odd things to ponder

Okay, so at the big discworld con, for the last couple of times, there've been Guilds. Which you didn't have to join, some (like the Assassins) were over-subscribed, some were under-subscribed (Priests), some people had minimal involvement, some had loads, some don't work and get retired (Lawyers), some do to an extent but get changed (Thieves), some do and set their own rules (Seamstresses).

But my god they're fun. To the point that you see people get so involved in Guild activities that they can't be arsed to go to the panels because the Alchemists have been filming silent films in collaboration with the Seamstresses and they're charging people to see it. Or the Conjurers have just managed to do the Feegle trick on five people in a row. Or the gossip about the latest Guild Head Assassination is just too bloody fascinating and you need updates *now*. It's street theatre at its best.

However, each time, the Guilds have to commit to organising an activity for the kids (large child population at these things due to it being a family event - and yes, we have seen that thing where a ten-year-old dragged his entire family to the con).

The Seamstresses have to tone theirs down a bit. It took some head-scratching and some innovative thinking by the Evil Genius that is one of the underage Guild members last time to come up with one - she decided on hunt the needle. However, thought struck me, it'd probably never get used... but given the nature of the Guild, and all the connotations about it - would it be so bad to teach minor self-defence skills? And make it fun? (yes, I'm partially cribbing from that bit in Miss Congeniality where she does that as her talent)