What are "Peer-like" Qualities?

by Odierne Lion

If you’re active in the SCA, eventually you’ll run across the term “peer-like qualities”.  If you ask what that means, many people will hem and haw and say something like “you’ll know it when you see it” or “it’s what makes a person a peer”.  Unfortunately, those phrases are often less than helpful.  To me, a person who has “peer-like qualities” possesses all the virtues of chivalry to the degree expected of a member of the peerage.  You can possess peer-like qualities without being a peer.  You can also be a peer without possessing peer-like qualities.  But again, what are they?  Many sources have lists of differing lengths with different qualities.  Here is a list I like to use.  The list, definitions, and examples were gathered during reading, philosophy discussions, listening to other people, and just putting things together for myself.  If you like my ideas, feel free to use them.  If you don’t, feel free to come up with your own.

Prowess:  Work to improve your craft to make your local group, Kingdom, and friends look good. Do it because you like what you’re doing, think it’s fun, and think other people would have fun doing it too.

Largess (generosity):  To display this quality, you can give of your time to help others.   Give stuff to the Crown so they may give largess and be seen as generous.  Give others the benefit of the doubt until they've proven they're not worthy of your good will.  You can learn, even from beginners, and in learning, teach.

Loyalty:  Kindly let your friends know they are about to make a serious social mistake.  Help them out, even though you must go out of your way to do so.  Stand by them so they will feel supported--even when they are taking the consequences of their actions.

Courtoisie (courtliness):  You can show others how to be courtly (the manners and deportment of a courtier), and in doing so get better at it yourself.  By using soft words, help others calm down so they can think things through and not make social gaffs.  Learn about protocol so you may teach others and ease their passage from being newcomers and uncertain about what to do and how to behave to being active, productive members.  You can be courteous, even when others are being discourteous, thereby helping others become better people.  Try to convince people rather than coercing them; build people up rather than dragging them down; and try to understand them and their reasons rather than becoming defensive.

Franchise:  You can show nobility and respect for others by the way you treat them, the way you act, and the way you dress.  Your actions can bring acclaim for your friends, local group, and Kingdom.

Since these are ideals, nobody will be a perfect exemplar of all of these virtues.  The trick is to keep improving and become better than you were.  You may never become a peer, but you will become a valued member of society—both in the SCA and in modern life.

For more information, see the library at www.chronique.com