SC - Generic, No-Frills SCA-Cooks' universal rant

[browns at mail.intplsrv.net]

I agree with the following message and I'm a newcomer to this list.  
I have no idea what has already been covered, but since joining, I've 
been following the coffee, clay versus dutch oven, chicken (?), 
virtual stew, etc. discussions, holding my just operated on stomach 
to keep from hurting while giggling and thoroughly enjoying reading 
the messages.  

If I need period cooking info, this will be first place I turn to for 
information and I will expect some serious answers and accept silly 
ones too.  If we can't enjoy (That mean occasionally laugh at 
ourselves and joke and pick a bone with things we sometimes disagree 
with, gently) even this small part of the dream, we don't need to be 
here.  And, I hope I don't offend someone with that statement.

HL Hellen Bales MacQueene

> Date:          Mon, 05 Jan 1998 00:28:38 -0400
> From:          Philip & Susan Troy <troy at asan.com>
> To:            SCACOOKS <SCA-Cooks at Ansteorra.ORG>
> Subject:       SC - Generic, No-Frills SCA-Cooks' universal rant
> Reply-to:      sca-cooks at Ansteorra.ORG

> Unto the noble readers of this list, from Gideanus Tacitus Adamantius,
> Greetings!
> 
> I've been noticing some rather disturbing trends developing on this
> list, and it may be that getting them on the digest version provides for
> a slightly different social dynamic. In any case, I will presume
> mightily on the friendship and indulgence of the list readers with a
> rant that probably lacks originality, but the time to say some of this
> stuff again seems to have rolled around again. My apologies in advance
> to all who feel this is old hat.
> 
> First of all, we probably should all take a deep breath and count to
> ten, or a hundred, or whatever it takes, before responding angrily to a
> post that we are absolutely sure was intended as a deliberate, personal
> affront, and an insult we can't allow to pass. Type is a really hard
> medium to express emotion in, and sometimes it's easy to misread a
> person's emotional intent. If you really do feel insulted, or even just
> bothered, by something someone else has said, the chances are extremely
> slim that the offending party intended to offend. He or she is more
> likely completely unaware of the problem. Surely that should buy a
> little understanding and forbearance on the part of the offendee, who,
> perceiving a slight of some kind, wants to fire a return shot as soon as
> possible.
> 
> If I may be forgiven for offering a hard-earned platitude, I've found
> that when someone says something to offend you, simply ask if the person
> intended to be offensive, in as emotionless a tone as possible. "Was
> that brick intended for me, or did your hand slip?" Even if the hand
> didn't slip, and the brick landed right where it was aimed at, like in
> your eye, frequently the thrower of the brick will have realized that it
> was wrong to throw it. He or she will often apologize, satisfying honor
> and saving precious time that would otherwise be devoted to arguing
> about whose fault everything is. In any case, you are likely to receive
> an apology from the courteous nobles on this list, either if the act or
> statement was intentionally hostile, or if it wasn't. If the person had
> every intent of being insulting (something I've never really run across
> in thirteen years in the SCA), then you and that person can take it
> outside, and I'll hold your coats.
> 
> Partially, but not entirely, related is the lack of patience for some of
> our newer members who seem to be interested in rehashing old territory.
> Remember there are many readers who weren't around for the discussion
> on, say, cuskynoles (choosing a topic completely at random, y'unnerstan
> ;  )  ). Maybe a patient nudge in the direction of the Florilegium (and
> Lord Stefan probably thinks we don't love him enough, but we do we do we
> do appreciate him) would be more productive than the simple statement
> that we already went over this. I know I've done this myself, and I
> don't think I'm the only one, but we all have our moments of weakness.
> We just need to work on this a bit, is all.
> 
> Oh, and one more thing, to be taken exactly for what it's worth, simply
> my own pet peeve at the moment. It is not cool to completely ingore a
> question someone has asked, and then respond only when someone else has
> supplied an answer you disagree with. If you are such an authority on
> Halal slaughtering techniques for the lesser crested bullfinch in
> 12th-century Persia, and you have the time to get involved in the first
> place, for Heaven's sake answer the question. Don't pick nits off
> someone else's response. Otherwise you come across as someone who would
> rather criticize than supply information. There being relatively few
> East Kingdom Laurels on this list, and as we all know, criticizing
> rather than supplying useful information cheerfully is the exclusive
> prerogative of the Laurels of the East, I respectfully submit that it is
> inappropriate behavior.
> 
> There now. You see? I went and did it. If that didn't insult someone,
> nothing will.
> 
> I wish to apologize for the crass remarks made in the previous paragraph
> but one. It was rude and insensitive to insult East Kingdom Laurels in
> the way I did. Please understand I was only trying to make a point, and
> didn't intend to offend, and besides I've been under a  lot of stress
> lately, what with my car being eaten by wolves, and that infestation of
> Indian elephants in my attic. Oh, and did I mention the alien abduction?
> I had him locked in the closet for three weeks... .
> 
> Thanks for listening. We now return control of your television set.
> 
> Adamantius
> troy at asan.com
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