[MR] Names and stuff (fwd)

[Tatsushu .]

>Actually it is about recruitment that I worry though.
>Would you like to move a kingdom and have everybody
>"correct" you with "proper" terminology as you walk in
>the door?  This is what gets encouraged and has
>already been mentioned.

As long as I am corrected as I walk through the door and have a way of 
knowing things beforehand.  Would I like to be called 'stuffy' and a 'Nazi' 
because I like to do research?  Or how about people who correct those who 
wear red belts without being squires?  Or those who pick at buttons claiming 
they aren't period (? yes, I've seen it happen--proves that you don't have 
to actually know what is and is not Period to snark)?

There is a level of rudeness that is rudeness no matter who people are 
talking to or about.  I'm sure that we are all guilty of being tactless at 
times, but then there is outright rudeness, snarking, etc.

But to say that use and propogation of more period terms is going to 
increase this trend is unfounded as far as I can tell.  I don't know about 
others on this topic but I am not suggesting we make an 'Atlantian 
dictionary' with all of the 'acceptable' terms.  Rather, I'm suggesting that 
we have alternate terms for those who would prefer to use them.  I thought 
that's what the discussion started as, anyway.

Language isn't going to be controlled by any 'rules' made (look at Modern 
French--they still have loan words in common usage even if they don't 
recognize them officially).  It is going to be something that evolves.  On 
the part of some this may be a concious change to achieve a desired affect.  
Nobody can tell you to use a different word, though--at least to my 
knowledge.

I realize that you say you have seen people 'corrected' in extreme 
circumstances.  That seems a poor reason to come up with good period 
alternates for words like 'troll'.  Rather, it seems a good time to start 
having some basic etiquette classes.
  a) "You do not correct someone in the middle of court" (unless it is YOUR 
court--then you can do what you want, although it would be nice to let the 
person finish and inform them after if you did not like it).
  b) "Teaching is good.  Snarking is bad."  The difference?  A teacher 
offers knowledge to those who want it.  A snark forces their knowledge on 
others regardless of whether they want it or no.
  etc....

I'm sure there's lots more, but the basic underlying idea is that you are 
trying to deal with rudeness rather than language.  I think that it would be 
a great thing if we could stop people from being rude, but you will have 
people who do that regardless.  I had one friend who was turned off from the 
SCA because when he tried to be as authentic as possible in his personal 
research people snubbed him--how is that different from the scenario 
suggested about the 'evil' gatekeeper who 'corrects' people about the word 
'troll'?

Options are good.  So far I haven't heard anyone argue against that.

Rudeness is bad.  Okay, I think we are all together on that one.

So what is the problem with having period alternates again?

-Ii

PS: If I have offended, I don't mean to.  I apologize--please let me know 
privatley if I have--that is the type of criticism I would like to know 
because not knowing means I'll keep making mistakes.

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