--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <vajranatha@> wrote: > > On Apr 7, 2006, at 9:48 AM, markmeredith2002 wrote: > > > > > Those full-time in the tmo definitely honor the titles, though I > don't > > > consider that insane. My main problem here is that MMY is still > > > giving out aristocratic titles and positions of authority to > people > > > based on their financial contributions, which has been ongoing > since > > > the 108 days. I'm all for recognizing people who contribute to > > > whatever cause, but I think basing a spiritual mov't so much on > money > > > all these yrs has undermined the heart value of the rank and > file. > > > > > > It's interesting that you mention this, the thought just struck > me > > that this type of thing is going on constantly in the west, it's > just > > that most probably never aware of it. I'm referring to the buying > of > > titles. It's actually quite a big business. What it usually > involves > > is giving money to some foreign ruler, most who no longer rule a > > country or are simply members of royal families. If you pay > enough > > money they will give you a title. This will authorize you to be > able > > to wear certain regalia, add certain titles to your name, etc. > And > > every now and then you can pay money to hang with various royals. > > > > It's also popular in Neo-Templar circles where you pay money to > enter > > some religious order. > > > > It's quite expensive, but some people are really into it, holding > > fancy parties where they congregate and act like they're actually > > royalty. > > > > It just dawned on me that this is basically the same scam. I > always > > knew it was a scam, but this puts it in perspective. > > While I agree, I might point out that the SCA > (Society for Creative Anachronism) is a real > bargain if what you want is a fancy title. All > you do is make up your own, make sure that the > name could have existed during the time period > and geographical location your persona lived in > but didn't actually exist (in other words, you > can't use the names of real historical characters), > and voila, you're Lord Whatever of Wherever. > > You can choose your own costume, too. Most > of the crowns one sees in SCA gatherings are > *much* nicer and more tasteful than the TMO > Burger King crowns. > > And all in all, this is just good fantasy fun, > more so because at the end of the weekend or > whatever, you just go home and resume your real > life don't have to pretend any more. Unlike the > rajas, who are stuck with pretending that their > version of fancy titles and dressup *are* real > life. :-) >
Er, it takes a LOT of work to get a title past "M'Lord" or "M'Lady" in the SCA. In theory, one must show that one would be able to make a living as a musician to be awarded a title for being a musician, as a blacksmith for being blacksmith, as an artisan for being an artisan, etc., and you must present your talents in a period-appropriate manner by performing period music or dance, or creating period instruments, or manufacturing reasonably period armor, etc. of the required quality. For the fighting titles, you must beat all the other young bucks (or buckettes -there are have been a few fighting baronesses and princesses in the SCA, and I believe one "Queen in Her own right") at your level of the SCA, and for the title of "king" you must not only defeat all comers at the Kingdom level, but must commit to presiding over a certain number of SCA functions over the next year, many of which require a LOT of travel time, or expensive plane tickets, since a Kingdom usually covers several states and you gotta be willing to visit most of your Realm over the period of your reign. BTW, your average Baron or King *does* live the SCA most of the time, outside of work. Not only do they have to attend those out-of-town royal functions, but in order to become king, one must become a master of broadsword, ax, mace, etc., by putting in just as many hours of practice as any karate blackbelt does to prepair for a tournement match. And those damn rattan swords HURT, even through the padded armor. --Sparrow the Incorrigible, Anno Societatis 8 To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
