morris dancing parochial?

Subject: morris dancing parochial and embarrassing?
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 May 08 - 04:17 AM

the following comments appeared in an article by A A Gill.
class has become an embarrassing parochial pastime like morris dancing.
the dictionary definition of parochial,relating to a parish,restricted to narrow limits,denomination.
I dont find it embarrassing,it might be an idea for people to email this twerp at the sunday times and object.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 27 May 08 - 04:19 AM

Hear, hear. But, Dick, A.A. Gill writes about POPULAR culture.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 27 May 08 - 05:18 AM

Ahem. Surely morris dancing is parochial, in the sense that each village had its own tradition etc? But that doesn't mean it should be unwelcoming to newcomers. The 'embarrassing' is another matter! But there again, I'm not easily embarrassed.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 27 May 08 - 05:20 AM

Ignore A.A. Gill - there's nothing he's like better than an angry response from Morris Dancers et al. He could then write another bitchy article about the folk/morris fraternity.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 May 08 - 05:59 AM

And then somebody would complain about that so he would ..............

Sounds like a thread on here!

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 May 08 - 06:03 AM

1. Anyone got a link?

2. How would he know about either?

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Bernard
Date: 27 May 08 - 06:45 AM

And what is so wrong about 'parochial', anyway? Isn't 'tradition' parochial by its very nature?

If there was the suggestion that Morris sides (or any other 'parochial' type of activity) was in any way insular, then perhaps that would be grounds for criticism and complaint...

My experience as a relative newcomer to Morris (only nine years) is that the various sides are far from insular. Go to any weekend of dance and you'll find a wide variety of traditions represented, and everyone is very friendly.

Let's be fair about this... anyone who has a keen interest in any activity, be it Morris, mending motor cycles, model (or real!) railways, photography or some such, may join a club or group to pursue their interest. Someone who does not share that interest may perceive such activity as 'parochial' or 'exclusive', simply through lack of understanding.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 May 08 - 07:39 AM

I dont think morris dancing is restricted to narrow limits,after all there are many forms of morris dancing,andmany moris sides dont just dance in their own parish,it depends on the interpretatiuon of the word parochial.
many members of the public are not embarrassed by it.but enjoy watching.
A A Gill is doing a disservice to morris dancing.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 May 08 - 09:37 AM

Perhaps he means enjoyed or targeted at a small audience? I bet lots of sides claim they target the world and perhaps they do but by and large it is a small audience and nothing wrong with that.

Perhaps Mr Gill is enjoyed by more - maybe not.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Bernard
Date: 27 May 08 - 09:48 AM

I prefer a pint to a gill any day!!

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: AggieD
Date: 27 May 08 - 09:54 AM

Performing at Chippenham this weekend was way out of our Side's parish!

These journos just love to rile us folkies into self righteous defence. Rise above it people, you know we are right anyway & try to follow the old saying of never argue with a fool ;-)

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Bill S from Adelaide
Date: 27 May 08 - 10:42 AM

I don't understand the problem, one of the things we are proudest of and celebrate is that most morris traditions are parochial in that they belong to a parish. There are parochial sides I've come across that never leave their parish, go to the traditions in the north west if you want to see parochial. I take it as a compliment and recognition of reality.
Cheers
Bill

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 May 08 - 11:56 AM

parochial means of or relating to a parish[of sentiments tastes]restricted or confined within narrow limits.In England this is not generally the case,parochial is also often used in a negative way when it is used in the English language.,its a sort of put down.
neither is Morris dancing an embarrassing pastime,thats the problem Cobber.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: GUEST,Mike S
Date: 27 May 08 - 12:21 PM

If A. A. Gill finds morris dancing embarrassing, whose problem is that? Why would anyone care? People don't take up morris dancing in order to appear normal and fit in with society, after all..

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Def Shepard
Date: 27 May 08 - 01:13 PM

Gill, to be honest, simply isn't worth responding to. I've always gotten the feeling that the silly twerp doesn't much like anything, except maybe the sound, as it were, of his own voice.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 27 May 08 - 04:36 PM

AA Gill writes for money. Week after week. Content yourselves with the fact that if he had an original thought in his head, he wouldn't be writing such twaddle, week after week. The thing that astounds me is how tedious little men like Gill stay in a job.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 27 May 08 - 09:22 PM

Having lived in Canada for the last 31 years and Morris Danced for the last 12 only (a really long story). I have never heard of Mr Gill so I presume he has never heard of Orange Peel Morris let alone seen us dance. So how does he know anything about us?
We will be in the UK in July though.
JohnB

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: GUEST,Chicken Charlie
Date: 28 May 08 - 12:46 AM

It suddenly occurs to me that "popular culture" may simply be oxymoronic.

I know another newspaper twit who thinks a good education is automatically elitist.

CC

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 May 08 - 02:33 AM

The article was more about class than morris dancing... would it not be better to read the whole article first before bouncing up and down and throwing your hankies out of the pram about morris dancing?

LTS

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 May 08 - 02:13 PM

I have,and it was a poor article.
I am complaining about the unnecessary dig at morris dancers.

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Def Shepard
Date: 28 May 08 - 02:16 PM

So did I, twice, just see what all the fuss was about, and Mr Gill really does need to get out more (and perhaps take up morris dancing)

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 May 08 - 05:36 PM

He reviews restaurants doesn't he? That's a pretty embarassing pastime in itself...

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 29 May 08 - 03:18 AM

Perhaps he could be taken in for questioning by the Morris Ring?

Subject: RE: morris dancing parochial?
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 04:42 PM

Taken in by the Morris Ring? Is that as painful as being picked up by the fuzz? JK.