BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 10 - 05:04 PM

the cyclists will peddle their wares -

like this...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: gnu
Date: 10 May 10 - 04:49 PM

I think the "cycle" will cycle and the cyclists will peddle their wares and ways to few.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 May 10 - 04:22 PM

Heh! ;-) I've been thinking about this very issue for at least the last 10 years, Susan. And sometimes I've commented on it too. But I've long since passed the point where I think much of anything can be done about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 10 May 10 - 04:21 PM

...didja ever think you might be off base....hhhmmm now there's a thought for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 May 10 - 04:15 PM

Not a problem Maggie, just set your Inner Circle Mudcat Decoder Ring to B-12 and then you'll see that...................hmmmm....................................just a sec here...................maybe C-7.........................no.....try E-31..............................................hmmmmmmm.......................nope.......................Okay Maggie forget what I said. This does seem to be code but its not an Official Mudcat Inner Circle Code.........Beats the shit outta' me what she's on about.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 May 10 - 04:02 PM

Looks like some code talking here, to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 10 - 03:02 PM

there has always been at least one favored darling (usually for good reason) for whom people cut lots and lots and LOTS of slack

Can't say I've ever noticed that happening. Sometimes we seem to get someone who seems to get widely identified as being a bit of a pain.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 May 10 - 02:48 PM

ahh whiskers...

The little "i" is not me being precious. It is me being half lazy and half protective of arthritic hands. The little fingers don't like reaching for the shift keys.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 May 10 - 02:43 PM

What a load of navel gazing shite!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 10 - 02:28 PM

I came here as a curious newby more than ten years ago, although I find that hard to believe. I found friendship, intelligence, a kind of dialogue that was nourishing and humorous, and felt right at home after a while. My observation is that, as in all groups, there is a core cluster of communication styles which characterizes the strongest voices in the group--the flippancy of Spaw, the infinite tolerance and helpfulness of Rick Fielding, Kendall's wit, Mick's breadth, the humor of BSeed and Swanno, the endless whacky intelligence of the MOAB crowd. Humor, intelligence, a little humility for flavor... Back then, too there were terrifically fun Song Challenges and fiction threads which I found I could fit into pretty well.

I have never felt like I was a member of "the Core", but I think that is a moving target based on the individual's before-and-after perceptions. ANyone who builds a lot of friendships through the communication of posts, messages and visits among Catters takes on the color of "old-timer" or whatever the notion is. That's the way reality is built, after all.

I dunno about treating anyone as dependent children. Even Barky has taken on her own standing as an young adult in my mind. One aspect of this that might have some bearing is the way-out crowd, people who are far removed from the core cluster of communication styles, either excessively narcissistic, aggressive, paranoid, or loudly dominant, folks who take themselves very seriously and say so stridently. Although I have little patience for this kind of extreme I try to be patient with them. And if they are willing to hold their position and keep on communicating they even take on the color (in my view) of "loyal opposition" voices, welcomed as outer-edge peers, more or less, after some sort of baptism by fire. I don't think of them in anyway as dependent, though. A little juvenile, maybe. I think they know who they are.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 May 10 - 02:00 PM

And as I am stepping out, I'll add now that it's not a sideways slant on the old Mudcat Clique threads, either, but a different phenomenon about caretaking and enabling of various sorts (not "just" alcoholic enabling).

It's a NEW TOPIC.

But I am sure people have old sore toes on which they stand as they view it. That's part of the nature of human beans, too.

McGrath, try looking at the OP again and comment from the questions it poses?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:57 PM

Nope. It's an observation on something from ten years at Mudcat (as stated, because What You See Is What You Get).

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:50 PM

Is this a read-between-the-lines comment on some stuff that is happening in a thread I haven't read?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:29 PM

...There are lines, even if the lines look squiggly and gray at times....

Good! Oughtta be that way!

How to "earn" is, I think, the problem. I do not believe people earn that stuff. I believe it is either freely given to all, or it's bullshit, whether the "giver' thinks it is, or not. I think the minute we make it conditional we are being less than our OWN best selves.

Of course I know that people do, unconsciously, set standards. We're outnumbered-- we have to choose to whom we allocate time. But when we do it awarely, coldly, deliberately-- that is BS, usually from unhealed hurts we have chosen NOT to heal. At least that is what I always find if I get a chance to look a little deeper.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:23 PM

People are mixed blessings....as the old Quaker said: "Everyone's crazy but me and Thee, and sometimes I think THOU art a little queer."

How to "earn"? I look for those who CAN step out of their eccentric pose and be dead serious when necessary. I know a few of those.

I can affirm though, that even semi-'protected' ones do not get unlimited freedom. There are lines, even if the lines look squiggly and gray at times.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:21 PM

...i tell you, some days it takes hard work to put myself in my place. ...

What a great line! :~)

But Tam, my dear friend, you were MY "coddled darling" the day you showed up. I can only speak for myself-- so I would say that if I catch you putting yourself in your place.... I may take up a whiskery crowbar and pry yuu right out of it!

:~)

And kindly knock off that little "i", too! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:16 PM

ken i be the coddled darling now? have i been here long enough yet?

pooh! if i am off base please give me a kick up the backside. i'd rather be real than precious. i tell you, some days it takes hard work to put myself in my place.

Subject: BS: Mudcat's Current *Protected Class*?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 May 10 - 01:04 PM

Hey-- think about THIS, if you dare.


In every MudCycle I've seen in the last ten years, there has always been at least one favored darling (usually for good reason) for whom people cut lots and lots and LOTS of slack (usually for good reasons).

We care for them... in a million helpful ways... but, sometimes, in the passion of our best intentions, we treat them as dependent children.

Admit it! We do! Mixed in with all the good, WE DO.


So think about it-- on what basis do you allow people to "earn" your "respect," and didja ever think ya might be off base?

Cuz guess what! It happens all the time! :~)

To ALL of us (self included).

~Susan