Ok, here is an idea for the Tutuorial Section. What if there was a category specifically for newbies, something like Orientation to the SCA, or Start here if you want to survive, I don't know, but something that would allow someone totally new to the SCA to learn about such things as how to address people, what to expect, etc.

My suggestion:

If possible, I'd like to see a section somewhere on the site to upload plans, patterns, instructions to make, sew, create what ever project that is known to work. People who have created plans and are willing to share them freely, people who have allowed reposting of patterns for personal use, or some other type of intrustion in a file type other than a video link. I think this may be the one thing that is the most lacking through out the Knowne (Internet) World. This site has the potential of crossing so many modern borders, having a single trove of files shouldn't be overlooked.
Unity!
Eoghan

A tutorial picture book with typed instructions.... Sometimes working from print is easier than remembering all the great points in a video, unless of course you take notes... Each individual learns things differently.... My Troll learned how to do bone needles from a video... me... I prefer the old style printed pictured diagrams...



As for the Orientation Video.... I think that would be the bomb.... especially for the newcomers... I know I would have gladly watched one to prevert to horrible hoof in mouth disease I have since acquired...

How about a simple Q & A section....

I mean I have simple "newbie" questions... Like

When giving a foot print measurement for camping... Does that include space for guild wires.... of is that just the tent size & they calculate the additional space... & what about tie out space for your traveling companions.... I have 2 large dogs....


Why does it offend one Barony/Shire, etc when you compliment another for being more hospitable? ? I have had this happen... My local barony is pissed at me because I made it known in a public thank you that a nearby shire was more welcoming to us as newcomers.... instead of asking how can we fix this issue... they basically told us that isn't how it is done....

It has always been my perception that the SCA is about teaching, learning, sharing, expanding... Ironically I have not experienced this within the local Barony.... Is this something new or is it just this group... & if you don't feel welcomed BUT still want to play... Then WHAT....


Yeah there needs to be a Q & A section....

Footprint includes guy wires. Dogs are a case-by-case issue which should be addressed with the group camp organizer.

As for the etiquette in question here, thought it sounds like you have been clearly burned here, I would invite you to consider whether it is your entire barony that it pissed at you, or one or two people who did not respond so well in one instance. I'm just guessing, but it sounds like they may have acted hastily, perhaps out of feeling guilty for not doing a better job, perhaps because something about your public thank you got interpreted by them as a criticism of their actions. It sounds like you feel pretty frustrated here, and it sounds like some of that frustration may have been apparent to them and contributing to their hurt feelings. ...In other words, I'm wondering if it is possible that there were mis-steps on both sides.

Whatever the reason was, SCA folks are still just regular people. When it comes to addressing a hurtful interaction, parties on either side of the encounter can take steps to reach out and make things better. That is the essence of honorable and chivalric behavior--that you can step up and act to a very high standard of generosity and honor, even when others are not at their best.

Some of my most profound and deeply meaningful friendships in the SCA have come out of relationships that were at one time badly damaged by both of us not acting our best. In one case in particular, it took both of us reaching outside ourselves with a generosity we did not think would be reciprocated to bridge the gulf between us.

Good luck.
--Mistress Ariel

Mistress Ariel....

Thank you for your kind reply.... I believe you are correct... I have since discovered I lumped a very important part of our Barony in with the Shire... Thus upsetting many people... My ignorance on this case has been my undoing... However I do plan to send these individuals a personal email as an apology in hopes to heal that mis-step.. As for the others... I figure you are most assuredly instinctively correct.. I stepped on a few toes that did not enjoy being stepped on...

& I am sure I am at fault in a number of ways as well... Again as noted above... and I have a quick tongue.... If I see a better way to do something, I instinctively open mouth and... well anyways.. I quickly end up suffering from hoof in mouth disease... Hopefully in time these issue can be resolved as well...

I greatly appreciate your support and suggestions...

My suggestion is thus. A Blazon search function. We've all been to events wherein we will see someone's arms, but of course, not their face, due to a helm. We've even fought against them, and it is entirely possible they could be traveling in from other kingdoms not familiar to our own. Perhaps an area to list the verbiage of your heraldry?

Going with this would be a specific sub-image area for users to plant their device, a single-image upload segment on their profile specifically marked for heraldry items, with a descriptor segment below specifically for the written-out version. This would go hand-in-hand with the search function, and would make it easier to find those that you knew or had met, and thusly, would encourage community building. Also, it would allow for easier conflict-checking, as well.

Aindrias Mac-Solamh wrote:


Have you tried the search functions in the SCA Ordinary and Armorial (oanda.sca.org)? Every single registered device in the Known World is listed there and the search functions are flexible enough that you don't need to get the blazon exactly right to find someone.



This would be interesting, but it would only apply to a small subset of players (those that are members of this online community and bothered to enter their heraldry). Therefore it would work to find out whether someone was a member here if you knew their heraldry, but it would not be appropriate for conflict checking.

This idea is completely and utterly stolen from the Armour Archive but how about an "I wanna be a ...." forum to help people who are new to a persona to work out what clothing/armour/etc are appropriate for them.

Cristoval Ramirez de la Fuente wrote:


Ooo! I like that... it could be combined with the persona stories that people already have (i.e., this is my story so far... I want to buff it out).

Suggestion.... Under Blogs

I am a writer (not professional)... I love to write short stories, poems, and the such... I noticed there is NO place for us to post those types of things....

How about a Blog Selection for Poetry & Stories..... Of course period related....

Hello Ealasaid,

The new blog category has been added.