Where do you belong?

The internet is a fabulous way to connect with people who share similar interests.  It is especially great for those involved in any level of reenacting because it brings an instant way to share your items and to get feedback.  What people often fail to understand, however, is that not every online forum or group will cater to ones specific needs and desires.  And, honestly, they shouldn't.  The various Viking groups on Facebook are a perfect example of that idea.  I personally belong to three different groups and all have very different focuses and cater to specific crowds.  I firmly believe that there is never a need for someone to be cruel to a newcomer or someone with a difference of opinion, it is also wrong for someone to expect that a group dedicated to a deep level of authenticity to give warm fuzzies to someone's fantasy kit. 

The three groups in question are below, along with descriptions of each and my thoughts.  Hopefully this post can help people find the right group "home" for them and also have a better understanding of the dynamics of each of these internet cultures.  (Not that you can link directly to each group via the image.)

The Vikings of the SCA Group is a group that is geared towards offering a fun and educational environment for members of the SCA who are exploring Viking personas.  People post photos of garb, ask questions, link to relevant articles and often even share funny or fantasy Viking images or memes.  It is a very laid-back place to kind of get a feel for what other Vikings withing the Society are doing.

The Viking Clothing (SCA-style) forum is acutually a spin-off of the Viking Clothing group listed below.  This group has a goal of helping people to improve their Viking kit while acknowledging that the SCA does not require a specific level of authenticity.  It is a great place for newcomers to Viking dress to post their images and get feedback (if you ask for it) about how to improve your garments.  There are lots of "warm fuzzies" to be found here, and plenty of encouragement and advice for those who ask for it.

The Viking Clothing group is my favorite of the three because its purpose is to discuss how best to accurately portray Viking garments.  The conversations can be complex and often members will quote archeological sources, academics and museums.  While there are quite a few members of the SCA on this forum, it is NOT an SCA-focused group.  Indeed, it actually caters predominantly to the European reenacting crowd and their high standards regarding what is acceptable or even plausible.  If you post a photo of your kit here, you should expect helpful advice whether you ask for it or not.  The vast majority of the group's members are very kind, but one must understand that for many of them, English is not the first language and things can sometimes sound harsh when there was no such intent.

Discussions can involve intricate details and often it moves beyond the concept of a generic Viking costume to trying to place a garment into a specific time and place in the Viking world.  Weave structures are discussed, proper dyes and mordants for the period, appropriate use of imported goods and other wonderful, detailed topics that invite others to share their experiences and research and to expand what they already know by listening to others.

If you are new to Viking Clothing, I recommend highly that you just spend some time browsing the posts and files here.  This group can be a very inspiring site and it is full of great advice.  And please understand that if you post your work, you will get feedback.  It may not be the praise you would get on another forum, but if you keep in mind that this group is dedicated to the pursuit of authenticity you can learn a great deal from its members and really start taking your garb to the next level.

The official group message is below:

One final note:  Remember to respect others and have fun.