gurdymonkey: (mysca)
[personal profile] gurdymonkey
Because I might as well answer it here.

Why do you do what you do in the SCA?
1. Because it's fun. If it's not fun, I should not be doing it. I did any number of things in the SCA that were Not Fun and I learned my lesson. I hold no offices, I don't autocrat events, I don't volunteer for anything anymore except for teaching.
(Oh, and helping people put up tents, or carry stuff....) I hated having something enjoyable turn into a loathesome chore. I got burned, not burned out, but burned, and, no, you do not get to hear details about who did what to whom for how many cookies, because it is over and done and I am never putting myself in that position again over a hobby. Ever.

2. Because it's fascinating. Those of you who have heard my occasional mantra, "Oh, goodie, more homework!" know I love learning new things. I keep stumbling over tantalizing nuggets that require more research, new details in a painting I hadn't noticed the last time. I can even look at a source from a time and culture I'm not necessarily interested in and say, "Wow, I didn't know that, this is great information for X," because I'm sure I know someone who will be interested in it and can point them at it. I love the scholarship, I love the stuff making. I love thinking about the person I would have been had I lived in a particular time/place.

3. Because while the SCA is NOT my family, it is a social outlet. It contains a mercifully small number of people with whom I get along just fine with as long as they stay the $^#% away from me, a much larger number of people with whom I share common interests and a respectable number of people of whom I am extremely fond.

How do you measure success in the things you do in the SCA?
Is this the part where I'm supposed to confess that I have always wanted to Hold Unattained Title Of Your Choice?

We Don' Need No Steenkeen Badges. Sure, awards are nice, but I have fans. Total strangers come up to me at events and say "You're HER!" or write to me and thank me for what I do in my interest niche. I can get people who will never, ever adopt a Japanese persona to say, "Wow, that IS cool," and try banging on a drum, or tasting a strange food or beverage, or resist-dyeing. It is awesome - and humbling, and it's why I will answer the same questions over and over and over again because it's all new to someone, and it's why I will give serious consideration to traveling a bit further afield to teach. In my narrow little interest niche, I am a rock star. It still boggles the mind.
EDIT: Mind boggle for the morning of September 23: http://maredudd1066.livejournal.com/13398.html. Go admire.

Is there a difference between being successful and finding satisfaction in the things you do in the SCA?
Being successful IS finding satisfaction in what I do.

What brings about contentment... success or satisfaction or a combination of both?

Do what you love, love what you do, share what you know.
Be true to yourself, particularly that Saturday self that's larger than life, chivalrous and honorable, because that self should be out and about the rest of the week too.
Be a loyal friend and an implacable enemy: people are less likely to fuck with you that way. Just don't be an asshole about the implacable enemy part.
Be audacious. Set the bar high enough to crash into.
Blow your lunch money on books.
Know that "I don't know," is a valid answer.
Remember it's a game and have fun.
This account has disabled anonymous posting.
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
No Subject Icon Selected
More info about formatting

Profile

gurdymonkey: (Default)
gurdymonkey

March 2024

S M T W T F S
     12
3456 789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 20th, 2025 12:40 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios