Bigger is Better?

Had another penny-drop moment today.

Most of the issues I have with the MK these days can be attributed to sheer inertia. This comes in two flavors:

Size. The Kingdom is ridiculously big. And, the thing is, you don't really notice the "bigness" if you don't go looking. (Well, you might if you're a Kingdom Officer and collating reports from all ~100 or so groups, but by then you've been Sucked In!). Administratively, bureaucratically, it's just insanely large for the way we run things in the SCA.

With this many people and groups - and the accompanying Baronial Investitures, transitions, new group inception, local infighting over territories and groups - it isn't possible for one Couple (even with Heirs to delegate to, and the MK has never been good at delegation) to due justice to everybody's needs. This is why I keep getting told by the old hats when I raise an issue "Well, you can bring it up, but nobody's going to do anything about it until it goes nuclear." Why? Because "management," if you will, has gotten caught in a process where it can do nothing but reel drunkenly from crisis to crisis. There isn't time for anything BUT crisis management. So if you have a problem that isn't a crisis - grab and old, cold tater and wait.


Tradition. Anything that happens three times in the Middle is effectively "traditional." And traditions are sacrosanct. The King and Queen not attending Val Day? *gasp* Don't even say it!! Change the A&S Faire system? Bite your tongue!

In some ways, the Crown is as constrained by Custom and Expectation as they are by their own time and resources. I suspect many a couple has stepped up with the intention of doing things differently - only to find that it's like trying to paddle upstream on a raging, flood-stage river. Making any alteration of significant nature would be the work of several successive Crowns. And you generally don't know for certain that your successors will carry on the job. At which point you have to ask if it's worth the effort (and the sacrifice of the other things that will suffer - see above) to try to make that change. How important is it, really?

The beauty and glory of a Principality would be a comparative sleek and nimble entity, it's history and traditions as yet a blank slate. Yes, still part of the Middle Kingdom. But able to address problems more easily and create solutions that are more than so much paperwork. To develop a new way of interacting with each other that's less impersonal, more responsive to the needs of the people, and more inclined to let talents shine.

Trying to get more thoughts down - and more feedback

A few more counter-arguments I've heard against Principality status:

1. Landed Barons and Baronesses could hold Regency Courts instead. Well, yes. But Shire members might not always be exactly delighted to receive their Award from a Baron they don't know, rather than the King. And, more importantly as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't address the larger role a Prince and Princess would play. It also doesn't bring with it the level of pageantry that a Territorial Coronet would. Plus, it has the potential to lead to wrangling amongst the Landed B&Bs over who GETS to host such Courts. It also won't lend anything to improving our cohesion and ability to operate as a group.

2. We don't need more Royalty or Royal Peers. Wait... whut? OK, I admit this one generally makes me giggle - because I've only ever heard it FROM Royal Peers. All I can say is, successful people don't desire company. ;-) But the nature of the game is that the rolls of Royal Peers will be ever-growing.

Overall reaction still positive. And what negatives I've heard as yet are mostly knee-jerk responses to the idea of such a big change. I'm hoping those people will sit and think about what really disturbs them about the idea, and come back and express THAT concern. Because I'm afraid that as yet either the real objection isn't being expressed or maybe isn't as yet even conscious for the concern-ee. When I think about how much I've had to sit and think about this to determine where my own buttons are, I don't believe that many people, when first approached on the issue, will be able to articulate fully their real opinion. At least not without having the time to go away and think it through.

John also opined that the general increase in fighting opportunity has appeal where he's concerned. Not just Coronet Tourney, but also selection of a Champion, possible even Princess' Champion or Guard. Plus another Princess to field a team at Rose Tourney. In effect, a "level" between Baronial Championships and Crown suddenly exists. Especially for fighters from Shires, who currently don't have access to much in that arena. He mused that Pentamere Open - isn't really a Pentamere Tourney. It has enough cache to attract Dukes from other Regions, and therefore is just as intensive as any big Kingdom Tourney.

I've also been skimming the Middle Bridge archives. The issue of Principalities has come up before, but more in the hypothetical tone. Most of the same arguments that I've made get expressed there, and I see less out and out resistance than I would have expected. Though, again, nobody posting was in the position of having to actually support or resist the idea of a specific Principality.

I have, in the past, mentioned that I was against the colored "P" badges for Principality supporters to wear being advocated by an An Tir group working toward the same goal. Though it occurs to me that bearing the current badge used by the Region could save the same purpose, as nearly nobody does it. Hrrrm.

John thinks we should continue on for a while as the Principality Underground. I think we're outgrowing the stage of talking to people we know personally and it's time to begin a more general dialogue. Hence the lack of locking of the posts, lately. I really don't want to set up an E-list if I can help it - that way lies madness, and I think we all know it. But I'm hoping interested parties will start contacting me - evidence that the movement is growing.

The Five Questions Meme

Via xrian

Leave a comment saying ":D" and:
-I'll respond by asking you five questions to satisfy my curiosity.
-Update your journal with the answers to your questions.
-Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions.

1. I haven't managed to figure out exactly who you are yet -- can you give me any hints?

Ah, I'm one of your groupies. We've e-mailed back and forth via my hotmail account regarding Joomla! vs. Drupal. (Work in progress: www.insaneaboutgarb.com/friesianfrockgirl.com) We're both on the SCA-Heralds list, and I'm on your paternosters list. I've picked your brain directly regarding needlebooks, and (many moons ago) used research from your Paternosters site to make my first paternosters.

Mundanely, I'm a veterinarian. I started out in biotech/genetic engineering. And decided I have the wrong politics and the wrong personality for Academia. I am in medicine because I can be semi-autonomous. Dad opined just the other night that I'm not happy unless I can be in charge to at least some degree. Not sure just how entirely accurate that is - but there is certainly an element of truth. I'm not a minion by nature. Not sure I'm much good at leadership, either. Possibly Empressing. ;-) That might work.

2. I know a number of people in the Midrealm, from my time on the Apprentices mailing list or from Kalamazoo. Who might some of our common friends be?

I live about 1 1/2 hours North of Kzoo, on the Lake Michigan coast. So, wow, could be a lot of people. Though I'm not currently on the Apprentices mailing list. I know most of the folks in Three Hills (Kzoo) including Mistress Siobhan, Baron Logan and Baroness Zaynab, Baroness Katerina, Baroness Failenn. I'm not really sure who goes to the Medieval conference this year, but I'm pretty sure Mistress Emmelyne de Marksbury? She's one of my mentors in the art of research in general. Come November, I'll be officially apprenticed to Mistress Sarafina Sinclair. Come to think of it, I tried to convince you to come cross-country to speak at RUM last year. Still would like to have you if ever we can manage it. Or maybe just come down and take you out for dinner the next time you visit for the Medieval conference.

3. I noticed you were following my LJ a while back -- what got you interested in following it? (Especially considering how seldom I say anything ;)

That had less to do with following your Journal - as you're much more talkative on your other blog and various E-lists - than it was allowing you access to a lot of my research-based posts that I tend to keep locked. I know you are acquainted with rectangularcat, and wasn't sure if you'd be interested in Dutch and German costuming or not. But I have come to regard you as a wise and useful sounding board, and so I wanted those posts available to YOU - in case you had advice.

4. Have you played in any time periods other than the 16th century, and if so, what?

I started in the SCA purely 14th century. I have a number of GFDs in my wardrobe, some surcoats, etc. I didn't really wander into 16th century until I first found the Leiden portraits, and Karinne Taylor's site. (Sadly, now gone). From there, I happened across the Noord-Holland portraits in the Kaasmuseum. At that point - the hunt was on. It's more the thrill of the chase than anything else.

5. What is your current "dream project"?

Yeah... back to the Ferret with a Cola Addiction....

Not so much a dream "project" - more a dream wardrobe. At the moment, I want to have a collection that includes at least one of the Noord-Holland gowns (preferably a couple variants on the theme), a Saxon lower class, Upper class, and Court gown, a Swabian gown, a Housebook dress, a Kleves/Kolone gown... and I haven't gotten to Sliesia/Prussia/Franconia. Subject to change. And a few outfits for my husband from some of the same regions.

I've been identified by a "talent consultant (how do you get that job, anyway?)" as a Scanner. I don't have a Bliss. I don't have something that completes me. There is nothing I'm so happy doing that I don't find it to be "work." There isn't anything I don't get bored with in time.

I'm only content when I constantly have something to think about. Which manifests as Short Attention Span theater, but really is constant curiosity. My brain has no "off switch." A&S 50 project? Can't concentrate that long.