[MR] re; please advise re: on-line abuse

[Marybeth Lavrakas]

I agree with the person who called the guy a 'tool.' You can also substitute with 'fool' if you prefer. I witnessed a good deal of anti-SCA hostility back in the 'good old days' of my own truncated academic career, which is why dealing with Dan Carlson is always such a pleasant experience (for those who don't know him, he is an archaeologist who specializes on Viking Gotland). I never include an SCA signature line when I have email contact with academics, but I expect a google search would reveal my dual identity!

I'd be tempted to send him a simple email referenceing the academic sources pointing out that 'knitting' is actually Knaalbinding, with some understated but pointed commentary about how difficult it is to keep up in ALL areas of research, but really, he may be such an idiot he won't even acknowledge his error (and, if he's really argumentative, he might point out what we also know, that a lot of reputable museums still label these pieces as knitting...sigh.).I expect that such an email would have no effect whatsoever...but it's nice to fantasize about slaying him with a deadly bibliography, LOL. 

Kateryn Rous