Janet Kaiser on wed 12 nov 03
Interesting thread... Not new, but we are an ever-changing
community. The growing number of posts I receive referring to
individual contributions/posts and "follow-up" questions, makes
me realise that although Clayart functions as a cohesive
community, we also appear as just single letters or subject lines
to the outside virtual world and those many "outsiders" who use
search engines when looking for information. The tone of these
mails is also increasingly demanding and aggressive, as if these
people have no concept that a real person is being addressed.
That strips us of any individuality -- or do I mean we become
anonymous individuals when stripped of community or other
personal ties?
We are also just a list of e-mails in the in-box of new Clay Town
residents. I try to remember that even revealing one's name can
be scary if you do not know what sort of group you are
addressing. After all, we are extremely tame compared to others,
but newbies will need time to learn that. I am the sort who will
just start talking at a party, whether I have met the others
before or not, but that sort of situation would induce an attack
of tongue-tied angst in a friend of mine... I don't think it is
too different in the virtual world? People react in many
different ways, depending on their own character as much as the
circumstances.
Although I rarely answer anonymous posts, I personally think that
anonymity on the internet is possibly something everyone should
respect (I know people who are paranoid about having their
identity made know in cyber space or even reference made to
them), but it still contravenes the rules of social intercourse
in any realtime community. Imagine if new neighbours withheld or
did not want you to know their names or you could not address
your teacher by name. Same for snail mail without or with an
incomplete signature (every Christmas we get cards from people
who sign but we have no idea who they are! Maggie and John... Is
that Maggie X? Has she remarried? Or has Maggie B moved in with
her boy friend...?). So whereas most of us think of Clayart as
being "home" and we "know" each other, there are those who have
not yet achieved that same comfort level.
Not knowing who the person addressing you is can be rather
intimidating in any situation and of course anonymous letters are
not usually sent with benign intentions towards the recipient/s
which is why they are called poison pen letters when overtly
abusive or threatening... But beyond feeling personally rebuffed
or affronted at the lack of politeness and/or social etiquette,
those like Catherine who object to a lack of signature, but
cannot quite put their finger on why they feel this way, may be
interested to know you may be experiencing a kick-back to your
ancestors' belief system! It could even be genetic programming or
"instinct"! Beware the unknown stranger!
The Celts and other ancient cultures around the world believed
that knowing the name of a person negated their power to do you
harm either physically or spiritually - the evil eye and all
that. You were invested with power over those whose name you knew
and the mutual exchange of names made you both equally powerful.
That perceived equality is apparently missing, even in our
"advanced civilisation" and it makes us uncomfortable.
Interesting concept, eh?
Much has been relegated to being mere superstition and
irrelevant, but to this day any ghosts or spirits appearing or
"conjured" into the present, must first be asked who they are.
That knowledge empowers the (living) person/persons present to
ask them to leave again, so there can be no threat of them
staying to do mischief or "haunt". It is much more difficult
getting rid of uninvited spirits if you cannot call them by name,
as your own "spiritual director" will be able to tell you
(whatever faith you follow). The church (Christian) has
specialists who deal with these phenomena, although there is some
reluctance to talk openly, due to the threat of "dabblers"
becoming involved, as well as "sensationalism" in the media and
elsewhere.
The rights of baptism were also based on these old beliefs and of
course they live long as "superstitions" in rural communities.
Here in this area, people prefer not to give their Christian or
given names... It is an entrenched "custom", so few know why they
give surnames only. You want "proof"? Our telephone book has very
few first names listed in full. Initials are de rigueur amongst
the native population, far less so amongst "incomers". BTW this
is my useless information mail of the day! :o)
I could not quite make up my mind about the following post:
<< duckpondpotter is sharing some photos with you!
Documents from http://briefcase.yahoo.com/duckpondpotter1.
file.txt
Note: Please access files only from people you trust.>>
It warns about accessing files, yet without a signature I do not
know the poster. Should I therefore trust them...Or not? Was it a
wind-up? I that crazy Minnesotan in Japan doing more than just
messing with his signature?
Sincerely
JFK -- 377 unread e-mails to go... And I now know I am getting
old... It is official! Went to speak to a pharmacist about
over-the-counter medication today and was confronted by a
juvenile with a nose ring, who I took to be an assistant from the
cosmetics counter! An upmarket diamond stud it may have been, but
still... Needing some serious advice, it felt a little bizarre
and surreal! Good satirical sketch material...
*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:
>I'm pretty laid back about the idiosyncrasies of others given
that I have so
>many of my own, but there is something about an unsigned message
that's
>unsettling. Can't really say why. However, an unsigned message
carries no
>weight as far as reader interest.
*** THE MAIL FROM Catherine White ENDS HERE ***
***********************************************************
The top posted mail was sent by Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Centre of Excellence for The Arts
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Open: 13.00 to 17.00hrs : Tuesday to Saturday
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