An anology.....
Oct. 26th, 2006 11:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundThis was posted on the Chirurgeon's List early in the month. It's a fairly good description describing what was done and why so many chirurgeons are dismayed about the situation as it stands.
"Grimbold here,
Don't know about you folks, but people have been asking me questions about Pennsic XXXV. People being the populace, not Chirurgeons. Not being all that social, I assume this may be happening to others of you more often than it does to me.
While I was there for the recent unpleasantness, I don't have any more knowledge of the details than the next person so I tell folks just that, plus the statement we've seen regarding the official investigation. So there's no need to reopen the list discussion of such things (please, oh *please* don't).
But since people who really don't have any idea what we do still want to know what it meant to us, I've developed what may be a useful analogy. Around here at least, few people we haven't directly helped seem to have any idea of what Chirurgy is, what we do, or why we do it, but most Society members have a basic knowledge of what fighting is about and know what a Marshal is.
(BTW, long ago I was authorized as a Marshal-at-Large in the EK for some years so yep, just might know a bit about this)
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Analogy:
So now you're a Marshal. You've studied the Rules Of The List and learned how to apply them, can recite the Conventions of Combat almost word for word, got your training time in while being supervised by experienced Marshals, spent lots of time and effort learning how to inspect armor and weapons according to your local standards and conventions, know all other applicable rules, passed your Marshal's Authorization with approval by your Earl or Principality Marshal and finally have your warrant or are rostered.
You work with other Marshals authorizing fighters, running battles and tourneys at events, being a fair witness for fighting disputes, etc., it's nice to help out. As you gain more experience and serve your fellow fighters you start to be known as a good Marshal and maybe do some smaller events as Marshal-in-Charge. You get comfortable with your role while knowing there's always more to learn.
Then you go to a major event and the person in charge or their representative says:
"We've had problems with some Marshals, not you, other Marshals, so we've shut it down."
"Problems? What happened?"
"We can't tell you."
"What?"
"Look, there is no Marshallate at this event, you are not a Marshal, you are not warranted, you may not wear or display your tabard/baldric with the approved Marshal's device while at this event."
"Wait, is that legal?"
"Oh yes. Now, we still have fighters who expect to fight battles, so we need volunteers to inspect them, watch over everything and enforce the rules. We're calling these people 'Fighter Referees' and we think you could be one, so please go over there and do that if you want to.
End of discussion."
-----------
That's all I've needed to say, people seem to get it by this point, and are able to understand a bit of what happened from my perspective and how we might feel. No details needed on any other issues, I'll let more important folks than me make their decisions on those.
I posted the analogy to this Chirurgeon's list in the hope it might prove useful for some of your own conversations, even if it's based on my opinion and experiences.
I'm also thinking about simple ways to explain to the populace what it is we Chirurgeons actually do, more on that later.
- Grimbold, just trying to make things simple to understand.
Permission is granted for this posting to be shared in SCA-related electronic groups and lists in its entirety or just the 'Analogy:' part between the dashed lines above if you include my name as the author. For all other use please contact me first.
"Grimbold here,
Don't know about you folks, but people have been asking me questions about Pennsic XXXV. People being the populace, not Chirurgeons. Not being all that social, I assume this may be happening to others of you more often than it does to me.
While I was there for the recent unpleasantness, I don't have any more knowledge of the details than the next person so I tell folks just that, plus the statement we've seen regarding the official investigation. So there's no need to reopen the list discussion of such things (please, oh *please* don't).
But since people who really don't have any idea what we do still want to know what it meant to us, I've developed what may be a useful analogy. Around here at least, few people we haven't directly helped seem to have any idea of what Chirurgy is, what we do, or why we do it, but most Society members have a basic knowledge of what fighting is about and know what a Marshal is.
(BTW, long ago I was authorized as a Marshal-at-Large in the EK for some years so yep, just might know a bit about this)
-----------
Analogy:
So now you're a Marshal. You've studied the Rules Of The List and learned how to apply them, can recite the Conventions of Combat almost word for word, got your training time in while being supervised by experienced Marshals, spent lots of time and effort learning how to inspect armor and weapons according to your local standards and conventions, know all other applicable rules, passed your Marshal's Authorization with approval by your Earl or Principality Marshal and finally have your warrant or are rostered.
You work with other Marshals authorizing fighters, running battles and tourneys at events, being a fair witness for fighting disputes, etc., it's nice to help out. As you gain more experience and serve your fellow fighters you start to be known as a good Marshal and maybe do some smaller events as Marshal-in-Charge. You get comfortable with your role while knowing there's always more to learn.
Then you go to a major event and the person in charge or their representative says:
"We've had problems with some Marshals, not you, other Marshals, so we've shut it down."
"Problems? What happened?"
"We can't tell you."
"What?"
"Look, there is no Marshallate at this event, you are not a Marshal, you are not warranted, you may not wear or display your tabard/baldric with the approved Marshal's device while at this event."
"Wait, is that legal?"
"Oh yes. Now, we still have fighters who expect to fight battles, so we need volunteers to inspect them, watch over everything and enforce the rules. We're calling these people 'Fighter Referees' and we think you could be one, so please go over there and do that if you want to.
End of discussion."
-----------
That's all I've needed to say, people seem to get it by this point, and are able to understand a bit of what happened from my perspective and how we might feel. No details needed on any other issues, I'll let more important folks than me make their decisions on those.
I posted the analogy to this Chirurgeon's list in the hope it might prove useful for some of your own conversations, even if it's based on my opinion and experiences.
I'm also thinking about simple ways to explain to the populace what it is we Chirurgeons actually do, more on that later.
- Grimbold, just trying to make things simple to understand.
Permission is granted for this posting to be shared in SCA-related electronic groups and lists in its entirety or just the 'Analogy:' part between the dashed lines above if you include my name as the author. For all other use please contact me first.
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Re: gone?
Date: 2006-10-28 11:41 pm (UTC)The usual rationale I get from talking to people about why they don't become (or why the stopped being) a SCA Chiurgeon is basically "if I have to be 'off baldric' to be of any use to someone, then I am further ahead to make it known that my skills/training are available if needed and being able to help to the fullest of my abilities without the restrictions in the first place."
For me, I would have to say that I half-way agree with that, and that I only have not pursued the full thing in SCA-means because of lack of time and being at events of "helping people officially" with someone watching me to sign off on the card. I think I still have my apprectice card from about 4-6 years ago with one or two of the three signatures on it...