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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's the difference between doing something because
you love it or for other reasons that are seen as noble, or for doing it to the
intense level often needed to win the recognition for it, but then, because
you've got the recognition and continued efforts are less obviously rewarded,
doing less of what you were recognized for.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The merit badge thing is that you're rewarded for
each step, keeping those who are motivated by obvious public recognition and
status doing more aspects just to receive the awards. You rack up awards
like merit badges on a sash (especially since we can wear ours too), not because
you're just interested in everything, but because you need that
feedback.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Also, awards substitute for knowledge of
someone. So ultimately, someone could be a better historical martial
artist than I am, but because I wear a WS, I'll get attention from students that
he just won't get until they really know him and many people never go past
that. You might even say that since we both have 24 hours in a day, that
if he took the time I took pursuing other things necessary to be
recognized while he concentrated on perfecting his art, that he's *likely* to be
a better martial artist than I am, but won't be recognized because he's
one dimensional. People don't generally use their time ideally, but
for those who really are maximizing their effort, this would be a pitfall of our
system. It's too easy to read the shorthand and not take the time to learn
who is really about what.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's a tough line to walk, because I know I'm drawn
to recognition, but I'm also drawn to doing the job embodied by some
awards.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have a WSA, but I hope to always work towards
being a Don.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hawkins</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>P.S. I like chocolate chips ;
)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jeanpauldesens@gmail.com href="mailto:jeanpauldesens@gmail.com">Jean
Paul de Sens</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=ansteorra@Ansteorra.ORG
href="mailto:ansteorra@Ansteorra.ORG">Ansteorra List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 21, 2006 8:22 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Ansteorra] Cookies and merit
badges</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Due to the long drive home this afternoon, Gilyan and I landed
upon the subject of "cookies and merit badges" and wondered at the negative
connotation associated with such things. So we're
wondering:<BR><BR>What's wrong with merit badges? What about the system
is offensive and/or wrong? <BR><BR>Jean Paul<BR><BR>P.S., please try to
keep the "I like chocolate chip" responses to a minimum as I'm genuinely
curious about this question.<BR><BR>
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