Transplanted from Liam-land

[dsrtao]

liamstliam is talking about the process of becoming an associate of an SCA peer -- i.e. apprentice/squire/whatever to a Knight, Laurel or Pelican.

Why would I want to become an associate?

This breaks down into two parts:
(a) for values of I == anyone
(b) for values of I == me

I think there are a bunch of answers for part (a). I don't think I've seen any good answers for part (b).

Let's face it: I'm not motivated by titles. Being Master Shi Hua Fu doesn't hold much intrinsic value for me. This is, perhaps counter-intuitively, associated with the lack of peer-fear in Carolingia. If you had peer-fear here, you would be paralyzed. We don't just have an unhealthy preponderance of Knights, Masters-at-Arms, and Masters and Mistresses of Arts, Sciences and Services -- no, we have to have legendary Knights, Masters and Mistresses. In my head, "OL" means "has at least one subject he's obsessed about -- find out what it is and remember if you ever want to learn that". "OP" means "helps out even more than average". And sometimes I think "Knight" means "knows what not to hit, and why".

I don't have any subjects I'm particularly obsessed with, not to the point of devoting myself to a masterwork project. I'm not really enamored of weapons or tactics. And I help out because that's what people do, you know. Virtue is its own reward there.

Rereading some of Liam's posts... I guess I'm interested in peer-like qualities, but only because that's how I think everyone ought to be. Striving to be a peer... not so much.

Comments

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

A couple of comments.

There are Laurels who have two or three passions.

Honestly, you don't need a Pelican, because you already carry yourself and work like a Pelican.

The only thing a Pelican might do for you is help you get the accolade, something you are really not that worries about.

[dsrtao]

Two or three passions -- yup, hence the "at least one subject of obsession". I initially wrote it the way you interpreted it, and then thought of all the folks who can sing and dance and act and tell a story and.. oh, never mind.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

I am sorry.

You are right.

I did not read carefully enough.

[dsrtao]

I would coin NNTA (no need to apologize) but I'm sure someone's already done it.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

If one became an associate of a Peer, to get the Peerage - it would be a waste of time and of association. Not that people don't do it that way, but it's crass commercialism.

If you wanted to spend more time working with and learning from a particular Peer, it would make excellent sense. If it were fun.

Feudal relationships ought not to have much to do with a dangly. All of mine have been primarily about friendships - and I have gained greatly from them all.

[jducoeur]

Yeah, just so. For me, the real benefit was that it provided an excuse for me and baron_steffan to bat philosophy back and forth at the drop of a hat for the past 20 years. I don't think it had any measurable effect on how quickly I got either Peerage, but it did make the process of getting there more fun.

As goldsquare says, it makes sense to do if there is a particular person with whom it makes sense to do it. If not, not...