With apologies to Sick Boy, Irvine Welsh, and Danny Boyle.

While I’ve other things running through my head right now, and several half-written posts, this has been on my mind as of late. I hear so many stories of Peers acting like, well, dicks. (The polite – and vague – version, of course, being ‘Unpeerlike’.) There’s a reason that Peers can get a bad rap, and honestly if they’re doing dickish things then by all means, call them out.

But along with this, I’ve found myself for awhile now thinking of basic rules for Peers. For a set of general principles that can be used to guide and at least start with the basics of how not to be one of those Peers. Now, no one’s perfect. We’re fucking human (like it or not), and there may be stumbles along the way. But I think that so long as you learn from them, try not to make those mistakes again, and genuinely apologize… you’re on the path to being better. Of course, actions speak louder than words and all that.. so try not to be okay in the first place. And remember, just because you’re a Peer, you don’t need to have an opinion on everything, or it’s suddenly a get out of jail free card. It’s alright if you’re quiet, you think, and you can totally say ‘I don’t know’ or “I’m sorry, I fucked up.’

So, with that out of the way, what is this theory? It’s three things, that you can adapt and work on to try and be a well rounded Peer.

1) Don’t let the bumps of your own Peerage path carry over once you’re elevated

First off, you may say ‘this doesn’t apply to me! I was totally okay and never frustrated/angry/disheartened/whatever’.

To that, I say Bullshit. Now, my own path was at times, very bitter and frustrating. My Laurel and I (and other Laurels and Peers I love, respect, and trust… including my husband) listened to me rant, and to be just generally really over it all. My bitterness may not be everyone’s bitterness, but I think that everyone on the path has had bumps and hurdles and periods where they’re just kind of over everything. And let’s not even get into the interpersonal relationships and the fact that people simply may not get along, have grudges, or whatever else.

This also isn’t to say ‘You’re now a Peer and so you’re totally perfect’. But what should happen is that you realize your path was your own, and let your own path guide you forward. Try to be better – if you were frustrated with how long it took to be elevated, or some other aspect of the path, that doesn’t mean that you need have others meet those criteria. ‘Well, I went through this so everyone else should, so they don’t have it easier.’

You also should realize that not everyone’s path is the same as yours. People may be great at research or teaching, and you may be great at construction and extrapolating theory. Your subject may be much more obscure than someone else’s. What happened to you and how you handled it doesn’t need to be how everyone else does… and you should acknowledge and try to at least get that it’s a thing.

2) Talk to people outside your own kingdom

More broadly – try to talk to those outside your normal circle. Be it local group or kingdom as a whole. You will benefit, as will others.

Though it’s very easy to be insular, and some Kingdoms are much more than others, remember that the SCA is not a personal thing. Your region is not the only one and remember that a Peerage is a Society-widge award. I’m a Laurel in Atenveldt and if I go to Drachenwald or Lochac or East, I’m still a Laurel. But all those places are different than my home kingdom, with different cultures and different people and so much else that’s different… so talking with them means that I can expand my knowledge. I can learn about things outside my area, what trends may be happening, and generally continuing the cycle of ‘The SCA is a worldwide organization’.

Plus, speaking to those outside your group can help to give you a perspective on your own area.

3) Have a hobby outside the SCA.

This one may seem both obvious and not. But it’s also something I very firmly believe will help a new Peer to not be a dick.

The Society for Creative Anachronism cannot be your only hobby.

This is a very broad, and those other hobbies can certainly complement your SCA life and include friends who are also SCA friends. Indeed, awesome if it is! The hobby can be as simple as cooking, or as complex as another, much later period and more strict, reenactment group. But I think that having other social activities, another outlet, is going to help to temper the desire to exert your Peerage and the (perceived or real, depending on a number of factors) powers that come with it.

Also, it’s going to help you with balance, so that you’re got other things to focus your mind on. If the SCA is your only hobby, I think that one is more inclined to try and have every little bit of control that one can there. You’re the big fish in a small pond, and you’d like to stay like that. It’s easy to get caught up in the power and award and acclaim.

All these aren’t to say you shouldn’t celebrate your Peerage, or be proud of yourself for it. You should! It’s an accomplishment and the fact that you earned it is great. You’re just starting on a path of complete madness (in the best way). But your risk of burnout and just being ‘done’ also is still there, so having something to temper it and give you perspective is good.

The SCA can very closely align with the world outside it, but they’re not the same. Having some separation is good, because doing so means that you’re going to have a better experience in both. They’ll complement, not compete.

And finally, Sick Boy’s Unifying Theory Of Life – if you’re unfamilair with Trainspotting.