Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?

[femkes_follies]

I'm going to say something here that's going to raise hackles. So before you warm the tar and rip up the tick for feathers, curb the knee jerk, "You're wrong, Wrong, WRONGITY WRONG!!" for two seconds and hear me out.

From where I sit in things, part of the problem is that Middle Kingdom culture is currently busy.... stagnating. (Sit. Stay. I have a point here, really). When you compare it to the vibrancy of Northshield or Atlantia at the moment, there are no two ways about it.

Worse, rather than try to alter this course, we cling to it like limpets. We speak of the weight of culture and tradition - and use this to defend doing things that are flat out contrary to Corpora from time to time. We laud "The Stately and Noble Midrealm."

Yes, well - the other side of "stately and noble" is "bureaucratic, unresponsive, bloated, and archaic."

I pause for the yelling to die down.

Let me introduce a metaphor that will likely irritate even more people. The Middle Kingdom, for me, is a lot like Val Day. A victim of it's own success, it's outgrown it's ability to effectively serve the needs of all segments of the population. And then stopped trying entirely. There is a token effort here and there to make the "minority groups" happy or at least give them something to do. But much of the glory has faded away because it was "too hard." Val Day has no feast because it's "too hard." Nobody wants/can sit a feast for 900. And no one wants to deal with the discontent of having 4 times as many people want feast as there are seats available. Nobody wants to deal with the overscheduling of the Kingdom Calendar, nor the never-changing set of events that have become the Royal Progress because it's "too hard." Everybody knows it's too big to work well, and no one has any desire at all to make it smaller, because that would "lessen" it. (kingdom and event, both). Worst of all, it's taboo to express your displeasure. After all, Those That Matter like things just the way they are. So disagreeing with them is tantamount to treason. Expressing the opinion that both event AND Kingdom are geared toward a specific type of SCAdian and leave out the rest gets you a horrified look, followed by shunning. Now, you will find people high up in both instances who will listen carefully to your concerns and agree that it's an issue. But don't expect anybody to do a d**n thing about it.

In point of fact, don't expect anybody to do a d**n thing about anything. It's too hard. And the one or two motivated, talented people who are available are likely either involved in trying to change another aspect of the game and too caught up in that to be able to do anything else - or badlly outvoted by the rest of their echelon that their protests are no more than a tear in a salted sea.

The thing is, I am repeatedly told, "Well, you need to talk to the Peers/Royal Peers to change that." However, with excruciatingly few exceptions, this is spitting against the wind.

WHY? Because if you are a Royal Peer (and to a lesser extent, a Peer of any stripe) there is always a place set at the Kingdom Table for you. You can go to any event, put on your shinies, and instantly be a part of that circle, wherever you go. Doors open up and people listen AT that level. The game is available to be played AT that level.

And most Peers have forgotten that if you do NOT have that, all that exists (to a large degree) IS the local level. Kingdom is much like Court at Val Day - too far away to see what is going on, too loud in the cheap seats to hear what is going on - and no one will use the P.A. system in the room because it's "not period." So you muddle through with only the vaguest idea of what's happening up front and try to get the details from somebody closer than you are later.

Which makes me want to spit nails, for instance, when one of the MK Knights insists that, "A Barony is not a Kingdom. Worry about the Kingdom and forget all that other bulls**t."

That's just so unhelpful I don't know where to start. And it exhibits a deep-seated tendency to forget what it was like when the only level of participation OPEN to you was the Baronial level. New flash: Not everybody is offered the opportunity to serve the Kingdom BUT through their Barony/Canton/Shire. Don't knock it just because YOU have bigger fish to fry. (Having HAD my fish fried in the past for offering to participate at the Kingdom level... I know whence I speak).

The general insistence is that:

1. The Middle Kingdom is perfect just the way it is.
2. If you have a point of view, then keep it out of sight! Oh, we are the Buddy Bears, we never ever fight!!
3. Custom and Tradition trumps even Law.
4. If you're unhappy with something, the problem is you. Nothing needs to change. WE'RE all happy with things as they are, and that's that.
6. We don't believe that there are many people who AREN'T happy and if you try to tell us there are, we'll put our fingers in our ears and go "La La" until you go away.

Now, the fact that Master Llew managed some fairly sweeping changes to the A&S Faire is a hopeful sign. Even if he had to largely shove them down more than a few throats.

But as a rule, the prevailing attitude is, "Change is evil. Always. There is no such thing as positive change. We're perfect just the way we are and if you don't like it, you're not a good Midrealmer."

I'll be interested to see if anybody can give me a cogent counterargument that does NOT boil down to, "Well, if you're that unhappy you can:
A. Leave.
B. Bring your concerns to Kingdom People A., B., and C. (Cause that's worked so well in the past....)
or
C. Go do your own thing in the corner and don't worry about trying to contribute

I'm also interested in how those of you of the East feel. I'm not familiar enough to have a feel for culture there. How much is hidebound tradition and how much room for change is allowed? And how to you balance on the edge of "tradition" vs. "new ideas?"

Feeling like the whole MK missed the Renaissance - on purpose.....

(I'm going to leave this post unlocked unless someone REALLY tries trolling. My journal - my rules - get too hostile and I'll delete your post and ban your butt)

Comments

Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?

[pearl]

Because Poe wrote on both of them?

Sorry, I can't really offer anything constructive.

Expressing the opinion that both event AND Kingdom are geared toward a specific type of SCAdian and leave out the rest gets you a horrified look, followed by shunning.

Dare I ask which type? Is it the burly sort armed with a rattan stick, or are they more enlightened and include people with fibreglass and metal sticks, too?

Re: Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?

[femkes_follies]

It isn't that clear cut. There is (as there always is) some bias toward Heavy Weapons. But my husband fights heavy, too.

I don't quite know how to pin it down for you. Now, I could give you the list of reasons why Val Day doesn't work for us. And it's not the fault of the event, it's just that it doesn't work well for our situation.

As to the Kingdom... that's harder to put a finger on. There are a lot of factors. But it has at least a little to do with the fact that he's not squired, we're not in a household, we don't do Pennsic, and in general we're not wrapped up in that level of "politics." We DO tend to question things and not be satisfied with "because we've always done it this way." That goes over badly in a lot of quarters around here.

Re: Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?

[pearl]

As to the Kingdom... that's harder to put a finger on. There are a lot of factors. But it has at least a little to do with the fact that he's not squired, we're not in a household, we don't do Pennsic, and in general we're not wrapped up in that level of "politics."

Ahhh, let me guess, if you don't do those things then you are being insular and not 'fully' a part of the kingdom? Similar deal with travelling interstate to events, here. If you're not bothered enough to drive for 10 hours each way, then you're just not participating enough. :)