[Moo] garbiter

[MarkLFischer at aol.com]

On the other hand, one can always put the matter in perspective.

Folks who like their reality relaxed are OK.  I have gone through several "mood swings" on authenticity in my career in the Society.  When I'm in a "T-tunic and sweats" mood, I admire the very hard work others put into their handiwork.  When I'm being authentic, it's fairly easy to suspend my disbelief and just pretend the guy with the Nikes is from some faraway land where they dress differently.

Taking authenticity seriously is fine, the danger is taking OURSELVES too seriously.  In my experience that's the major root cause of "garbiter" behaviour.  If you get jerked up short by somebody with too fine an eye for detail, consider the source, and maybe feel a little pity for one who is not enjoying his or her event.  The fault is theirs, however, not yours.

I'm something of a smarta$$, so I generally respond with my idea of humor, such as responding to a seamcheck by spinning a shaggy-dog story about the perfectly-period Llama-powered stone sewing machines of the central Andean highlands, fragments of which were unearthed at Macchu Picchu.  I don't enter much in A&S competition, I don't gotta document that :-)

Gerhardt

= = = Original message = = =

Neither does it hinder it, imho.  Creating new words is fine, I just think 
that this particular word construction causes more harm than good.  Are we 
really expressing more information and meaning?  I feel like we are 
expressing less.

Also, when you start to use negative descriptions of people, you shut down 
avenues of communication.  If you say to someone: "You're a rude person." 
how are they to respond?  "No I'm not!"  It feels confrontational, and 
puts the other person on the defensive.  Same thing happens all the time 
in national politics, news, radio talk shows, etc.  It is a verbal 
rhetoric that shuts down the other person by dismissing their actions as 
'bad' immediately.

On the other hand, if you can encourage the use of positive descriptions 
and terms, communication is better facilitated and overall I feel that 
things become more enjoyable.  If you say to someone: "I do not appreciate 
what you just said." then you are now allowing them some room to 
apologize--you aren't automatically putting them on the defensive, 
labelling them with an epithet.

This goes for both sides of the coin, btw.  People who want to come up and 
discuss your clothing should likewise be sensitive in how they approach 
you and what they say.  For all the good intentions one might have, 
realize the other person may not take it that way.

And, I guess I would agree that labelling behaviour is not so bad. 
"seamchecking" is one that I've heard that describes the unwanted activity 
without, imo, painting the person into a corner.

Finally, it isn't the creation of new words we don't need.  It's the 
negativity we bring along with such words.  Am I perfect in this regard?  
No.  I often say things I shouldn't.  Just because it is natural doesn't 
mean it is right.

-Ii

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