Results and comments from the Aug/Sep 2003 survey.

	Ýves’ big SCA rapier survey #1 ~ Anchorage comments: Importance of fencing
	Updated: May 24, 2005

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Policy blurb

By default, authors of comments sent in response to this survey are named only by their permission. Usually, other people mentioned in a comment are named only with their permission as well. Each comment represents only what the author typed in for the survey at the time.

» This survey was conducted during August-September 2003. Things change over time. «

Some comments were edited for content. Certain harsh words have been changed for your amusement. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the surveyor.

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# of Responses
by Kingdom
 
AEth.  = 34/235
Anst.  = 36/240
An Tir = 56/347
Art.   = 12/124
Aten.  = 27/460
Atl.   = 60/425
Caid   = 49/400
Drach. = 21/76
Eald.  = 12/77
East   = 46/480
Loch.  = 22/120
Mer.   = 27/140
Mid.   = 52/640
Nor.   = 25/164
Out.   = 26/214
Tri.   = 46/237
West   = 14/70
Unk.   = 2

The gist

The comments below were sent in response to Question 12.

For some of us, fencing is our main reason for being in the SCA.

For others, it isn't.

The comments

Note: Any remarks in the comments below from Yves look like this.

There are two main sections of comments: [1] Fencing first,
[2] Fencing... and other things.

Other comments on this topic are on separate pages.
See the links at the bottom of this page.
 

Choice picks

Φ Caid ~ Simply put, I live to fight. When the day comes that I die I will pass the Pearly Gates without so much as a second glance and knock on Valhalla's door. Fencing has taught me far too much, and continues to teach me now, for me to ever even consider quitting.  ``Tora

Φ Out. ~ I chose not to pursue a lucrative job offer based on lack of fencing.  ``Ildiko

Φ Art. ~ When I first started playing, fencing was what I did almost exclusively, over the years though I branched out and have done a lot more things, and met more great people. I have learned that it's important to be able to do more than fence well, to know more adds to the fighting.  ``KyneWynn

Φ West ~ The SCA is *NOT* rapier combat any morethan it is any perticular form of combat ... or art, science or service ... I can't imagine being in the SCA for such a singular reason.

Fencing first

Æthelmearc

Φ I have been and will again be very active outside of fencing but fighting rapier is my primary focus in this game.  ``Christian

Φ Though fencing is one of my primary activities and I would be very disappointed if it was outlawed. Fortunately, the program has grown in my kingdom to the point where I think it would be very unlikely for that to happen.  ``Charles

Ansteorra

Φ I used to be very active outside the fencing but have found that it is now what I truly enjoy.

Artemisia

Φ Sorry, I'm here to fight first, dance second, and drum third, but without the fighting the rest just isn't enough :)  ``Spanish Dan

Atenveldt

Φ Fencing is my first love. But, the diversity of "hobbies" that can be practiced within the SCA context is one of the society's greatest strengths.  ``Egan

Φ I love rapier work within the SCA. I love to teach. I have about 20 students in 2 kingdoms who knew nothing when they began working with me and now over the years are ALL Don's or Dona's...  ``Lann-Valdis

Atlantia

Φ I do lots of different activities but fencing was what got me involved and is my favorite.  ``Cam

Φ My interest in the SCA is because of my friends and the need for studnets to be taught so that Rapier continues to develop in Atlantia. I fence in other organizations as well, so it isn't that big a draw.

Caid

Φ I love fencing in the SCA, it is my primary focus, however; it is the people I've met and come to cherish that would keep me coming back to events if I couldn't fence. Of course, since the vast majority of them fence as well, if they left...?  ``Eogan

East

Φ Fencing is the main reason I play in the SCA - it's what I began with. But I have more than enough other SCAdian interests that I could still play - but it would not be the same!

Lochac

Φ I'm here for the SCA, and love the rapier. In Lochac rapier seems to be better integrated than other kingdoms, and not som much it's own little group. Time constraints have forced me to play less SCA this year, but I've kept up teaching and playing rapier.  ``Aldwin

Midrealm

Φ Rapier tournaments are the first thing I go to an event for, but it's not _most_ of what I do, nor was it the first thing I did in the SCA. I do many things. At Pennsic, I do very little rapier and lots of A&S.  ``Kriemhilt

Northshield

Φ Started with archery but was drawn to the blade.  ``Fiskr

Trimaris

Φ Though fencing is very important to me it is neither the end all of the SCA nor the only reason I play.  ``Elric

Φ My first love was fencing. Due to medical reasons, I cannot do heavy. Without the fencing I never would have stayed.  ``Coinneach

Φ I have 2 personas and only 1 fences. My primary persona can attend events and not fence and not miss it... however I have not attended an event that HAD fencing schedualed where my fencing persona did not make an appearance. Fortunately for my love of rapier, there are few events in Trimaris where some form of fencing is not available.  ``Francis

Fencing... and other things

An Tir

Φ If you are "only here for the fencing" find another group to play with.

Φ I believe in being well rounded in the SCA rather than being limited to just one pursuit.

Φ I've benn in the SCA since AS 9...considering I've only fought Rapier the last 4 years there's obviously more in the SCA for me than just that.

Φ Fencing is cool, but there is so much more to the SCA. I feel the same way about Wire Weenies as I do about Stick Jocks. If you're here just to fight, go join a combat only group.  ``Gabrielle

Ansteorra

Φ Fencing is just the greatest perk about being in the SCA, but it is not the only appealing attribute that the Society has to offer.

Φ I've always tried to maintain a "balanced" group of activities in the SCA. Unfortunately, doing all of them, I may have burned myself out. Not traveling much now and am somewhat hibernating.

Atenveldt

Φ I have been in the SCA since 1976 and started in heavy weapons wich I still compete in. I started doing rapier to keep new members who were joining the local group. It was and is fun.

Atlantia

Φ Fencing is more of a sideline than my focus in arts & sciences. I enjoy the cameraderie and the excersize as well as the opportunity to make new clothes.  ``Iseulte

Φ Fencing is a part of my enjoyment of the current middle ages, but it is not anywhere close to being important enough to make me quit. I am too good at a lot of things to focus on just one thing like fencing. Besides, there is always the drinking and wenching to make up for the potential loss of fencing. ;-)  ``Nikolai

Caid

Φ Fencing is just one of the many things I enjoy about the SCA.

Φ I enjoy fencing very much. It's fun and a challenge but it's not my main reason for being in the SCA.

Φ Fought heavy for 16 years, just recently changed to rapier. Fighting has never been the most important part of the SCA for me.

Φ I spent 10 years fighting heavy-weapons combat and loved that until my body got too old and beat up to maintain that level of stress and impact. Rapier provided me with a way to keep fighting, and I enjoy it a lot. I would miss it greatly because I like fighting, and I've made good friends in the fencing community, but there is a lot to do in the SCA, and some fencers can be too isolated from mainstream SCA activities.  ``Felinah

Drachenwald

Φ Fencing is a significant part of what I do in the SCA, but not the only thing by far.  ``Guntram

Ealdormere

Φ It's an activity, I have others.

East

Φ I should be more active, but mundane life precludes such.  ``Alain

Φ Fencing is no longer my main activity in the SCA, now it's just something I do occasionally.  ``Cynan

Φ I feel it is important for any SCA member to be well-rounded. We should be SCA members first, and fencers second.

Lochac

Φ I haven't really been fencing that long nor is it one of my major activities in the SCA.

Meridies

Φ Hey, there is more to life then fencing-the SCA encompasses a great deal, and there will always be more to the SCA then fighting.

Midrealm

Φ Fencing is a metahobby in my SCA hobby.

Φ Even though I love fencing and am very involved in the marshallate, I have many interests. It's not that fencing is not a major interest.

Φ I've realized that I've focused on fencing more than other things in the SCA in the past couple of years. I'm consciously setting aside time to do other activities as well, even if that means I don't spend all my time on the fencing field at events.  ``Toshikage

Northshield

Φ Rapier is my first love, but the SCA has a wide variety of great stuff to offer.

Φ I do quantitatively a few other things in SCA besides rapier, but those non-rapier things I do, I am also dedicated to (do more than dabble).  ``Margalit

Trimaris

Φ Fencing is not my main marshal activity.

Φ There is more to the SCA than fighting in any style.

Φ I do fencing cause it is fun but is sure isn't the whole SCA.

Φ I love fencing, but I am addicted to the SCA for a million and one other reasons. If I just wanted to fence, and nothing else, I'd join a fencing club.  ``Thorunn

West

Φ Fencing is actually just one of many activities for me. I got into the SCA for other reasons, and got into fencing later.

Your feedback is most welcome!

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Original page posted: October 18, 2004. Last tweaked: July 1, 2006.

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