Okay, this has bothered me for a LONG FREAKING TIME.
Associates – be you squire, apprentice, or protege…
….if you are going to be an associate, Be a Freaking Associate. That means…do your part.
Communicate with your peer. Show your ass up to shit. Earn what you are working towards, or holy cow, die trying.
(Now, not being able to go and do because of a TRUE financial burden is one thing…and I totally understand that.) but this is different.
Do NOT however, NOT attend events or meetings or SCA functions because “you just don’t have time,” or “money’s been tight” or…. “what the EFF ever, insert excuse here.”
ESPECIALLY if you are posting about all the OTHER shit you are doing. Like…a different hobby (or two) that is taking all your time and money.
In short – don’t fucking go around doing all this cosplay shit and paying $600+ for shooting classes (which is tough for me because I love shooting too) and then not do a damn associate type thing.
Do us all a favor, bow out gracefully and give your mother effing belt back, because all you’re doing is showing that you were only in it for the so-called prestige that being So-and-so’s associate “gave you”…or you don’t have what it takes to show proper follow-through to see your journey through. (It ain’t an award, you know…) And frankly, all you are doing is pissing your Peer (or multiple Peers) off and demonstrating that no way in hell are you associate, much less Peer, material. Handing your belt back now, with some semblance of dignity left, would be a good start in Beginning to earn some respect back that you have lost, for I promise you, if it has gotten to this point, your Peer has no respect for you as an associate. (And quite frankly, most likely quite tired of the ribbing other Peers and active associates give them for “having associates”…but those “associates NEVER being around and actually acting like associates.”
Just because YOUR PEER hasn’t yanked your belt, it doesn’t mean that everything is okay and you are just coasting through your SCA career with no problems. It means that YOUR PEER , although it may be a detriment, is unwilling to do what SHOULD be done because they a) don’t want to deal with the drama, b) still would like to consider you a friend, c) or BOTH.
And for the records, Neill, sweetie, if you or your lovely Lady are reading this…..Ya’ll are Awesome and this is NOT ABOUT YOU!!!!
