SC - Lady Seaton's Project

[Alderton, Philippa]

For all that I enjoy teasing Cariadoc, in many matters he's absolutely
correct.

In the thread regarding cousin Phillipa's modification of period recipes,
you cannot change a period recipe to suit yourself and then pretend it's a
period recipe, and there are enough recipes out there that for the average
person who has one or two allergies or food problems, the most sensible
thing to do is to find recipes which lack that, or those, ingredients. In
Phillipa's case, she has a rather extreme series of food issues to deal
with, and I think Cariadoc missed part of the thread explaining that, or
Phillipa posted the fact later, that she was trying to approach the matter
from both ends, and not calling her modifications period- thus the
controversy.

In the case we're discussing with the lady with the severe fish allergy,
Cariadoc said:

>Are you arguing that it is proper for one person to dictate what
>everyone else can eat on the basis of her allergies--as in the
>example discussed? I would have said that that level of
>inconsiderateness--or attempted display of power, since the lady in
>question held a high office at the time--makes the Society less fun
>for everyone else.

This is the issue that we're dealing with. I have no doubt that Her Grace
has a serious allergy which needs to be addressed. Where Cariadoc and I, and
others, have issue with her is that she has a habit of using her "power"
inappropriately and dramaticly to reinforce her self-esteem. She did not
need to have the gentle's grill thrown in the lake. She does not need to
arrive at a feast, telling all and sundry that The Menu Has Benn Changed
Because I Am Here. If she has such a severe allergy, she needs to stay away
from incidences of contact, not require everyone else to change their plans
for her convenience. We're dealing with a courtesy issue here, not an
allergy issue.

Now, although I have no life-threatening allergies myself, as a Chirurgeon,
I have a strong awareness of allergy issues- I'm not going to slip someone
an allergen "because they're just faking". I don't like dealing with
anaphalactic shock- it gives me a rash ;-) On the other hand, as a human
being, I'm not particularly interested in dealing with the Madame Sarahs who
may have a problem, and put it on more than they need to, just to seek
attention.

We're out here to have fun, folks, and each of us has a right to enjoy
ourself. But when my fun ruins everyone else's, it's time for me to find
another venue of enjoyment- or do you really WANT me to set fire to your
tent because I enjoy watching tent fires?

Phlip

Nolo disputare, volo somniare et contendere, et iterum somniare.

phlip at morganco.net

Philippa Farrour
Caer Frig
Southeastern Ohio

"All things are poisons.  It is simply the dose that distinguishes between a
poison and a remedy." -Paracelsus

"Oats -- a grain which in England sustains the horses, and in
Scotland, the men." -- Johnson

"It was pleasant to me to find that 'oats,' the 'food of horses,' were
so much used as the food of the people in Johnson's own town." --
Boswell

"And where will you find such horses, and such men?" -- Anonymous