From: schuldy@progress.COM (Mark Schuldenfrei)
Subject: Re: Fighting in crown: a thought
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 14:26:39 GMT

Bjalfi, you are confused.
  2) Acknowledge that Padraigh and Caitlin are in fact the same person,
  so that Padraigh can fight _and_ choose a male consort.  When the pair
  step up, it's Caitlin and X, even though Caitlin (as Caitlin) had nothing
  to do with the tourney.

The SCA does not regulate Persona.  Caitlin can play whatever mental
exercises she delights in, dress as she will, etcetera.  It doesn't
matter.  As long as one member of the Royal Couple is genetically
female and the other male, and all other membership and local requirements
are met, it's strictly a personal matter.

Which doesn't mean that it makes a boring philosophy question.  Far
from.

My philosophical piece of spit, is that if anyone is a resident of the
mythical land of the SCA, it is the King and Queen.  For the duration
of their reign, that is where they are from.  And here, in our Laurel
Kingdoms, women can fight and win in Crown Tourney.  If your reign
wants to be flavored by the land you once inhabited, that makes sense.

But any King or Queen who attempted to impose their persona's idea of
how the SCA should be run upon their kingdom is violating the sense
of the Governing Documents of the SCA, as expressed in the unofficial
document "The Scope of the Society" from the Organizational Handbook
(relevant sections printed below my signature).

In a very real sense, the worst thing you can do to a consistent persona
story is become an SCA King or Queen.  So many of your actions become
proscribed to be inauthentic.  I trust Duke Cariadoc abu Patri has
some insight into that.

	Tibor

SCOPE OF THE SOCIETY: PERIOD AND CULTURE

[ . . . Several paragraphs deleted by Tibor ]

Since members have free choice of what areas they will explore, it
follows that Society branches can not specialize. The choice of a single
time and place for a branch would make it hard for members there to
pursue other interests of their own.

People who study one period of history in a group setting can band
together in households for the purpose, and such households are free
to organize themselves without interference from the Society at large.
However, if a household wishes to hold a theme event and use the
Society's resources for publicity and the Society's name and place in
the community to assist in getting a site, its members must work with
and through a branch of the Society and follow the Society's regulations
for the conduct of events. And when a household attends a Society event
as a group, its internal ranks and regulations can not be used in place
of those created by the Society.

[ One paragraph deleted by Tibor ]

If the Society's approach doesn't cover your interests, you have many
options. Other organizations large and small play with all sorts of
corners of history, and if you can not find one to suit you, you can
always start your own. The Society administration will be happy to
advise you in your search, or on what to do to get started. There's
plenty of room for everyone - just not all on the same field at the
same time...
--
Mark Schuldenfrei (schuldy@progress.com)
[I'm just showin' you my opinions: this ain't a gift]