[Ansteorra] Re: Psychos and other Ogres

[Beth Ellis]

>
> "Playing the victim" is definitely a favorite tactic
> of troublemakers.  It's amazing what kind of sympathy
> can be generated when someone whines about being
> persecuted.  It draws people - especially newcomers -
> into instant "us vs. them" dramas.

What a great observation.  I find it too mentally exhausting to try and 
figure out all (or even some) of the reasons why people like to stir up this 
type of trouble.  All I know is that in all the many years I've been in the 
SCA, the folks that seem to cause the most disruption do it for one main 
reason - they take an unequivocal, black and white, "if you are not for me, 
then you must be against me" stance.  Usually it is a person who is trying 
to secure a place of recognized authority/control in a group, or they just 
want to manipulate people (in the latter case, playing the victim is often 
the means of securing their goal). Often they are insecure, are desperate to 
garner some public respect, and think the SCA is the place to get it since 
it hasn't worked for them in the real world. They seem to have a problem 
gaging the level to which the victim has disagreed with them (or caught them 
out on something), and so any disagreement - no matter how inconsequential 
it may actually be -  is viewed as completely unacceptable, thereby creating 
the "for or against" mindset.

There's not much you can do with these people, other than to hope that 
eventually most people will see through them (and they usually do). It can 
be a real rollercoaster ride until that happens though.  Frankly, I've 
gotten so tired of that sort of thing I just walk away and do my best to 
keep people like that from intruding on my life.  I've got better things to 
do.

Corrinne