I rarely post on them, but I do read a number of SCA mailing lists once in a while. Sometimes I just have to shake my head at what I read.

For example, there's this one guy who's made no secret about the fact that he wants to be a Laurel (indeed, he's waxed eloquent upon how there's nothing wrong in saying that he wants to be a Peer). Recently, he's been bragging about how he slammed Duke Cariadoc (a well-respected long-time SCA Laurel) and cast aspersions upon the West Kingdom Laurelate.

Not bright. So many people in the SCA — well, at least in Trimaris — seem to have the misconception that it's just skill at fighting or the arts, or sheer number of events autocratted, that counts towards a Peerage. And then they go out and act like absolute jerks, apparently unaware that there are other requirements in Society law, such as "They shall have set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the realm."

I can't speak for the Knights or the Pelicans, but the Laurels do pay attention to that sort of thing — sometimes too much, as in "He was rude to me seventeen years ago, and he still hasn't apologized!" So going around bragging about being rude — to a venerable Laurel, no less — is hardly the way to assure oneself a place amongst the Order.

Of course, there are some people who have been elevated to Peerages without having been exemplary in courtesy and nobility, and some Peers who feel they no longer need to act thus, but that's a whole different can of worms.