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Just Because You Can -
Oct. 4th, 2010 05:56 pmIt doesn't necessarily follow that you should.
(Brought to you by phenylephrine)
Let's talk briefly about event scheduling (and this will be a big ol' IKA, because it's just not even an issue for a lot of Kingdoms).
Now, the Mid has something we like to call The 100-mile Rule. Meaning - you cannot schedule an event the same weekend as one that has already been scheduled if it is within a 100 mile radius. Now, there's some wiggle room here, if the events are specific and appeal to very different segments of the general population. It has also been reduced - it was the 150-mile Rule not so long ago.
I do know that some other (usually smaller) Kingdoms operate on a "Don't be an Ass-hat" policy, rather than a firm rule.
I'm wondering if a firm rule sometimes actively encourages ass-hattery. In that groups start to play the "Well, it's 101 miles away, so we're good" game. Instead of thinking carefully about what they are going to do:
1. Do we NEED to put on our event? Is there a call for it, is it unique? Or is it "Local Event XXIX" - and our 5th of the Calendar year. But we always do it, so we're going to do it.
2. Even though the other event is outside the Rule - should we be courteous and schedule our event for another weekend? Locally, we tend to consider other Cantons in our Barony and make an effort not to conflict. But anybody else? Pfffttttt.
3. Will another large event further away significantly impede our attendance - and possibly make it wise for us to find another weekend?
4. If we, and our neighbors, both throw Small Local Events the same month every year... maybe they ought to be combined into one larger event - with more fun and more fanfare for everyone?
I think often we get so caught up in what WE can do and when WE can hold OUR event... that we don't think about whether we should. What are we doing to out neighbors? Are we so wrapped up in throwing 6 events of our own this year... that we don't get out to our neighbors' events? And, in so doing, we expect them to support us - while we don't reciprocate and support them.
I've seen some pretty good knock-down drag-outs over event scheduling, event ownership, and whose "weekend" is whose. As well as a mad scramble to get things onto the Calendar as soon as possible so that we "have" the weekend.
Think for a moment - what would your SCA experience be like if your neighboring groups stopped putting on events. And just came to yours.
(Brought to you by phenylephrine)
Let's talk briefly about event scheduling (and this will be a big ol' IKA, because it's just not even an issue for a lot of Kingdoms).
Now, the Mid has something we like to call The 100-mile Rule. Meaning - you cannot schedule an event the same weekend as one that has already been scheduled if it is within a 100 mile radius. Now, there's some wiggle room here, if the events are specific and appeal to very different segments of the general population. It has also been reduced - it was the 150-mile Rule not so long ago.
I do know that some other (usually smaller) Kingdoms operate on a "Don't be an Ass-hat" policy, rather than a firm rule.
I'm wondering if a firm rule sometimes actively encourages ass-hattery. In that groups start to play the "Well, it's 101 miles away, so we're good" game. Instead of thinking carefully about what they are going to do:
1. Do we NEED to put on our event? Is there a call for it, is it unique? Or is it "Local Event XXIX" - and our 5th of the Calendar year. But we always do it, so we're going to do it.
2. Even though the other event is outside the Rule - should we be courteous and schedule our event for another weekend? Locally, we tend to consider other Cantons in our Barony and make an effort not to conflict. But anybody else? Pfffttttt.
3. Will another large event further away significantly impede our attendance - and possibly make it wise for us to find another weekend?
4. If we, and our neighbors, both throw Small Local Events the same month every year... maybe they ought to be combined into one larger event - with more fun and more fanfare for everyone?
I think often we get so caught up in what WE can do and when WE can hold OUR event... that we don't think about whether we should. What are we doing to out neighbors? Are we so wrapped up in throwing 6 events of our own this year... that we don't get out to our neighbors' events? And, in so doing, we expect them to support us - while we don't reciprocate and support them.
I've seen some pretty good knock-down drag-outs over event scheduling, event ownership, and whose "weekend" is whose. As well as a mad scramble to get things onto the Calendar as soon as possible so that we "have" the weekend.
Think for a moment - what would your SCA experience be like if your neighboring groups stopped putting on events. And just came to yours.
