of the SCA wants when you play at SCA functions.
>
>] This is why I am convinced that my efforts are not in vain. I will
>] contribute to a better future SCA, even if I have to drag those 90%
>] with me by the ears!
>
>Aren't you special : you know what's right for everyone else
>and are going to impose them on them even is you have to
>"drag people by the ears".  BY WHAT RIGHT ?

Well, this is an interesting thread, though the degree of
acrimony already in evidence is regretable.

You ask what right the gentle has to "drag people by
their ears", and of course you are correct. The gentle
has no "right" to enforce his will on anyone.

Yet it his privilige, and in my opinion his duty
to to try and encourage activity which improves the
SCA. If someone else disagrees with his efforts, it
is their duty to try and encourage whatever activity
that *they* feel is desirable.

For example, if Lord Poofter Espagnol is a rapier fencer
who dresses in lace, carries a pomander, and is interested
in musketry, he might choose to start a household devoted
to the interests of his period. He might even  decide to hold
an event at which musketry and fencing were encouraged, and a
16" lace ruff and thigh high boots were required garb.

Now Thorick Bloodeaxe, voted Most Bruised Sheildman at Penssic
for three years running may have the screaming willies at the
very thought of 30 people getting together without a single
roll of duct tape in evidence. Which is fine, because Thorick
doesn't have to *go* tp this lace-fest. And if he really feels 
strongly about it, he can sponsor his own event, to which 
you must bring three wolfhounds and a spit-roasted wild boar
for entry.

The result? We have two fun events to go to...Everyone wins.

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
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca