encyclopedia pavania

[reverancepavane]

Pick any 5 things from my interests list that you would like to ask me about. Ask a question relating to each one, so you are left with just 5 questions, which you can post in comments here. I will answer as best I can. Copy paste this into your own journal and I will do the same, as will other's on your friends list. Artfully lifted from drjon.

Comments

[drjon.livejournal.com]

1. What does antifandom mean to you? What's your association with it?
   
2. Are you a Discordian? What impact has Eris Discordia had on your life?
   
3. Why do you list furries in your interest? Is it purely academic?
   
4. How did you discover the Mullah Nasrudin? Are you heavily into Sufi practice?
   
5. Is the New Promethean Brotherhood an Alan Moore reference, or a Transhumanist one? Is it an actual organisation?

[reverancepavane.livejournal.com]

1. What does antifandom mean to you? What's your association with it? I first encountered antifandom (and fandom for that matter) at an Adelaide con in the early 80's (1983 to be precise) and given the current state of Adelaide fandom it appealed to the rebel inside me immensely. Then again, I'm not the bitter and twisted cynical antifan that seemed to have created antifandom in the states; I'm more of the Loki-inspired chaotic antifan that, in terms of Larry Niven's dolphin philosophy, [1] likes to occaisionally hunt for a good w(r)ench. Think of me more as The Loyal Opposition. 2. Are you a Discordian? What impact has Eris Discordia had on your life? To answer the second part first, I met Eris the way most people do: she leapt out of a dark alleyway and mugged me. After she had her way with me she said "You're mine." Admittedly I was Her's to begin with, but it did make life rather complicated for a while, at least until my patron Goddesses learned to share. [2] And whilst I could hum the tune (and in fact probably conduct the orchestra for that matter), I prefer to think of myself as an Erisian rather than a Discordian, although I do feel that Discordian rituals should be integrated with life in the interests of making life worth living. 3. Why do you list furries in your interest? Is it purely academic? I have to admit I've liked furries since I saw the advert for Albedo Anthropomorphics #4. And I liked it a lot more once I actually read the comic. The disney or saturday-morning cartoon furries never really attracted me at all, though. And furry fandom (or at least the alt.fan.furry part) was filled with lots of cool people who are sensual and fun. Admittedly my interest in furry fandom is fairly academic given I'm in Oz (although this isn't really an excuse since kreggan also originally suffered this handicap and is now a major player in furry fandom). Someday I'll make it to AnthroCon, although I'll doubt I'll be able to take an appropriate (or even inappropriate) costume, much as I'd like to. 4. How did you discover the Mullah Nasrudin? Are you heavily into Sufi practice? In the best possible way: by an excellent storyteller telling a story of the Mullah Nasrudin in a candle-lit hall. After which ,I sought and collected as many of the stories as I could find (and made up more than a few to tell around the campfire). And while I enjoy the Sufi parables immensely and have integrated some into my life experience, I cannot say that I am actually into the practice of Sufi. Although I have a great respect for the mad men of the desert. <grin> 5. Is the New Promethean Brotherhood an Alan Moore reference, or a Transhumanist one? Is it an actual organisation? In this case it was an actual organisation, although it's precedent was the Promethean Society of late 19th Century London, which has served as the basis of many similiar groups, both fictional and not. And it was humanist rather than transhumanist, although given the nature of our local group it was heavily contaminated with alchemical ideals. [1] To paraphrase from memory: "Every machine needs to be tested by throwing a large wrench into it's innards. If the machine breaks, fix it so it won't. If it, doesn't, go look for a larger wrench. This technique also works for social mechanisms as well." [2] Actually I lie. They got on famously (the term "like a house on fire" comes to mind; ever been in a house on fire?), and agreed to share. Much to my concern, even though I love them dearly and have great faith in them. [For example, I know that if I am ever in an impossible situation I know exactly who put my there and is sitting back on the couch eating popcorn, watching me attempt to get out of it. And that's a great relief.]

[maelorin]

I know that if I am ever in an impossible situation I know exactly who put my there and is sitting back on the couch eating popcorn, watching me attempt to get out of it. And that's a great relief.

at least in those moments, you can be sure that they've done with the meddling for now. it's just you and the universe left to figure it all out :D

[maelorin]

1. what's your interest in humans about then?


2. how annoying is it that so many people misunderstand memetics?


3. pray tell, your favourite quote or words of wisdom from the inestimable lord vetinari?


4. ereshkigal - good sister, or good press?


5. regency clothing or edwardian?

[reverancepavane.livejournal.com]

1. What's your interest in humans about then? They are crunchy when lightly fired in sesame oil? No, hang on, that's pagans... They are a source of protein for growing children? No, that's siblings... I know! They do the silliest things some time and the universe would be a lot less fun if they weren't around. Besides they are often easier to keep as pets than most other animals and plants (although, for ease of maintenance, minerals are generally easier, although they do tend to be a lot less interesting in the short term). After all, they will mostly find their own food and clean up after themselves. And they still purr when you stroke them whilst they sit in your lap. What more could you want? 2. How annoying is it that so many people misunderstand memetics? "On September 2, 2009, everyone suddenly understands the term morphic resonance." One has always enjoyed information theory, although one has generally focused on the transmission/identification of ideas rather than pure information (although this too is also interesting), usually as a means of manipulating a person's reality. Especially in paring down an idea into the minimal requirement to effect a change, perform a manipulation, or counter a manipulation, you arrive at the meme – the quantum essence of an propogating idea. A lot of confusion exists over the idea of memes, mainly because Dawkins (who originally coined the term) failed to quantify it properly. Although I think it is less of a gene-analogue and more of a viral analogue (although the idea of applying retroviral information into a meme does have its appeal). But I don't find it annoying that everybody has their own concept of mimetics. How else do you get a genetic variation of an idea, so that the hardiest cultivars take root and grow? 3. Pray tell, your favourite quote or words of wisdom from the inestimable Lord Vetinari? That's easy: "Next time, learn the words." [This in inscribed, upside-down, on the side a pit of scorpions, in which Lord Vetinari has a tendency to lower mimes head first...] [Continued Next Comment]

[reverancepavane.livejournal.com]

[Continued From Before] 4. ereshkigal - good sister, or good press? There was a substantial reanalysis of the Sumerian myth cycle done sometime in the 80's. Previous to this, the major work in the area was done by Howard Carter (the same as who discovered Tutankhamen's tomb), in the 30's. Unfortuneately his work was tainted by his preconceptions, resulting in a large amount of discrepencies (such as the elevation of Nergal to ruling monarch). The most popular reference to Resh is through the tale of Innanna's descent into the Underworld to rescue her favourite shepherd (against the advice of all her friends and teachers), and the use of the term "sister" by which she refers to Resh is actually misleading. It is an appeal to like elements (shared womanhood, shared lust, and shared ability to work magic) rather than an acknowledgement of actual relationship. Remember as well, that the tale was told by Innanna's priests to elevate the power of Innanna through reflection. Of course, as warned, Innanna did regret dealing with Resh, for her mother/teacher was taken in exchange for Dumai (forcing the Bimbo to grow up a tiny bit, although she did complain it wasn't fair, as most teenagers are want to do). Actually there are several more important works that define the role of Resh, the most important one is of course the Foundation tale, where it is stated that Enki divide the mé (controlling principle) of the world into "that which was" and "that which was not," and gave Resh dominion over "that which was not," essentially granting her co-equal status (this also completes the complementary male/female balance found throughout much of the rest of the mythos. And of course, there is the "wooing" of Resh by Nergal, a lesson of all who think that they can readily take advantage of a woman. So in answer to your question: neither a good sister nor good press (although Innanna's priesthood did tend to put the best light on her fool's quest). 5. regency clothing or edwardian? I like most fashion from around this period (although I'm extremely uncomfortable with the custom of extremely tight corseting for women from an early age that occurred about this time). This is probably from watching far too many Hammer House of Horror films in my mispent youth. However regency clothing is particularly listed as an interest, since, after a rather drunken room party at the last Brighton worldcon, we all caught a train back to london to raid a costume warehouse for regency clothing so we could then Promenade up and down the Brighton Strand and Take Sunday Tea.

re: resh:

[maelorin]

[as a contrary, i do enjoy tipping things upside-right.]

like hel, resh got a tough job. and had to put up with whiney mortals (adn the odd annoying immortal).

it's interesting to consider how much the connotations/understanding of 'balance' and 'fairness' have changed in a few hundred years. or thousands.

the effect of the (re)conceptualisation of the notions as a consequence of some guy thinking some dead guy on a tree helped him out, in contrast to the hundreds of live guys who actually fought the battle ...

clothing

[maelorin]

corsetry looks nice (better when not crushing the damsel, methinks, but rather emphasising). we need not emulate the social conventions of the day to enjoy some of the past. (this is where a considered, structured form of postmodernism makes some sense).

watching far too many Hammer House of Horror films

you've said this before. and i'll say again, i'm not sure that's possible. :P

the stand at brighton is the place to be doing regency cosplay :D especially if you can do high tea in the palace on the beach.

Re: clothing

[reverancepavane.livejournal.com]

By tight corseting from an early age, I refer to the custom that resulted in deformed waists of 9" or less. I saw a sketch of a nice period dress and it took me a little while to realise that what I was taking for the waist of the dress was actually a pillar behind the woman (her actual waist was taken by me to be the front piece of the corset). No wonder my (female) friend looked at me sideways when I said that was a nice dress... And trust me. You can watch too many Hammer films at one sitting...

Re: clothing

[maelorin]

i'm aware of the custom. some women still practice it. *headdesk*

And trust me. You can watch too many Hammer films at one sitting...

one sitting. ah. that i'll take your word for. (i've done no more than three. and they included popcorn breaks.)

[maelorin]

What more could you want?

i'll get back to you on that :P

A lot of confusion exists over the idea of memes, mainly because Dawkins (who originally coined the term) failed to quantify it properly.

he

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<q>What more could you want?</q>

i'll get back to you on that :P

<q>A lot of confusion exists over the idea of memes, mainly because Dawkins (who originally coined the term) failed to quantify it properly.</q>

he <i.has</i> tried to correct this since the publication of the 'blind watchmaker' - i think he thought of the idea as an (allegory ... no, not quite the right word. dammit.) and not sure he anticipated how it would be taken up.

a large part of the blame for the misconception, however, lies with the social 'scientists' who insisted on adopting a bastardised version of the idea and getting all giddy over it. *headdesk* post *headdesk modernists *headdesk*