RfS Part I, General Principles

PART I - GENERAL PRINCIPLES (for now, links are to original source) 1. Compatibility. The Society for Creative Anachronism studies pre-Seventeenth Century Western Culture. The period of the Society has been defined to extend until 1600 A. D. Its domain includes Europe and areas that had contact with Europe during this period. Usages documented to have occurred regularly prior to that date within that domain shall be automatically considered compatible unless they have been specifically declared incompatible by these rules, Laurel precedent, or a policy statement of the Board of Directors. Usages not so documented may be defined as compatible by these rules, Laurel precedent, or a policy statement of the Board of Directors. In all cases, the burden of proving compatibility shall lie on the individual making the submission or that individuals duly constituted representatives. >> a. Compatible Content - All submissions shall be period in content.

>> Each element of a submission shall be compatible with period usage. See Part II, Compatible Name Content, and Part VII, Compatible Armorial Content.

>> b. Compatible Style - All submissions shall be period in style.

>> All elements of a submission shall be used in a manner that is stylistically compatible with period usage. See Part III, Compatible Naming Style, and Part VIII, Compatible Armorial Style.

>> c. Documented Exceptions - A submission that is adequately documented as a period practice may be deemed acceptable even if it violates the stylistic requirements set forth in Parts III (Compatible Naming Style)orVIII ( Compatible Armorial Style) of these rules. 2. Offense. - No name or armory will be registered that may be offensive to a significant segment of the Society or the general population. No submission will be registered that is detrimental to the educational purposes or good name of the Society, or the enjoyment of its participants because of offense that may be caused, intentionally or unintentionally, by its use. See Part IV, Offensive Names, and Part IX, Offensive Armory. 3. Inappropriate Claims. - No name or armory will be registered which claims for the submitter powers, status, or relationships that do not exist. No submission will be registered that could confuse or offend members of the Society or the general population because it expresses or implies some claim that is not true. An explicit claim contains an overt statement of the claim in the submission; an implicit claim requires that its nature be inferred from the submission. A name and piece of armory may reinforce each other and appear to make a claim that is not perceived in either item by itself. If someone reasonably educated in period and modern history and culture would perceive a claim, that claim will be held to exist even if it is unintentional. >> a. Conflicting Claims - A name or piece of armory that creates a false impression of the identity of the submitter will not be registered.Someone may not claim to be another, either directly by using a name or armory that is identical to anothers, or by unmistakably claiming close relationship to an individual who is in fact unrelated. See Part V, Conflicting Names, and Part X, Conflicting Armory. >> >> b. Presumptuous Claims - A name or piece of armory which expresses or implies presumptuous claims to status or powers that the submitter does not possess will not be registered.No name or armory will be registered that could be considered presumptuous and thereby cause offense to a significant segment of the Society. See Part VI, Presumptuous Names, and Part XI, Presumptuous Armory.