Ýves’ big SCA rapier survey #1 ~ Mindset: comments on amusement and fun
	Updated: 24 May 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 our mutual amusement. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the surveyor.

To get YOUR name listed with YOUR comments, just give me permission. See the email link at the bottom of the page. Let me know your SCA name and kingdom (as of Aug/Sep 2003), and I'll add the attribution to your entries.

# 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 16.

Respondents share their input on having fun on their own while fencing and being entertaining for spectators.

The comments

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

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

Choice picks

Φ An Tir ~ I try to include the entertaining but not at the expense of the other.  ``Alicia

Φ Caid ~ Entertainment is always preferred, as long as it doesn't devolve into ludicrous behavior.  ``Felinah

Φ Anst. ~ My persona is playing in a tournament for sport. If my opponent misses a blow -- that happens. If the Queen asks to of us to fight it is for her amusement, not because she wants one of us dead. It is important to display skill but it is important to display other things as well.  ``Doré

Φ Drach. ~ I wouldn't say that I think it is a spectacle to amuse the gallery but I do think one should make an effort to be entertaining. One of my fondest memories (and perhaps an indication of my lack of skill) is the round of applause from the spectators at one event following my rather dramatic death.  ``Kári

Æthelmearc

Φ I enjoy a lingering death.

Φ I'm a ham if girls are watching.

Φ This is also a spectacle to amuse myself. i have often been told that we fight for the queens amusement etc... well i certainly hope she likes it, but that is not why i fight!  ``Parion

An Tir

Φ All in all, if we all have fun, we win ;) Winning is durn nice though.  ``Tristan

Φ I fight to better myself, and to entertain...without a crowd, what good is it if I am the best? (yaddayadda if a tree falls yaddayadda).  ``Gwydion

Φ My mindset changes from event to event. On my best performance days, I don't really care - my mind mostly shuts down and just plots strategy as my body takes care of doing unto the other guy. On my second-best days, I'm loose and happy, chattering away as I glide through delightful bouts of violence.  ``Ruaidhri

Ansteorra

Φ People who take it too seriously without having the fun that the SCA provides, often find themselves on the outside looking in.

Artemisia

Φ I've always been of the mind that fencing is something that should be fun, and if it isn't, I'm getting to caught up in trying to "win" -- I also feel like it's important to learn something everytime you fight. Winning or losing has never been the most important thing to me, learning and having a good time with my comrades in arms has always been my priority.  ``KyneWynn

Atenveldt

Φ I prefer to play for fun!!  ``Ryan

Φ I like to goof around alot. I'm in it for the fun and if I learn something along the way, that's even better!  ``Bethia

Atlantia

Φ I play like it's real, this makes it more fun. I don't try to win...just play and enjoy.  ``Marcus

Φ My main goal is to have fun, and make sure the person (s) I'm playing with are also having fun.  ``Ihsan

Φ I'm just trying to stay alive. I don't actually make much effort to be amusing, but I appreciate those who do!

Φ I'm here to have fun. Fun means goofing around during a fight but being very serious about having the best fight I can.  ``Dante P

Φ I hate playing with people who get into the "must win at all costs" attitude. Quite often they do it by brushing blows and being just totally obnoxious. One must remember that this is not real. It is a game, and a game is supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun, then it's not worth playing.  ``Belphoebe

Caid

Φ Entertaining, YES. Silly and stupid, NO.

Φ Competition is fun, but we're all friends as well.

Φ This is a spectacle to amuse the gallery: in tournaments its cool.  ``Johann

Φ ... if something can be added to the fight for the enjoyment of people watching (deaths, banter, whatever) then, well, they're not watching you to be bored to tears.  ``Leonarda

Φ I try hard to view the blades as sharp in how I fencing, but I don't do elaborate deaths. I fall down if it's expected, but otherwise I go with a compliment on the blow followed by a salute. That said, we should try to make these fights more entertaining. I believe this is the marshall's job- they should let the crowd know what is going on, etc. Maybe I've done Faire too much.  ``David

Drachenwald

Φ Also for the fun of the match.

East

Φ Depends on the tourney/demo/melee... Fun First...learning next, safety at all times.  ``Alain

Φ I am here to challenge myself and learn from my opponent, and the banter that goes with fencing is fun to bring into play with certain opponents.

Lochac

Φ Have fun!  ``Hanbal

Φ I'm here to enjoy myself and ensure that others (both fighters and spectators) enjoy themselves.   ``Aldwin

Midrealm

Φ I try to be entertaining, but quite often we're only entertaining ourselves.  ``Zygmunt

Φ My midset is perenially, "this is a game. I am here to have fun. If I win, great, if I lose, I had fun doing it.  ``Lydia

Φ While I try and be entertaining I also try and win. I don't think there is a conflict as the answeres suggest.

No conflict was intended in the question design. "Check all that apply" isn't exclusive.

Φ Although I do not think of our sport as a spectacle to amuze the gallery, I do make an effort to be entertaining.

Φ I'd like to check the spectacle choice, but unfortunetly, I'm not a good enough fencer yet to be too entertaining. I'm hopefully moving in that direction.  ``Catalin

Φ I fence because I have fun doing it. Obviously no one will die-otherwise your SCA persona is gone and you start again, or we are hualed off by the cops for murder or something. No one does that, so ipso facto no one, nor any persona, will die. I like to amuse myself. If the gallery is also amused, that's nice.  ``Alexander

Northshield

Φ I fight to win but have fun doing it.

Φ I want to win, but never at any cost. The point is to have fun... the combatants. most of the time that translates to the gallery, but amusing them is not my goal.

Trimaris

Φ If your not having fun your not doing it right.

Φ Wanting to win and providing a good spectacle are not mutually exclusive goals...both can be achieved and one can have lots of fun with it.

West

Φ If there's a gallery, then spectacle is a real part, too.

[end]

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Original page posted: October 18, 2004 • Last tweaked: April 27, 2009
 
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