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]

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.