The Nature of Change and Cynicism

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3 total messages Started by John Schmidt Wed, 27 Jan 1993 00:19

#6086

Author: John Schmidt
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 00:19

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There is a natural growth of all organizations, and all participants
within organizations, from innocence to knowledge to cynicism in the
modern sense.  At the best of times, one can capture the knowledge
yet remain innocent, and approach new subjects with joy.

Rec.org.sca as a newsgroup has recently become as contentious as other
good newsgroups, and is losing the polite edge as well.  Now innocents
do not post here, nor organize parties at events, or propose badges;
they receive too much negative feedback, and have as a behaviour example
various argumentative types.

I have learned of many good things here, and improved some friendships
as well.  But the time has come to go autocrat narrow focus events,
and interpret the way of the Axe (thanks Steve), and return to the joy
in the SCA that I have found--which is mainly in the medieval romantism
from modernity, that is, that knights can be shining, maidens like
being rescued and Camelot did exist.  And that there is a place to play
the faithful english soldier at Agincourt, or what have you, for a 
few moments.

My final comment (the only excuse for this post) is that the Rialto
went from the second stage to the third somewhere when people argued
that we are more a debate or an academic squabble than a meeting, for
it was when people were more personal, and thought of the consequences
as if all was said face to face, that this newsgroup was more polite,
overall.

Cheers, and may you enjoy your tenures here.

Good bye.

John Schmidt/ Sir John Theophilous

Re: The Nature of Change and Cynicism

#6145

Author: Craig Levin
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 05:11

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Greetings, fellow Rialtans. 

	The good knight Sir John Theophilous has said that the Rialto
has undergone a change that he sees for the worst. Insofar as I can
tell, he thinks that we have left the self-image of the campfire
meeting or post-revel circle for an academic debate, from friendly
discussion to fractious argument.

	I hope that he's wrong. I like the atmosphere of the Rialto
for its relaxed and free attitude. 
--
"If we do it three times, in the SCA, that makes it a tradition." 
Did I -miss- something there?  
                                              -Ioseph of Locksley 
 
Craig Levin/Pedro de Alcazar, Illiton, MKdm moonman@camelot.bradley.edu

Re: The Nature of Change and Cynicism

#6259

Author: Josh Mittleman
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 22:06

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Greetings from Arval!  Sir John wrote:

> There is a natural growth of all organizations, and all participants
> within organizations, from innocence to knowledge to cynicism in the
> modern sense.  At the best of times, one can capture the knowledge yet
> remain innocent, and approach new subjects with joy.  Rec.org.sca as a
> newsgroup has recently become as contentious as other good newsgroups,
> and is losing the polite edge as well. ...the Rialto went from the second
> stage to the third somewhere when people argued that we are more a debate
> or an academic squabble than a meeting...

I think, Sir John, you may have misread the changes.  I think that the only
real change in the Rialto over the years it has existed is that it has
become larger and more public.  The wider we cast our net, the greater the
variety of fish we catch.  One-in-a-thousand has little noticeable effect
when the population is in the hundreds, but the nature of netnews is that
one-in-a-thousand stands out prominently among thousands.

Most approach these discussions in the same spirit as always: friendly,
polite, informative, and without taking themselves more seriously than
necessary.  It is not at all surprising that there are some exceptions.
Some people will be offensive, others will be offended.  And some, in good
faith, will find that this medium is not to their liking.  However, before
you leave us, Good Sir John (who deserves that epithet more than most I can
call to mind), I recommend to you the judicious use of KILL files and the
"n" key; they can to wonders for your blood-pressure.

===========================================================================
Arval Benicoeur                                       mittle@watson.ibm.com

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