[SCA-AE] RE: Special badge for new people - long

[David Rifenburgh]

Having read your experience, I wonder if there is a way that new and nearly 
new people could link up ahead of time to go to an event. This would give us 
a little bit of strength in numbers and make it easier for a limited number 
of guides / mentors to give us encouragement. I don't know how the mechanics 
would work but, then, I'm new.

Dave

Dave Rifenburgh
Greensburg, PA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jtaper1 at comcast.net>
To: <discussion at aethelmearc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 1:51 PM
Subject: [SCA-AE] RE: Special badge for new people - long


> I've been reading this particular thread with considerable interest as I 
> consider myself a "stalled" newbie.
>
> I've attended a grand total three events, two of them completely on my own 
> and one with a friend who no longer resides on the East Coast.  I also 
> attended a workshop evening within my Barony trying to perhaps connect 
> with a smaller group before venturing out into another larger event.  I 
> ended up sitting on the floor in a corner (literally) because everyone 
> else was busy with their projects.
>
> Even though I am naturally a shy person, I gathered up my courage and 
> approached a good half dozen people at these outings.  Although everyone 
> was polite to me, no one was exactly warm and welcoming.  The initial 
> "Hello" was quickly followed by a turned shoulder as the individuals 
> returned to chatting with their companions.
>
> Even when I re-introduced myself to someone I'd met at the workshop who 
> knew I was new, I was cut off and left standing there like an idiot.
>
> When you are naturally shy and you've been rebuffed after you've summoned 
> all the huztpah you've got to make the first move, you aren't the type to 
> just elbow your way into the group.
>
> I followed the advice about volunteering and spent one event in the 
> kitchen and another event  passing out meal vouchers and maps at troll. 
> That worked as well as everything else I'd tried.
>
> If the chatelaine/castellan at these events was wearing a badge, I 
> wouldn't have been able to differentiate it from any of the other badges 
> of office/rank/guild/etc.
>
> If I was wearing a badge I don't really believe the reception would have 
> been very much different from when I went up to folks  saying "Hi, I'm 
> new".  The badge being the visual equivalent of my verbal attempt.
>
> Perhaps the mentor or "guide for the day" would be more successful.  At 
> least I wouldn't have been left standing around looking/feeling like a 
> leper.
>
> To be perfectly honest, I rush to read event announcements and start 
> mentally making plans to attend and then trash the whole idea based on 
> past experiences.  I suppose the fact that I still read the posts and have 
> taken the time to reply would indicate I'm not completely ready to 
> surrender, but my garb and feast gear has a thick layer of dust on it 
> already and I haven't heard of any positive changes actually occuring that 
> would draw me back out.
>
> I thank all the kind gentles who have had the fortitude to slog through 
> what turned into a frightfully long post, and to offer my sincere 
> gratitude to those who are actively trying to remedy the situation.
>
> --
> Karaznina Semenova vdova Iul'iana
> BMDL, Aethelmearc
> mka
> Juliana Taper
> Pittsburgh, PA
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