[MR] FW: Public use of the term "medieval"

[Geffrei Maudelyene]

Folks, We know the proper usage as seen from an educated, historical
background. However there are many people out there that firmly choose to
limit factual knowledge to an inaccurate translation of a select group of
early religious writings. I have actually heard a gentleman say, without
blinking an eye, that God loaded a wooden boat with 256,000 animals every
second, around the clock for a week. And that said boat held enough food for
them for 40 days.

We may be right in our usage. A major goal of our organization is education.
However, these "stupid" people are still the ones that repeatedly call law
enforcement to put a stop to activities where there is a sandstone covered
castle shell at a camp site. It was actually said that we must be doing evil
things there, why else would the stones be black? Law enforcement was
actually called twice in the last year, here.

Why is there a need to pour gas on a fire just to show that we have a larger
vocabulary and have a more complete education? Our area's predominance of
Southern accents do not help matters and it is easy to understand medieval
as sounding like middle evil. We have the better education and vocabulary,
however, communication is always at the level of the lowest
education/experience level of the parties in any given conversation. That,
or we end up talking over a person's head just to bask in our own intellect.
In no way do I imply that those without our area of education are stupid.
Our vocabulary and concepts are just not part of their education.

I for one, would just like to believe that the average 8th grader can even
guess the dates of the Middle Ages, give or take 500 years. We educate by
starting with the basics, in a language that is most likely to be
understood. We do ourselves a great disservice by sticking to technical
nomenclature that is in reality easily misunderstood.

This lack of being to completely communicate has led and will lead to real
life hassles for our group that could easily be avoided. Yes I have had
college level history classes where, the teacher said that we would get an
automatic "F" for the class if we misspell medieval for mid-evil. I honestly
doubt that one in ten of us has ever taken senior level college courses on
the middle ages. Being able to write a six page definition of feudalism on a
mid-term exam is not part of basic public, or private religious, education
in the rural south. I can not assume that my neighbors have that level of
this academic discipline.

So, when I want to convey information about one of my hobbies, I should
speak in words that my listener can understand. The more that listener
understands, the more likely they can appreciate what I am doing, and maybe,
just maybe, come out to see it for themselves.

Geffrei,
Who feels this post might just do the very thing I am imploring my friends
to do.