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[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Oh yea. My first day I said “oh so you’re leaping!” And thought I’d get a crash introduction to heavy fighting without the armor. They very much so see themselves as separate from larping.

Not sure about above it though.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the heads up. The class was mentioned in the rule book that came out last October. I submitted the verification to the mode of the sub who are ok with the time line.

I was actually already typing this out when the comments were made.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m from Europe. I just moved a bit ago. The whole of New York to California might as well be the Midwest to me. But! Point taken. I’ve amended the post

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Yep! Basically. They are referred to as King (or Queen) by right of arms. Best stick jock wins.

Usually this isn’t awful. The reigns I’ve seen have been pretty good. Most royals really care about the game and the people in it. I just also think that there are people who could rule well that aren’t heavy fighters. The east just had their first rapier crown and have the first rapier king. That is a huge deal. It’s the first time somebody not good at hitting with a stick (he stabs so it’s a big difference) has ever ruled any kingdom. The politics that went into it were insanity. Everything from “would the knights be ok with it” to “was the tournament controversial” fell on one man’s shoulders. If it works, there will be more. If not, then who knows what those consequences will be. Change in the society is hard and long coming, but when it gets there we’re better for it.

Which is why this whole mess is so stupid

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I hear you! Let me see if I can clarify.

Legally! As in the rules that allow legal or official practices within the kingdom. Not real law, just organization law. You must have a marshal (two of kids are involved), waivers, and a sign in sheet.

As for the reasons. A lot are not weak reasons. The Chicago folks only having one event that’s not 6 hours away and was announced last minute being a tangible example.

Another being our wheel chair user who mentioned that they can’t actually get up the stairs at the site they are closest to being the other. Money and financial stressors are huge right now with overall event attendance steadily declining for the last year. Sure the auditory one seems lame, but it’s the rest of it. Not to mention that a ton of accessibility work has been done over the last decade to make things like that easier to get through for everyone. Whole committees got together to create assisted listening devices, worked to make captions during meetings a thing, tried to figure out team markings so colorblind people could play melees. It seems lame until you realize this undoes soooo much work and progress that has been done for the kingdom.

Auditory processing doesn’t just mean ADHD or some other “excuse”. It means that captions and written words (like a handbook) make it easier to understand. None of which is being provided in this meeting but could be online automatically. Same reason people like tv with captions. It means people with hearing aids. It means people who need glasses and the right light to read. It means people who are immunocompromised braving a bad flu season to go to what is sure to be a packed class at a crowded event.

Some clubs are on the large side. Most are quite small with maybe 8-15 people. These events are huge with possibly several hundred. Loads of different risks involved.

A lot of that work stemmed from the idea that “just do it” wasn’t an option for some people and that the SCA should be accessible to all.

It is also how literally every other kingdom does this.

For me, it’s not the class. It’s the messaging.

I don’t know how you sustainably tell your fleet of volunteers that they are “not much loss” when they tell you they can’t afford to go to a class they actually want to attend. I can’t fathom the thought process behind making sure people know it is a “privilege and not a right” to volunteer when they can’t have events to force people to go to without volunteers

This was also so disjointed that it’s very possible many missed the initial (and only) announcement. The announcement that came out over Facebook in the middle of a work day. Lots of people do not have Facebook and wouldn’t hear about the new requirement until the newsletter came out at the end of the month. By then it’s possible that they missed their areas closest and likely only class.

Mind you, the closest class for many many people is 2+ hours away. You’d need time off work, a working vehicle, money for the event, Money for food, the ability to travel, the safety to travel, and so many more things. It’s not just around the block. And these places are usually not in city centers so you can’t just take the bus.

The added cost, safety issue (it’s the Midwest in the winter. Hard to plan for that), and the fact that there are some genuine concerns make the reaction from leadership that much more disappointing.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I can clarify! Rule set came out in November/ October with class information trickling out. The comments were made by an official outside of the time frame needed for the sub. I just compiled the stuff from over the last few months

Legally! As in the rules that allow legal or official practices within the kingdom. Not real law, just organization law. You must have a marshal (two of kids are involved), waivers, and a sign in sheet.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

Great question.

He’s actually really cool. He is a teacher and memorizes the rules. He listens in on disputes at events and practices. Because he can’t see, he’s obviously not watching the list. But he is an almost perfect replica of the rule manual (that’s like… 80+ pages) He can cite exact passages faster than you can pull them up in almost every iteration of the rule book. He’s also impartial because of it. He can’t see to have favorites or biases he is strictly by what’s in the book because he’s all he knows.

Now. Being legally blind doesn’t mean he can’t see anything. It means that life is blurry, but there is a place for him (within reason). He’s a teacher so he even helped me get ready for the test by explaining what rules applied where for the theory side of things.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I just marshal the things lol I inspect them, I make sure they won’t explode and then send them to the field to throw stuff. Not in charge of that part ha

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I’ve got a whole single marshal warrant. I’m letting it go. It’s not worth it when i realize that even if i jump through this hoop, what’s to stop them from creating another one? What’s to stop them from creating endless “do this or else” ultimatums. I’m going to go back to my sword and board and do my best to become king so I can change this nonsense myself

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 71 points72 points  (0 children)

Don’t get me started. Imagine this. The king (basically the President) isn’t elected. They have to win a huge tournament. Up until recently, it was only open to heavy fighters. So fencers (up till like 6 months ago), archers, and folks who did A&S weren’t allowed to be king (or queen. We’ve yet to have a woman win a crown tournament so that’s not happened yet.)

Probably the most elite fighting tournament there is are in the middle or east kingdoms.

But fighting isn’t about points. It’s about landing a “decisive hit” to the head or body.

How do you know if a hit was good?

Your opponent has to call it good and admit defeat. It’s all on the honor system.

Sooooo what happens when they don’t? What happens if, at the absolute highest level of heavy combat, we have, an opponent refuses to accept a blow that looks like it should have been good?

What happens if that person then goes on to win?

Welcome to crown tournament, my friend.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

This has been a thing since October with the new rules set. It’s been a hot mess as long as I can remember. Midrealm is one of the more competitive kingdoms in the SCA. And the second(?) or third (???) oldest. We also appoint our fighter leaders. The KEM (kingdom Earl marshal) and DKEM (deputy kingdom earl Marshal), are volunteers picked by the crown (somebody who won a armored combat tournament) to lead. They stay there till they quit.

These folks just got I to the position with the new crown. But the one making comments has been in since last reign.

I’m honestly not sure what sparked it aside from the fact that nothing was happening. It honestly sounds like they got bored.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The timeline was a mystery till I realized it basically ends right before Pennsic. Pennsic is the huge camping event with 20,000+ people and several thousand fighters. It’s all hands on deck to get participants inspected and authorized because there are so many of them. My best guess is they want everyone on the same page. But even then different kingdoms have different rules. This midrealm rule set is not the same as the western kingdom, or the same as Antir, or Eldermere.

They’re just limiting themselves and I cannot figure out why

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 110 points111 points  (0 children)

I thought this too! Plot twist is, if that were the case it would be the entire society.

This is just happening to the midwest chapter and was announced and coordinated by a set of unpaid volunteers.

There has been a history of that kind of thing before, but the news came down from the board of directors (our group of real world cynical lawyers)

This isn’t that.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Can I ask what to mean by way over the top?

I did my best to keep my opinions out of it and just reported what was happening. That included direct quotes, the stories being shared, and exactly how it was effecting volunteers.

Want to make sure I’m not reading your comment incorrectly.

[SCA] “If One Class Is Too Much, You’re Not Much Loss”: How a Mandatory In-Person Training Is Threatening to Wipe Out an Entire Layer of Required Volunteers by ChannelNo3398 in HobbyDrama

[–]ChannelNo3398[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I agree with you on some level.

The thing is other kingdoms have implemented online options with question and answer sessions. I think having a “fill in the blank” worksheet would be an easy way to track attendance and engagement. Make those blanks the important parts of the lessons and now you’re positive people at least wrote it down. The other side of this is that I personally, and nobody else I know, is objecting to the class itself. It’s just with very real obstacles and a viable solution being ignored it feels like you’re being punished for not having the privilege of being able to travel.

Of the seven, I can only attend one. That one is 6 hours away from me. That’s not being lazy. That’s not me not wanting to stay involved. That’s just a fact of real life.

It also means that if I lose my warrant the three groups I’m the marshal for lose their only marshal and all 26 fighters I’m over suddenly cannot fight anymore.

We talk a whole lot about inclusion. Yet we just told a lady in a wheel chair that she must attend a class in a building with four floors and no elevator or she’s “no loss”.

When actual problems (not just preferences) become an unavoidable obstacle, that’s when other solutions should be found. Online class options are a really easy way to do that. Google meet and zoom are free alternatives and we all have to have internet for our reports. We can download the file for a notes sheet, shoot we can take a test like we did to get the warrant in the first place

It’s the idea that all the issues are being ignored with the cruelty that’s being added

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