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SCA: badly-behaving peers
A question has come up among some SCA folks, and I'm interested in hearing a broader perspective. Particularly because I've been a peer for a while and have become less active in recent years, it's possible I'm a bit out of touch.
Non-peers: to what extent do you look up to peers (define "look up" however you like)? Are you negatively affected (again, define how you like) if a peer does something bad?
Peers and non-peers: if a peer does something bad, is that significantly worse to you than if a non-peer did it? To what extent does the behavior of an individual peer reflect on his order or on the peerage in general? Does the answer vary based on what the peer did?
I'll post my own thoughts later; I want to hear others' first.
Clarification: "bad" = "behaves badly", not "produces substandard work". Sorry I didn't make that more clear.
Non-peers: to what extent do you look up to peers (define "look up" however you like)? Are you negatively affected (again, define how you like) if a peer does something bad?
Peers and non-peers: if a peer does something bad, is that significantly worse to you than if a non-peer did it? To what extent does the behavior of an individual peer reflect on his order or on the peerage in general? Does the answer vary based on what the peer did?
I'll post my own thoughts later; I want to hear others' first.
Clarification: "bad" = "behaves badly", not "produces substandard work". Sorry I didn't make that more clear.
A non-peer's view
I've been an apprentice for about 20 years, and I've been paying attention.
To what extent do you look up to peers (define "look up" however you like)? Are you negatively affected (again, define how you like) if a peer does something bad?
If I know somebody, the peerage -- or lack thereof -- doesn't color my opinion of them so much. Mistress Rosanore is Rosanore. Lord Colin is Colin. She attends Laurel meetings. He fights in armor. (Either of these committments might keep them from Northshield Choir rehearsals...) The peerage is just another aspect of the person.
If I don't know somebody, their peerage is kind of like a letter of introduction from the body of peers of their kingdom. (A court baronage is like a letter of introduction from their Crown.) I look up to them because of their companionship in any order in the same measure I respect that order.
If a peer does something really bad (and yes, I read the AEthelmearc e-list), that affects me in the same way that, mundanely, a war hero doing something underhanded does; it embarrasses me because it casts doubt on the ability of the peerage order / military awards committee to recognize people of merit.
If a peer does something bad, is that significantly worse to you than if a non-peer did it?
Only if they're unapologetic. Everybody makes mistakes. Fighters lose their cool. People get snarky. But peers ought to have the virtue of humility, allowing them to see their errors cleanly, and courage, driving them to better themselves no matter how ashamed it might make them feel.