Yeah, it does read that way.

[gurdymonkey]

A lady posted today to the kingdom list: 

"Actually this topic came up at the event, as many "older" members struggled to put up the large and wonderful encampments that we all are getting used to, and expect.

where are the minions?  the serfs? the indentured servants?
 
Maybe we really, really need to think about our recruiting efforts, and why we don't seem to have as many college age, or younger people, showing up, willing to help in exchange for room, board, and introductions.
 
Is it us, or that younger people don't have the interest right now?"

Having more or less successfully achieved self-sufficiency while still being able to set up a comfortable and ambient camp for myself, I boggled at this. Knowing the lady, I'm sure she didn't mean it to come off as the Society For Creative Press Ganging. Still, it was time to drop a rock in the pond, so I wrote: 

"Did *you* join the SCA to be someone else's servant or so you could be larger than life for a few hours a week?"

 I mean, who joins the SCA to be freaking Baldric?

Folks come to the SCA because they wanna wear the pretties! They want to be "milord" and "milady." They want to suit up in armor and be a hero for a couple of hours a week.  If they want to re-arrange the dirt, er, I mean, seasoning on a cast iron pipkin and wash a stack of dirty plates with some cold water, bar soap and a scrap of wool, they become re-enactors.  (Note to self - the FAC could do with a proper bucket, must see about finding something appropriate.)

Get them in the gate first. Then show them by example what courtesy and service are. And don't EVER make them feel that their service equals being taken advantage of - or they will walk, and your word fame and the SCA's will grow in a way you're not going to be happy about.

This post is dedicated to the best yojimbo ever, Fujimaki Tosaburou Hidetora, and to Rising Sun's retainer "class of 2009," Mori, Ryoshi and Hanemitsu.

Comments

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

My husband and I were having a conversation about the lack of younger people we have seen around (and how hard it was to recruit college-age folks when we tried to start the group here in Dubuque). Part of the problem, I think, is gaming, both console gaming (X-box, PS3) and World of Warcraft-type games. Why spend all that time making stuff so that other people can look down on you? Heck, my husband was in the SCA for 20 years before he got an AOA! Whereas you can get the milord/milady fantasy pretties much easier in the gaming world if that's what you're in it for.

showing up, willing to help in exchange for room, board, and introductions.

WTF? Back when I was more active in SCA, the whole room, board, introduction thing was just something people did because they were nice, and certainly, when there was an event near where I lived, I tried to be hospitable in return. That's just basic courtesy and friendliness! Has something changed since then?

[firehauke.livejournal.com]

*boggles* that's incredible thinking.

[baronnemelisend.livejournal.com]

I thought it was the baronesses who were supposed to serve at tavern and wash dirty plates.... ;^D

[cayswann.livejournal.com]

There's always one somewhere, and we have one household member who would probably love to be Baldric. I have no idea why. He likes to make garb from burlap (although he lines it in cotton, hee hee). But the laides of the household just might have convinced him that "we would like to dress him in a manner befitting OUR stations" ... And because he loves to throw a dinner party that makes the ladies happy, I think he's embraced the notion that he cannot be a good host AND Baldric in burlap at the same time. *shaking my head at him*

But fortunately, not everyone is missing out on drawing in the young people, the providing of room and board "just because," and other experiences many of us had in our early 20-somethings. I still see it. But then again, my 40-something friends don't know how I keep up with all the 20-somethings. Some days, I don't know how I do either. I just like to.

[minstrlmummr.livejournal.com]

Umm...I was unaware that "introductions" was exchange-worthy currency 8P