From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V2 #1399 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Saturday, February 19 2000 Volume 02 : Number 1399 In this issue: [scribes]: A Modest Proposal Re: [scribes]: arts vs. fighting ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 00:09:23 -0800 (PST) From: Peter Steiner Subject: [scribes]: A Modest Proposal - --0-846930886-950947763=:6125 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Good Gentles, I must admit that the stories I'm hearing about Society-wide lack of appreciation and respect for the products of scribal labour are deeply disturbing to me. We purport to uphold Chivalry and Honour above all other virtues within the SCA; but the treatment of scribes (lack of even simple acknowledgement, let alone deep thanks) from most scroll recipients belies this ideal. We do no service to the ideal or to our fellow gentles by allowing ourselves to be treated in such a manner. Perhaps if suddenly there were no handwritten scrolls available, save to those who were willing to approach a local scribe with respect and request one (dare I say it...even PAY for one), we might see a radical change in attitude. A person who has paid for a work of art is most unlikely to stuff it in with the feast gear. Most folks in the Society cannot afford to pay what a scroll is worth. Perhaps they might be required to pay one tenth of the cost of making their scroll......and then told in no uncertain terms that 90% of the finished work was a gift to them from the scribes who made it. Perhaps the gentles of the SCA, who play at living in the Middle Ages, need a lesson to remind them just why books were so rare and precious before the advent of the printing press. Perhaps...... Respectfully Submitted for your Consideration, Peter Gwer Rychen von Bern - Barony of The Rhyderrich Hael - Aethelmearc - --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. - --0-846930886-950947763=:6125 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii

Good Gentles,

  I must admit that the stories I'm hearing about Society-wide lack of appreciation and respect for the products of scribal labour are deeply disturbing to me.

  We purport to uphold Chivalry and Honour above all other virtues within the SCA; but the treatment of scribes (lack of even simple acknowledgement, let alone deep thanks) from most scroll recipients belies this ideal.  We do no service to the ideal or to our fellow gentles by allowing ourselves to be treated in such a manner.

  Perhaps if suddenly there were no handwritten scrolls available, save to those who were willing to approach a local scribe with respect and request one (dare I say it...even PAY for one), we might see a radical change in attitude.  A person who has paid for a work of art is most unlikely to stuff it in with the feast gear. 

  Most folks in the Society cannot afford to pay what a scroll is worth.  Perhaps they might be required to pay one tenth of the cost of making their scroll......and then told in no uncertain terms that 90% of the finished work was a gift to them from the scribes who made it.  Perhaps the gentles of the SCA, who play at living in the Middle Ages, need a lesson to remind them just why books were so rare and precious before the advent of the printing press.

  Perhaps......

Respectfully Submitted for your Consideration,

Peter Gwer Rychen von Bern - Barony of The Rhyderrich Hael - Aethelmearc

 


Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. - --0-846930886-950947763=:6125-- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 02:59:25 PST From: "Isolde the Nimble Fingered" Subject: Re: [scribes]: arts vs. fighting >One difference Genevieve... > >Unless you're a fighter, you can NEVER be the Sovreign. That very well may be, unless the scribes SCA wide invest in the nib sharpeners. Then the fighters might be in for a shock when they discover that the pen TRUELY is mightier than the sword. Sorry! I just got off work and am feeling a little silly. Isolde An Tir Motto: Tytyvyllus me admittere impellit. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of scribes digest V2 #1399 ******************************