[MR] Two Lists or not Two lists

[Denise V. McMahon]

Gene Bonar wrote:
> 
> > I am highly NOT in favor of splitting the list!
> 
> I agree with Sveva.
> 
> For those of you who were not here 5 years ago the Merry Rose was a much
> more rauchous list then.

And I for one miss that aspect.
> 
> Then joking and chatter got waaay out of hand just before an event ( Emerald
> Joust I think) and it finally was decided that an "all fun list" would be
> created to move the "fun" people off the MR and leave it for the more
> "serious and appropriate" stuff.
> 
> Well the fun list (the Red Dragon I think) lasted about 1 month.  The fact
> is that most people like a mixture.

The Red Dragon did not last about 1 month. I would check with Kevin of
Thornbury for it's current duration. Although I am not currently subscribed,
I believe it is still up and running.

And yes, I also think it's important to retain a good mixture of both 
the serious and the not serious on a list. Can we all remember that this 
beloved organization of ours was spawned from someone's backyard party? 

There is this lovely exercise that one has the right to indulge in as
often as one needs to- it doesn't take much time and it certainly can
be beneficial to ones health. It's called Hitting The Delete Key.

The SCA and Fair Atlantia is for everyone- the scholarly, the stick
jocks, the partiers, the intensely authentic, the barely able to keep
one's pants up, the punsters, the lurking, the quiet ones and the loud
ones- everyone. If we start pretending that no one laughs in the SCA
we have taken serious leave of our senses. Life is too short and most of
us have way too much fun getting dressed up on weekends and indulging
in our imaginations.

Laughter is healthy. Jokes are enjoyable and lower your blood pressure.
Scholarly pursuit can also be joyous. I love the SCA because when you're
busy running a land development company it's a balm to my soul to know
that back home is a half finished gown that I finally got the sleeves
beaded on right. What I do on weekends has often saved many a surveyor
from becoming a casuality of the project. Believe me, being part of the
SCA has greatly improved my sense of humor! :)

We all know that for many of us *this* is much more than just what we
do for fun. For some of us it sustains our quality of life. I think it
is essential that we keep in mind that the list is not just for one person
or one set of views. If we can have lively debate without flame wars, we can
also try to lighten up a bit and move away from the nervous tones of the
"Do we need to split this list?" 

I agree with Eógan mac Ailpein - When would the splintering off of lists
stop? 
How many lists do we really need? It's very true that diversity keeps us
from 
stagnating. Maybe we can try enjoying the diversity instead of being
annoyed by it?

I vote for one list- this one, with all of it's surprises whenever I download
my email.  

-- Rowan Berran McDowell

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To love someone deeply gives you strength.
Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.    
- Lao Tzu