[UUPoly-L] The SCA & Poly Southeast (was RE: greetings from central GA)

["CatDeville" <catdeville@cox.net>]

Cyn said:

<<Joining the SCA isn't something to be done lightly, either. I know I 
don't have the time or money to be involved in it - nor am I physically 
able to handle camping out at events, even if we had the equipment to do 
so. Friends of ours in the SCA have said that different areas 
(kingdoms?) may or may not be pagan or poly-friendly, depending on the 
traditions/people there. Some they'd been around were fiercely Christian 
and ostracized anyone who wasn't monogamous. YMMV, obviously.>>

While I don't necessarily agree that joining the SCA needs to be a serious
proposition... there are many students and "fun mavens" in the SCA who
participate as they're able and enjoy the recreation part of playing in the
current Middle Ages, I do agree with Cyn that you cannot assume that the SCA
is necessarily Pagan friendly.  I moved from Glaedenfeld (Nashville, TN)
where my household (which was religiously pluralist and tolerant) traveled
with a household which was openly and actively Pagan to South Downs
(Atlanta) where all of the Pagans I met who were also in the SCA were in the
'broom closet' because they believed that "being Pagan in the SCA is
political suicide".  From my experience it has a lot to do with the politics
of the highest ranking members in any specific group.  In Glaedenfeld, the
Pagan household moved into the area with a Master at Arms, a Laural, a
Squire and an Apprentice, all of sufficient rank and active and contributing
enough individuals to command respect from those who were neutral and
tolerant, yet there was even some political fol-de-rol in their case because
we had a religiously intolerant Christian Pelican in the area who had
connections on the BoD and who stirred up trouble even then.  So it's
*entirely* a matter of individual personalities and politics, IME.

Which does bring up another issue about the SCA... there is a tendency
towards deep political interplay and a number of people who do simply take
it too seriously.  I love the SCA, and I'm a member even though I, too,
can't currently participate primarily because camping as an individual is
out of range for me, but I think it's fair to say that one shouldn't invest
too much emotion in the game.  It's a wonderful place to learn and there are
some great people there.  There are also some who forget that it's an ideal,
a dream and a recreational past time who become very invested in the world
they've created.  I think that in most cases you learn more and enjoy it
more if you *do* take it a bit lightly.  But don't assume that people are
more likely to be tolerant of your being Pagan in the SCA... they're still
people.  

That said... I also second Cyn's endorsement of poly Southeast.  They're a
great group of folks, and Cyn's a wonderful person to know as well ;-) 

Never Thirst,
Cat