An interesting discussion on remaining in persona

[guenievre]

http://new-man.livejournal.com/158518.html?nc=58 - I know I am awful about this, and many people don't find the "persona" thing important. Still, I'm fascinated by it, and wonder how I would go about working on it...

Comments

[new-man.livejournal.com]

Why?

The different problems I identify aren't related in any way, and my discussion of the things that I think of as problems isn't snarky.

People are allowed to complain. People are allowed to disagree. That's not what I don't like about LJ communities which promote catiness.

The discussion in my LJ is intended to be an open conversation about some of the issues I'm currently having with the SCA. Hopefully, we'll come up with some solutions.

Snark communities are about making fun of people behind their backs.

[soucyn.livejournal.com]

I didn't get back right away, because I've been thinking about this. I will concede the point that there is quite a bit of difference between your post and the average snark community.

I never thought I would do it, but I'm about to defend even the worst snark community (which I myself don't really want to be on...)

I assume the 1st Amendment argument is a given, but the second argument is this: Some times people do things in the SCA that make you want to shout from the roof tops and tear your hair out. While a snark community might not be the best idea for your venting, people do have a general human desire to vent about such things. Snark communities at least are a known quantity, it's a place where people can vent their issue and get it off their chest, so they don't just go blast the person with their issue. Can it backfire, sure, and you take that risk when you post.

Yes, some people take pleasure in snarking others, and that's not really all that good. However, if those communities give a few folks a place to vent that they didn't otherwise have, well then, they aren't 100% bad.

[new-man.livejournal.com]

I agree that blasting someone at an SCA event is a Bad Thing. Walking up to someone and yelling "My god, woman! You call that 'garb'?! What drugs are you taking!" is an impulse we've all had -- and all supressed.

While that is true -- how is talking about someone behind their back ever going to fix the problem? A lot of the problems with garb, feast menus, etc. at SCA events aren't malice; they're ignorance. How are people ever going to learn if we all make our comments behind their backs, rather than to their faces?

Yes, on a snark group there's the freedom to be as mean as you want, to openly point and laugh at someone, without worrying about hurting their feelings.

Is that really a good thing? Sure, it's the lesser of two evils... but it's still an evil.