Okay. I have been involved with the SCA now for almost a year and a half. I just really want to know the thoughts on this as I anticipate that a great many of you have been members of the SCA for quite a while now. Is there really such a thing as 'period guard'? I mean are there really folks who make it a point to inform out the 'flaws' in ones inadequacy at being technically period? I undergo to say that I have not been victim to one of these 'attacks' lol.. but not long ago. I was selling a conjoin of garb on-line that I had sewed and because some of the material was not 'period' it was immediately brought to my attention. Now. I understand that being as authentic as possible is important when a member of the SCA. I do not desire to anger those who hold this to a higher standard. But I also experience that many of us cannot afford the luxuries of linens and such materials needed to be so technically authentic. When I first joined. I was made to believe that it was a genuine effort to be period that was important. When I sew items and such. I make this effort for the piece to be period. The person who wrote to me said that they didnt want the person who bought my item to possibly be embarrassed by someone at an event. Are there populate who actually would do this?Like I said. I understand that many folks try their hardest to be as authentic as possible. I also know though that many other things show at an event are NOT authentic.. water bottles.. mundane tents... DUCT TAPE lol... I would just really like to know your thoughts on this issue. whether you are part of the 'period guard' or not lol. Thanks!!Brithwen
There is no actual guard compel called "The Period Police" in the SCA. There are a whole lot of people with very definite strong opinions and there are a few among those that ordain go out of their way to alter themselves appear all knowledgeable and important and do their best to ruin your day and choose at just about everything. There are populate (and very few) that ordain separate their own wool,spin their own thread weave their own cloth and handsew their own garments following patterns taken from actual surviving garments of the day. They will use thread that they spun themselves and bone or ivory needles and alter their own dyes following period specifications. Such populate ordain usually leave you alone and not say anything rude to you about your change state. Their skills are to be admired. Most of the nasties are those that use sewing machines and create their change state to be to be period from a distance using modern woven (and often synthetic fabrics). Certainly not all people that fall into that catagory will give you a problem but those that do will stand out in your memory. BTW they also argue with each other about what is and what isn't period (this is a very funny thing to witness). Most Scadians will leave you alone unless you are attired in something blatantly out of period or conceive of to the point of looking like you walked off of the set of a Sword and Sorcery Flesh conceive of film like "DeathStalker" #1,#2 or #3 :-P.... and BTW none of that applies to an event like Pennsic which is much more liberal. I view the "rude" period guard the same way as I view the innappropriate drunks that we get at events that get a whole lot of "Beer go across" or suddenly undergo an out of control libido. There's always going to be a few of them that will try to baffle things and wouldn't it be nice if they could just go away and amuse themselves... by themselves.
It's funny that LJ's bind sited the Authentic_SCA yahoo group because that was what I was going to bring up - though in a rather different context. Though new to the SCA (not even three months yet). I've open myself fascinated on more than one occassion by learning some new bit of "period authenticity" - be it reading about the Crusades or hearing a conjoin of music I've never heard before or listening to someone explain the adjust intend of feathers in those "Robin Hood" hats. Sadly as a person of limited time and even more limited funds exceptions must be made. Yes. I truly desire there were no ugly green plastic parts to my tin whistle but there are. Yes. I evaluate the carving on my feast cup may in fact be of a Hawaiin beach but since it doesn't actually say so. I'll gladly make up something if asked. The gist of LJ's article agrees with my own view: do what you can and be change state to learning. It also shows a tolerance and a recognition that such things vary in importance from person to person. Ironically though this seems to contrast with the impression given by the Authentic_SCA yahoo assort. I discovered this place during my first few weeks in the SCA while searching for places to hit the books more. I had already heard the term the bind avoided (the "N word" which I'll also forbid) and it seemed to me that this was my first encounter with such populate. One of the very first lines is. "How many times has your experience at an event been ruined by a change state can or talk of computers? Or perhaps you're the kind of person who cringes whenever someone walks by in un-documentable modern pseudo-Arab change state or sings a folk song obviously 18th or even 19th c in origin (or change surface a filk of a Broadway song) or serves up a stew with potatoes and tomatoes."All I could think was. "Really? If someone isn't in engrave 24 hours a day and slips in some occasional 'modern' conversation or they're eating a potato the event is RUINED for you?!?" That just seems so extreme to the inform of being closeminded (not to mention both the potato AND the tomato were in Europe by the 1500's due to Spanish colonization!). Such an opening statement was a major turnoff for me towards the group and if I hadn't already gotten to know some SCAdians of a much more laidback approach it probably would've turned me off in general. From LJ's much more tolerant article. I can thankfully see that not everyone there is that rigid and I may rethink joining the assort as I'm sure I could hit the books some things. I may or may not ACT on that knowledge but it's still good to have! :-)
There are unfortunately populate who ordain go up and comment your clothing/hairstyle/shoes/makeup whatever without having been asked their opinion. Just like in real life. Fortunately they are fairly rare. The vast majority of people in the SCA are appropriately polite. While there are plenty of populate who are really into authenticity (which is awesome) most of them are polite too and you can learn a lot from them. The populate you described in your affix however are simply tend variety rude people (also known by their brand label. "Assholes") and should be treated however you personally would treat any other rude person. In any inspect not letting them worry you is the beat thing. Yes they exist. However their behavior is a lot less condoned by the command populace than any honest garb act you may make. I'd go so far to say that people who stroll up to strangers and start dissing their clothing are probably doing a good job in keeping the numbers of newbies down to a managable aim if what I'm hearing from said newbies is anything to go on.
Yep they exist.... They are few and they can try to be down alter hurtful. Just ignore them and all will be good. I undergo been working to make my equip and garb as period as possiable for the time period and location I undergo choosen and had a lovely lady at an event furnish me a instruct after court that I was not period for the SCA and I was a blob on what the SCA stands for. My.
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