Huginn - A Journal of Alternative Heathen Viewpoints

[Lokabrenna]

Out of curiosity, have you thought about starting a new SIG? Say an Alternate Norse SIG or whatever appropriate label you might think of? Could clarify things and lead to fewer clashes on the other SIG. Just a thought.

I was thinking of starting a group, actually, but I didn't think anyone was that interested. I'd call it "Alternative Northern Paths", which sounds vague...and inclusive.

[Asch]

Speaking entirely for myself, I'd rather that the A&H SIG - like the other cultural polytheism SIGs - was not "recon only, the harder the better".  It doesn't have to be a miniature replica of Asatru Lore, because AL already exists; it makes more sense to me (and is much more what I personally would like from it) that it does what AL doesn't really do, address the needs of those who have a strong regard for scholarship but aren't necessarily recon, or Heathen-with-a-capital-H.

Sunflower

Correct me if I'm wrong (writing this while on break @ work on my phone) but doesn't that SIG's special rules clearly state that it is recon based??

I'm not familiar with the AL board but it's entirely possible that the participants here prefer or enjoy this SIG possibly because TC & the SIG offer something AL doesn't, and speaking for myself, I enjoy reading and occasionally participating in the threads & I'm not the sort that would us AL. It seems also to be quite useful for seekers as it stands.

Considering the number of participants in recent debates arguing for more alternate Heathen interpretations it seems like an alternative SIG would be of value.

Just my $.02

[Nyktipolos]

Rule 34 dude.

 
Rule 36, actually. Rule 34 is "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions."

[Nyktipolos]

Correct me if I'm wrong (writing this while on break @ work on my phone) but doesn't that SIG's special rules clearly state that it is recon based??

I'm not familiar with the AL board but it's entirely possible that the participants here prefer or enjoy this SIG possibly because TC & the SIG offer something AL doesn't, and speaking for myself, I enjoy reading and occasionally participating in the threads & I'm not the sort that would us AL. It seems also to be quite useful for seekers as it stands.

Considering the number of participants in recent debates arguing for more alternate Heathen interpretations it seems like an alternative SIG would be of value.

Just my $.02

 
Also my two cents: That's because the wants or needs of certain members was for a recon-oriented space. So what happens when more and more members are wanting a less recon-oriented, but still with valid and often-used scholarly input, group? Does the group fragment, or adjust for a wider focus?

(Which is, I suppose, is what is exactly going on in the heathen community at large.)

Personally, I'm in the adaptation camp, but then again I don't consider myself a full-fledged heathen sooo.

[Asch]

Rule 36, actually. Rule 34 is "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions."

 
I know. That was my point.

[Nyktipolos]

I know. That was my point.

 
...

Hah. Get it now.

[SunflowerP]

Correct me if I'm wrong (writing this while on break @ work on my phone) but doesn't that SIG's special rules clearly state that it is recon based??

Yes, but in a way that clearly distinguishes "this SIG is recon-based" from "this SIG is recon" - very similar to the language used in the special rules for the Ta Hiera (Hellenic) SIG and the Kemetic SIG.  (Hazel & Oak is the only one of the cultural polytheism SIGs that explicilty says it's not a reconstructionist SIG - though in practice all of them, including H&O, have a similar high regard for scholarship.)

I'm not arguing for getting away from the reconstructionist/scholarly basis, simply for taking the broader, rather than stricter, view of what's encompassed by the SIG - it could be said that that's explicated in the A&H SIG's special rules, too, where it emphasizes that recon oneupmanship is not acceptable there.

Much as many recons (I've noticed this most among Celtic Recons, but no reconstruction of cultural polytheism is free of it) would like to frame it as (hard) recon on one side, not-at-all-recon neoPagans with light cultural flavoring on the other side, and a wide unpopulated chasm between, in reality the territory between the two is well-populated indeed.

Considering the number of participants in recent debates arguing for more alternate Heathen interpretations it seems like an alternative SIG would be of value.

 
Well, TC is a debate and discussion forum.  Those who can't be civil - which is not to say, "not heated", we don't mind heat - will be reprimanded for that.  Separating it into two SIGs seems to me like a method for avoiding debate by keeping the combatants apart.  (And here I'm not just speaking for myself; this is board policy as I understand it.)

So a separate SIG is unlikely.  But there's always the social groups - which I think is what Lokabrenna has in mind.

Sunflower