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.