[Ansteorra] Wanting Awards & Persona

[Jean Paul de Sens]

Wow.  That was a very effective and concise summary of our culture Robert,
and the effect of conditioning via stories.   We do seem (in general) to be
the "no I don't want it/(but secretly yes I do)" in modern society.

Otoh, red belts, scarfs, yellow, and green belts are all a blatant statement
of "I would like to be X someday", but it doesn't bother us...

how come?

JP




On 9/28/06, Robert Fitzmorgan <fitzmorgan at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> --snippage--



   Our culture views it as somehow disreputable to openly seek awards,
> recognition and praise, but at the same time we find it difficult to
> believe
> that someone really isn't interested in those things.
>     In fiction one of the surest ways to make your character unsympathetic
> to the reader is to have him actively seek a position that offers great
> rewards or fame.  If you want to put your character in such a position
> while
> keeping him sympathetic to the reader he must have the position thrust
> upon
> him through no action of his own.  If he tries to refuse the honour he
> will
> actually gain sympathy with the reader.  This is one of the most common
> tools of the storyteller, so much so that we hardly even notice it
> anymore.
> So when someone says that they don't want an award we are conditioned to
> regard it as so much polite but essentially meaningless noise.
>      The issue of wanting a peerage is related.  The bar for a peerage has
> been set fairly high.  There are a few people who just trip over it
> without
> really trying but most have to make a real effort to jump it.  But if you
> say that you want to be a peer, there are some who will take that as
> evidence that you shouldn't be one.  And you definitely better not say you
> think you should be a peer.  So you have this silly little game of
> striving
> for a peerage while trying not to look like you are striving for a
> peerage.
>
>     In many cultures of our period boasting and trumpeting your abilities
> and achievements was not only acceptable but expected.  In 21st century
> America it is considered unseemly.  As Ansteorrans we we admire big, bold,
> larger than life characters, striving to cover themselves with honour and
> glory.  If they do it really, really well they might be made a Lion.  As
> 21st century Americans we are a little uncomfortable with this kind of
> display.  If someone strives for this larger than life persona and doesn't
> quite hit the right note they might be regarded as an arrogant blowhard.
>
>
> Robert
>
>
>
> --
> "If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been
> much
> of a day."     John A. Wheeler
>
>
-- 
I want to fight and to strive, to vie with my opponents and friends, and at
the end of the day cry out "ENOUGH!!! For I can lift my arms no longer"

That is what is good in life.