Myth: In the SCA, only knights are allowed to wear unladen chains. Fact: This is true. (Oh! Did you see all of those feathers ruffle?)According to SCA laws and precedents circular chains of all colors (that is, any color of chain made with open links that does not have a clasp and that does not have a medallion/charm) are reserved…
Myth: “If you can’t sew you should wear early period because it’s easy” Fact: It’s all hard when you’re starting out. Even the early period stuff. Gussets and gores are not easy and there are people who have a lot of experience sewing fitted garments who later struggle to understand how to sew early period garments. Everybody has to start…
Myth: The SCA is devoted to the research and re-creation of pre-seventeenth century cultures. Fact: This is the shining standard. This is what we say we want to be. For many reasons we’re falling short of this. It’s only in the last few years that the SCA mission statement was grudgingly updated to remove the reference to “Western European” cultures…
Myth: Saying “I want to be a {peer}” means that you will NEVER be that peer. Fact: Never is a very strong word. I would not say it will prevent you FOREVER but it can slow you down. So this is sort of true. Depending on the meaning behind your words (and the perceived meaning). The analogy: There’s a difference…
Myth: If you are a fighter and you want to be “taken seriously” as a fighter you cannot pursue non-fighting things outside of fighting.Things which are okay: making armor, making shields, painting shields, chessThings which are not okay: sewing, embroidery, cooking, weaving, Fact: This one is hard. I want this to be an utterly bullshit myth. But I look at…
Myth: All Laurels are mean. Fact: I know it’s going to come as a surprise, but Laurels (and all peers by extension) are just people. They are nice, mean, confident, anxious, scared, and gracious (among a thousand other things) as individuals at different times throughout the day. It is patently false to say “all Laurels are mean” in the same…
Myth: The SCA is a family friendly place. Free-range/feral children are okay. Fact: By the letter of the law any minor (person under the legal age for the local area) is required to have a parent or guardian within direct sight and sound of the minor youth at all times. “Parents or guardians of minors shall have ultimate responsibility for…
Twelfth Night was great. Lots of fun. I was able to attend all of the courts. I helped to deliver Helga’s “furry Muppet nut sack” (HAR HAR), I was able to stand with my people as they became Artisans for Uther and Vera (picture posted by Theia which is friend-locked). I was able to step up as Laurel Councilor for…
In an SCA context, what do you think should be included in an Arts display? What makes for a good display? Okay. As always, I have opinions. I believe the SCA Arts display falls somewhere between a Science Fair project (lifecycle of a frog) and an elevator pitch** about your work. **What is an elevator pitch? You step onto an…
I feel guilty writing on this topic. I became a man-at-arts about 5 minutes before I was offered the Laurel. For a very long time I did not have someone I called “my Laurel”. There are a lot of reasons (some of them wrong-headed) that fed into that decision. Even though I’m now coming at it from the other direction…