tough times
It is interesting how adversity will bring out the best and the worst in us. The SCA lawsuit settlement is a done deal. I am certain that everyone involved (from the SCA) tried to do the absolute best thing for the SCA. The BoD members and officers involved that I know personally are amazing folks that care immensely about this thing of ours. I'm no expert on these things, but I've been paying close attention and if the very smart, caring people involved think this is the thing to do, I'm with them 100%.
It makes me proud that most people have stepped up and said, "where do I help?" A few, however, instantly took the situation as a reason to get on their personal soapbox and explain why if things had been done their way, we wouldn't have this problem. Not one of these people seems to realize that children were irrevocably harmed. Nothing any of us does will change that. Should their parents have sued? I don't know. I don't know how I would feel if it was my kid. Could our lawyers have handled the suit in a better way? I don't know. I'm not a lawyer. I hate the idea of not winning the suit - giving in and paying for something that none of us had anything to do with seems so unfair. But none of it changes what happened to the kids.
We've added some better precautions and we are all much more aware of the possibility that it could happen again. I am surprised that people do not seem to realize that, even though this is the only lawsuit I know if, it is NOT the only case of a child being harmed by an SCA member that I am aware of. I have been in a position to know more than I want to about those things. I do not know of any in AEthelmearc, and I think part of that is the child rules were established here long before they were adopted by the SCA as a whole. I also like to think that we're a pretty special kingdom, but this kind of thing can happen anywhere.
I think the only thing I can do, personally, is to be more aware. When kids are around, they will be following the kid rules or I will do something about it. I won't make any friends with the families that don't follow the rules, but we really can't afford to NOT follow them.
I'm glad the suit is over. It's been like a black cloud, hanging over everything. We will survive. Now we just have to not forget.
It makes me proud that most people have stepped up and said, "where do I help?" A few, however, instantly took the situation as a reason to get on their personal soapbox and explain why if things had been done their way, we wouldn't have this problem. Not one of these people seems to realize that children were irrevocably harmed. Nothing any of us does will change that. Should their parents have sued? I don't know. I don't know how I would feel if it was my kid. Could our lawyers have handled the suit in a better way? I don't know. I'm not a lawyer. I hate the idea of not winning the suit - giving in and paying for something that none of us had anything to do with seems so unfair. But none of it changes what happened to the kids.
We've added some better precautions and we are all much more aware of the possibility that it could happen again. I am surprised that people do not seem to realize that, even though this is the only lawsuit I know if, it is NOT the only case of a child being harmed by an SCA member that I am aware of. I have been in a position to know more than I want to about those things. I do not know of any in AEthelmearc, and I think part of that is the child rules were established here long before they were adopted by the SCA as a whole. I also like to think that we're a pretty special kingdom, but this kind of thing can happen anywhere.
I think the only thing I can do, personally, is to be more aware. When kids are around, they will be following the kid rules or I will do something about it. I won't make any friends with the families that don't follow the rules, but we really can't afford to NOT follow them.
I'm glad the suit is over. It's been like a black cloud, hanging over everything. We will survive. Now we just have to not forget.