Keepin' it real

[gurdymonkey]

"One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became."
- Anonymous fortune cookie author

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A Dreamer
    - December 28, 2004

“In Service To The Dream,” he signs his name
As though a wishful scrawl could make it so.
Imagination burnishes his fame,
A mind’s-eye hero, strong as melted snow.

If bright array and brimming cup are all
Our Dreaming Hero needs his dream to gain,
His ideal image in stagnation’s thrall
Will not live large, nor worthiness attain.

“I Dream, therefore I am,” becomes confused.
No honor is required, no knowledge earned,
No service ever due, no effort used.
“I do, therefore it is,” is never learned.

Yes, dreams can give an impetus to deeds
Of service, valor, excellence and worth.
But if no action springs from dreaming’s seeds
Pretentiousness takes root in fallow earth.
    - Jehanne de Wodeford

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Merriam Webster online dictionary: 
Main Entry: mun·dane
Pronunciation: \ˌmən-ˈdān, ˈmən-ˌ\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English mondeyne, from Anglo-French mundain, from Late Latin mundanus, from Latin mundus world
Date: 15th century

1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the world
2 : characterized by the practical, transitory, and ordinary : commonplace <the mundane concerns of day-to-day life>
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mundane

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe:

mundane jargon
Someone outside some group that is implicit from the context, such as the computer industry or science fiction fandom. The implication is that those in the group are special and those outside are just ordinary. [Emphasis mine.]
http://foldoc.org/mundane

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"The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Society) is a nonprofit educational organization devoted to study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Most of its activities take place in the context of a social structure adapted from the forms of the European Middle Ages, which allows participants to take a first-hand look at various aspects of the life, culture and technology of the times under study." (From the introduction on page 8 of the pdf)

A. Society Events Defined
The term “Society event” refers to tournaments, feasts, and other activities whereby participants can display the results of their researches into the culture and technology of the period in an environment which evokes the atmosphere of the pre-17th century European Middle Ages and Renaissance. It also refers to educational activities involving either one-time classes or ongoing Society university organizations, and meetings where participants share skills or discuss the business of the group. All Society events must be sponsored by branches of the Society, registered with the Seneschal of the sponsoring branch, publicized at least to the members of that branch, and conducted according to Society rules.
B. Requirements for Participants at Society events
Anyone may attend Society events provided he or she wears an attempt at pre-17th century clothing, conforms to the provisions in Corpora, and complies with any other requirements (such as site fees or waivers) which may be imposed. At business meetings and informal classes, the requirement to wear pre-17th century dress may be waived. All participants are expected to behave as ladies or gentlemen.  [Emphases mine.] (From page 14 of the pdf)

 

http://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/govdocs.pdf

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Who doesn't want to be special, who doesn't want to be larger than life,  Particularly when one finds a group of people who are special and larger than life to socialize with?  It's like coming home. At last, we think. These people understand me.  We even have carrots for just showing up and doing stuff, bestowed upon us by Persons Of Importance. At last! I am recognized and special! The King says so!

If only more of us would take what we do in our play time and apply it to our real lives. Labeling persons as mundane is just another road to Us vs. Other, We are Special and They are Not. This kind of thinking, in its most extreme forms is the basis for wars, racism, genocide and oppression. In its mildest form, it is mere snobbery. True ladies and gentlemen do not stoop to it. True ladies and gentlemen carry the values of courtesy and honor home with them and treat with their families, neighbors, co-workers and strangers in the supermarket as they would their King and Queen. Or at least try to. (Liberty Mutual's recent series of TV spots touches very nicely on this.)

The Society is a valuable place to learn admirable social and educational skills and have a great time doing so, but in the end it is a hobby, one in which, to be honest, we cherrypick bits of history to suit ourselves and make the rest of it up as we go along. Despite all the insistence in our governing documents about our educational status, the minimum standard is pretty darn vague. We are not guardians of history, we are not maintaining a sacred trust. We are playing at history. The very structure of the game makes it inevitable because we have players from different time periods and cultures mingling in ways they could not have done historically in kingdoms that did not exist until the 20th century. For every player who is producing scholarly or near-scholarly work as part of their game, we have two (or more) who are just here to have a good time. This is neither good or bad, it is just the way of things.

I have a reputation in the Society, but it doesn't get me a raise at work or help pay my bills or exempt me from jury duty. What I do in the so-called "mundane" world matters more. That "mundane" job dictates how much vacation time I get and how much I can spend on my hobby - after I pay my taxes and bills. That "mundane" world is full of other worthwhile things. I'm lucky enough to know it as I look at a calendar and plan what I get to do for the next month, including a local Kurosawa film festival, March Crown (West Kingdom), an English Civil War muster at a primitive site upstate, and a flight home to visit my family in time for my nephew's seventh birthday.  I believe this balancing act is healthier and more valuable to me as a person.

With the SCA, as with life, you get out what you put in. You can live your life in a dream state, or you can do something with your dreams.

Comments

[la-peregrina.livejournal.com]

True ladies and gentlemen do not stoop to it. True ladies and gentlemen carry the values of courtesy and honor home with them and treat with their families, neighbors, co-workers and strangers in the supermarket as they would their King and Queen. Or at least try to.

My husband lived his courtesy every day of his life, as evidenced by upwards of 200 who came to the funeral. That said, I sadly think that even in the social context of the game, I shall not meet his like again any time soon, and must be grateful for the short time we had together.

[sengokudaimyo.livejournal.com]

Forgot to mention:

I have always had trouble with the "In service to The Dream" concept. I don't recall who said it, but I agree: "The problem with 'the dream' isn't the 'dream,' it's the 'the'."

[melaniewing.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this and thank you for posting on that other journal.

Again you speak truth and make sense. Too bad those that need it most probably will not understand.