[SCA-AE] Peer Density/Dispersal was Peerage

[georg]

Robert Peterson wrote:
> I'm sorry but I have to ask this.
> 
> If people are intimidated by peers, why would they ever enter a Crown list?

There are many reasons to enter a Crown list, and far too often the 
least of which is to win crown. Some reasons I've heard (and some are 
misguided):

To get noticed as a fighter and hopefully win awards. To fight for one 
that one deems worthy to be crowned.  For the pageantry.  Because that 
may be the favorite format of fighting for the fighter.  To learn how to 
fight better by trying one's sword against the best the kingdom has to 
offer. Because it is a patriotic duty. For the dream- the feeling of 
taking part in as close to an idealized medieval tournament as we 
usually get. To guarantee a chance to fight someone better, one on one, 
instead of the same people they face every week at fighter practice, 
particularly knights.

The chance to be King or Queen is often only a small part of the 
tournament. Sure it's possible that any given Saturday any fighter can 
win, but it's very unlikely. I do believe that before you step foot on 
that field that day, you'd better be financially and emotionally 
prepared to take on the burden and give it your all, but I was 
reasonably certain I wasn't going home with a shiny hat the two times 
someone honored me with the compliment of thinking I was worthy to be 
queen. That did not stop us from entering the list, and we had a grand 
time and we both learned things from the experience.

We have only two rarely-seen laurels in our shire (Sterlynge Vayle), and 
if it weren't for our wonderful neighbors, we'd see few peers. I have 
seen peer-fear directly, but it quickly dissipates when they realize 
peers are people too, and finally get to know one without a label. I 
liked one young lady's reaction when she realized she'd been hanging out 
with a duke all day who'd left the hat at home. She'd never met a peer 
before then, and after she got over the "omigod that's X?? Oh wow!" she 
had no peer fear left. :)

-george