LL-L "Names" 2008.01.24 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  24 January 2008 - Volume 03
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From: Utz H. Woltmann <uwoltmann at gmx.de>
Subject: LL-L "Names" 2008.01.23 (07) [E/LS]

Dear Jonny,

You wrote:

> in context with 'Slamatjen-Brüüg' you wrote:
> *> Na wat denn nu? Keen weet daar nu wat vun af?*
> (How to get on? Who is the one of knowledge?)
>
> Sorry- are you fishing for any compliments? Looking for honours?

No, not at all.

> I fear there must be a misunderstanding between us two. Let me say: I
> am no expert for anything, but I like to bring up every painful object
> when I feel forced to do so- errors included!

You are always entitled to do so. Keep it up.

>
> In the majority of the cases your contributions are very well-made
> ('expert-like') and informative and tremendously welcomed by me (and
> others, I guess).

Thanks a lot.

> But I don't feel myself or anyone else being in a competition here on
> the list.

You are right, there is no competition on the list. But here on the list
there are very competent postings made by very competent people. I found
a Low Saxon term ('slamatje') and at first view no explanation.
All the entries at Google were relating to the bridge by itself, no
entry for the term 'slamatje' was found (like 'ellhoern'). Later on I
found some explanatory notes, hidden or with different spelling. The
notes among themselves had different statements. I asked for support. My
posting was adressed to you because it was an answer to your competent
posting but my demand for support was directed to all the readers of the
list. May be the term 'slamatje' is still in use everywhere in the world
(Dutch, Afrikaans, Frisian, Low Saxon?) or someone who studied
historical terms can tell me something about it.

> I am quite aware of the fact that, when keeping our messages in a
> digested shape, disagreements may occure.

I do agree.

> Please- do not evaluate any posting too fast as a personal attack
> against yourself, as I myself had done so, formerly.

I did not evaluated your posting as a personal attack. When I was a
little boy, the world looked very simple. My mother and my dad or later
on the teachers told me always what was right and what was wrong (for
example the double negation 'nie...nich'). Today I cast doubts on many
things because I have learned that right or wrong is often only a
judgement of a social group. What is right within one social group
(club, village, class, nation etc.) may be wrong within another social
group.

Best regards
Utz H. Woltmann

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Names

That's the spirit, boys! The Kahuna is smiling contentedly.

The Lowlands song contest flop may be an indication that competition is
generally unwanted. Furthermore, no matter how learned some people may
"sound" to others, nobody -- and I repeat: *nobody* -- should feel
intimidated. Any relevant question or information is welcome, no matter what
a person's educational background may be. Any one person's question and the
answers given will benefit everyone, and no one is permitted to ridicule
others, certainly not with regard to their education, language proficiency,
ethnicity, nationality and the like. And, yes, thinking outside the box,
taking published opinions with grains of salt, and exploring alternative
approaches is quite welcome here. This and a pinch of humor (for we don't
want to take ourselves too seriously now, do we?) has been conducive to
providing a friendly atmosphere for nearly thirteen years now, and hopefully
we will be able to keep it up some more.

This notwithstanding, of course there are always some more fragile egos that
are prone to reading criticism into responses. That's unavoidable. But it
can be minimized by everyone taking note of glimpses into individuals'
personalities through their communication and to read their responses in
that light before hitting the send button. Less confident Lowlanders ought
to remember that no one here is out to get them, even if banter and sparring
ensues once in a while. Specializing in rejecting other folks' proposals or
attitudes without providing reasonable counter-proposals backed up by
evidence does not constitute good manners here or anywhere else.

Another important thing to bear in mind is that we are an international
group. This means that we ought to try to think and behave accordingly. On
the other hand, since we don't wish walk on egg shells either, we all ought
to exercise tolerance and give people the benefit of the doubt if they
offend our cultural or national sensitivities.

It's best to remember that this gathering across cultural and national
boundaries affords all of us tremendous opportunities for learning,
connecting and growing. It has been giving the Kahuna and me tremendous joy
to watch so many of you take advantage of this by learning by leaps and
bounds, "gettin' the spirit" and hitting it off with and caring about each
other around the world.

Keep it up!

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
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