femal members

[Gil-Galad]

a touchy subject but we need to know this soon. not trying to be sexist but belegarth is a game of honor based on the middle ages therefore there were no female fighters officially. i think it sould be restricted to only male members because it would not fel right hitting a girl

[duskinwolfs]

yeah but what if the girl could pwn you
food for thought

[Cib]

It is a touchy subject, ultimately it is your call. I haven't heard of any realms officially having that ruling before, but I know there are fighters who struggle with it. One of the biggest, meanest guys in Belegarth who can compete with the best of the best will lose consistently when fighting females, (regardless of skill to I think) because he just has trouble with it. You would never expect it from the way he acts.

[Moginheden]

Females are less likely to try Belegarth and less likely to come back I've found. But I don't see any reason to prohibit them. Airdrie has 1 consistent female member and I've never heard or felt anything about people being afraid to hit her. The female members that have come through the Calgary group didn't like to be hit and that was a reason to exclude them, but it wasn't a strike against the entire gender in my mind, just against those particular members.

Personally I say let anyone join, you won't have to worry about the female members because very few of them will stick around. Those that do are tough enough you can hit them full force.

Then again I'm not in your realm and if you want to limit them that's your call.

[Darr]

What is this big stew about not having females on the battlefield? Sure they weren't historically fighting in the Middles Ages, but that has nothing to do with this discussion. Belegarth includes both Middle Ages people AND Fantasy people - Fantasy includes a lot of female warriors. Besides, what makes you think females are not good warriors (weak and fragile)? I mean, if one of them came to you and really wanted to fight, would you take her for-granted as a stereotype sissy? If you did, then the trump would be hers, not yours.

Edit: Another thought occurred to me which is worth thinking about. Are you really in a position to be that picky? What if most of the people at Drumheller who want to fight are females? In that case, would you turn down the opportunity to have a big realm?

[optimus47708]

Ya i am going to have to agree. Some girls may like that stuff so if a girl shows interest in belegarth they should be allowed to join. Most wont try it though so ya. If they are constantly there they should be allowed to join. It is exactly the same type of subject like girls playing on boys teams if there is no girls team so ya they should be allowed to join

[Ezek]

I think girls are fine, the first practice they come you hit them a little lighter, then if they come back, it's fine. I don't mean like, tapping them, just no stepping into swings. If they come back, they're fair game.
Oh, and welcome to the boards Optimus. I'll let someone else explain what a "period name" is Wouldn't want to sound too self righteous.

[Gil-Galad]

it's not about them being fragile and weak or about them pwoning you it's about the idea of chivalry. i do not feel right hitting a girl regardless of how hard but if drumheller members don't care then females can join. i just wanted input from our members.

[duskinwolfs]

we should give the girls free will to choose if they want to play. my sister wants to try it if i make a mourning star.

[Gil-Galad]

if that is how the other members feel by all means they can join then

[Cib]

Guys fighting girls is something everyone should think through (girls to) and try to know what they think themselves before it happens. If the goal is avoidance of the issue it wont work. Even if it you have no girls on your field, there will probably be at least one female fighting at any given event.

For example, I personally not 100% comfortable with hitting a girl but I will in game, though possibly with a bit more restraint, but I do try and avoid grappling and aggressive shield work. (I am always trying to keep that tension there, I don't want to ever be to comfortable with beating a woman for any reason)

Even a chivalrous knight would have had to work through these same questions, and decide how to do deal with these issues. I always recommend thinking through them before you encounter them.

[duskinwolfs]

Yeah I guess you are right cib. By the way when are you in drum next cause I would Luke to meet you and show you my armoury that I fixed up tonight. You could mabey give me a few pointers. And if Gil has time he could come to.

[Darr]

Good points Cib. Personally, I think that we should all keep one word in mind: consent. The other week, when we were having our practice, two police officers came by and wanted to join in a game or two. Now, normally you wouldn't dream of hitting a police officer. But, they wanted to join in the game so we let them. Most of us even hit them. It was okay because they had consented to the rules of the game. It was kinda funny though because as soon as they were done and on their bikes they asked us kindly to not hit them anymore -- they were police officers again. I think that we should think of females in the same way. On the field they have consented to have the normal protocol dropped -- just like the police officers. So, hitting them on the field shouldn't give anybody qualms. However, everyone should be aware that, normally, hitting women is not good, not good at all.

[duskinwolfs]

so whats the verdict going to be? girls alound? or not alllowed?

[optimus47708]

Allowed