[MR] Expired Equine Post #86972

[Karen Adams]

Greetings to all who should choose to read this missive.  And here's some
salve for your ears.  (Mine are sore, too.)

 

Just this once, I'm breaking my Rule #1 of Listserve Posting, which is "do
not feed the trolls."  OTOH, I'm kind of expecting Godwin's Law to kick in
sooner or later and I guess this is one more post towards that end.  But if
I don't get this said, it's going to bust out of me like an alien and No One
Wants That.

 

As much as I can understand the PR impact of being able to incorporate
pentacles/pentagrams into one's heraldry, on a more practical note it would
be well to note that the same rumor (that we are cultists engaged in the
most dreadful and revolting murderous practices) has persisted about many
"different" groups much longer than the Society has been around.  Those who
follow Old Ways (native Americans, druids, you name it) have been subjected
to this nonsense for a thousand years.  Some secular groups or businesses
catch the same kind of flack, and have throughout the ages.  Some religions
foment it still.  As a group we're far more tolerant of each others'
idiosyncrasies and in some ways, so American it's painful.  No matter what
we do or how well (or not) we do it, there are still some people who can't -
and won't -- accept us regardless of our actions or lack thereof.  

 

IMNSHO, that's life.  And that's why we play what we play and they do what
they do, hallelujah and amen (so to speak).

 

Irrespective of what sacks of hair like the aforementioned "conservative
Christian" (I really hate that term, BTW) have to say, to be absolutely
rational and honest about it I think we attract just as many people to the
Society with or without pentagrams.  Those who think for themselves as
individuals are attracted to the SCA anyway.  It seems that these kinds of
individuals tend to stick around, too.  Those who can't bend like a willow
wash out within a few months regardless of what faith they believe in. 

 

As for the "blogger" (who redefines the description of "at no other time in
history have so many people had so much to say about so little") giving
people like him recognizance validates his opinion - which, again IMNSHO, is
the wrong track.  For it is written, It Is Wise To Remember Rule #1: Do Not
Feed The Trolls.  (And It Is Also Demonstrated: Those Who Forget Rule #1
Inflict Suffering and Spam On Everyone In The Group For Nearly 30 Issues Of
The MR.)  (Yep, and I'm guilty as charged, too....I'll be less proud of that
later, I'm sure.)  Furthermore, for someone like the "blogger" who is that
entrenched in his own ignorance: no one can change his mind for him.  Only
he can do that.  The only constructive thing I can do is pray that the
Divine gives him a Clue By Four at some point, preferably soon.

 

(About the "conservative Christian" thing: personally, I'm Episcopalian,
though admittedly more mystically-oriented than most.  My husband is RC.
Both of these are very conservative faiths.  However, neither of these
branches of Christianity engage in the same derisive and divisive
discussions as the blogger did.  There is a difference between
"conservative" and "evangelist" Christianity  and I'm just grousing because
the "CC" term lumps me in with people whose ignorance simply defies
description.  I am reasonably certain that some of us who belong to
evangelist denominations feel the same way.  For the record, this isn't
limited to any one place of discussion; the term is used widely in the
mundane world and it gripes me there too.  You guys just got lucky (!!)
enough to be in the line of fire when the cannon cut loose.  Sorry L!!!!)

 

It is regrettable that some people choose not to think for themselves.  It
is doubly disappointing when it comes to rumor and conjecture.  In this area
(meaning Black Diamond), we already have Boy Scout and other camp areas (not
to mention churches) that deny us access because the people who run them
won't accept that we are not associated with any denomination or faith,
regardless of the facts.  As much as that sucks, it does force us to become
a lot more thorough in investigating secular sites in which to hold events.
That's not always a fun thing and in a really big way.  It does, however,
let us have events in places that accept us as much as we accept them and
everyone ends up having a good time.

 

It's in the practice, not all in the promotion.

 

Another couple of doubloons (great day that hat is getting full) and passing
the Talking Stick to someone else for once,

n  magpie