period police (SCA)

I have a real problem with period police.
It might be appropriate (it IS appropriate) behaviour in a judging area...
it's less so in public spaces.

more specifically - if you're going to tear a strip in someone (possibly destroying the last bit of self image they had) - at least pick something that CAN be proven to be out of period. Also - offer some assistance.
After 10 years of studying flute, another few of barely playing - just as I was the most depressed I was ripped apart by period police for playing an out of period instrument.
I was also told that all the study I did was empty and useless.

that's what drove me out of Lion's Gate.

I miss liking my flute.
I miss it a lot.
and now I find out that - that particular form of the instrument is out of period, the basic design is in period.
I also finally start learning theory thanks to dracosdan

mind you, just as I picked up the flute again - I found myself unable to play with a band as all of their instruments were tuned to a chronically out-of-tune instrument and I couldn't adjust the flute far enough to be in tune with them.

so now I play fiddle - which can be tuned to anything. I don't care about the weight of my own history as I only had a year of lessons when I was 6 years old - 6 months of fiddle and 6 months of classical violin - and nothing since. I've been playing the fiddle since sept/2004 but discovered I liked the thing at a party at the Treehouse in Feb/2004. I play my dad's fiddle.
Violins as we know them are 17th-18th century but the 15th century ones (King Henry VIII's court amongst other places) aren't that radically different in appearance. Nonetheless I'll be making a rebec as learning to play one at the bardic competition last fall was a blast.
and you play a rebec the same way you play a fiddle. Which is to say : any way that feels comfortable.

someday when I've got a little more self esteem again I'll probably put my hand into studying the classical violin.
but I still miss enjoying playing flute. a lot.