History-lite

[Hibernicus]

Its come up before and its come up again .....

Statements that dismiss the SCA out of hand are..... simplistic.

1) There is no governing body or set of rules or Tradition in the SCA requiring participants to do history well

2) Individuals who participate are not required to formally join or asked to meet anything beyond a very minimal history standard.. primarily one of APPEARANCE and that standard is very low and not well enforced

3) The club has been in existence for 40 years and has about 50K paid members and at least twice that many, if not more, who participate at various levels... once a year - once a week... 24 hours a day

4) A very long list of individuals who specialize in a craft who also particiapate with the SCA are some of the best in the world. Check out Jim Hrisoulas... http://www.atar.com/old/ . There are many many more, the majority of whom are like many here.. excellent crafters, superior craftsmen striving to make and reproduce kit as historically accurate as possible.. not just in appearance but in function as well.

The SCA has a great deal to offer to a great many people of varied and sundry backgounds, with many different ideas of what's fun. There is ROOM for many kinds of people of assorted talents and levels of interest

..... There's even a place for folk like most here who do history well.

The SCA can be an excellent recruitment venue... but I keep that one a very tight secret!

Good history is welcome at SCA events....

Our camp at an SCA events
http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org/gww7camp02.jpg
http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org/gww1campfrnt.jpg

A "viking" friend's camp
http://www.keradwc.com/2003_sca/2003101 ... 61613.html

The woodwork of one his friends
http://www.keradwc.com/2003_sca/2003101 ... 62002.html

And then there's this guy... in the SCA he's Sir Gaston... the rivets on his "coat of plates" are gold plated by the way...
http://www.keradwc.com/2003_sca/2003101 ... 63451.html
His business is called "Global Effects"

And, yes for every awesome pic I can show you 100 goofy pics... there's a lmountain of ahistorical sci-fi-fantasy in the SCA

So, I guess you'd better chuck some of the books you might like to read... ..... Poul Anderson and Marion Zimmer Bradley, Robert Asprin, Katherine Kurtz.. long list...

Strat Trek fans.. Bjo Trimble.

Any poo-pooers of the SCA like reading the works of John Maddox Roberts?

Regarding some lesser known folk: many here recently praised the tinning work of a fellow named Micarius... he's in the SCA...

To dismiss the SCA as a group also dismisses those skilled, talented and expert folk who also make up what the SCA is.

[Matt Lukes]

The issue Sean is using them in an 'appeal to authority' argument. You simply can't say anything about the SCA when discussing the authenticity issue- their primary goal is fun, not hyper-authenticity- and not expect a reply that comments on the lack of real accuracy. People don't poo-poo the SCA unless someone makes a comment about them first saying 'well the SCA thinks/ does this or that'.

[Hibernicus]

"The issue Sean is using them in an 'appeal to authority' argument. You simply can't say anything about the SCA when discussing the authenticity issue"

I agree, always have.

The problem is that some will, out of hand, dismiss someone who happens to be in the SCA no matter their level of expertise or authenticity.

That is wrong and.... silly.

[Robert Vermaat]

Guys, as much as I like the SCA or discussing it - is it not an OT discussion?

[Matt Lukes]

The problem is that some will, out of hand, dismiss someone who happens to be in the SCA no matter their level of expertise or authenticity.

That is wrong and.... silly.

Really? Where? I only see responses in the situation I mentioned- countering when someone ascribes some sort of authority to the SCA in things historical and authentic. I've never seen an individul dismissed out of hand because he/she is a member of the SCA and I'd suggest you should point out proper instances of this if you're going to make such an accusation. Because indeed such action is wrong and silly. It's always seemed to me, however, that people are taken as individuals and based on their knowledge- not their associations.

You could be right about the location Robert- the SCA isn't strictly a reenactment group and people's opinions of their accuracy isn't exactly an R&R issue. If the purpose of this thread is simply to comment on what Sean sees as an injustice done to the SCA by members of the RAT forum, then it should be there.

[Robert Vermaat]

Can we agree that the SCA has members that wear equipment that would be considered as 'very accurate' in re-enactment groups? And that SCA groups don't call for equipment to be 'historical accurate' as a rule?

Btw, I have buckles and fibulae made by Ray Moseley, so does Aitor's group and a dozen other individuals. He's an SCA enthusiast. I love his work - my latest 'precioussss' is a silvered copy of a Late Roman buckle found at Oudenburg Saxon Shore fort:

[Marcus Julius]

Can we agree that the SCA has members that wear equipment that would be considered as 'very accurate' in re-enactment groups? And that SCA groups don't call for equipment to be 'historical accurate' as a rule?

I think one of the biggest misunderstandings is when unfamiliar people see SCA heavy combat kits. Though there are a few who strive to look authentic, the primary focus in heavy combat is safety. Authenticity MUST take a back seat to safety in this case.

Most of it, as Hibernicus said, depends on what the individual's own desire for authenticity. However, outside of heavy combat, if the person is actually entering their recreations into the Arts and Sciences competitions, you'd better believe they have to have their facts right in order to get anywhere with it.