Pam Hartley

----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] Digest Number 3901
>Date: Sat, Aug 9, 2003, 8:38 AM
>

> Doesn't everyone feel a bit "out of it" when you come into something new?
>
> You can't expect to feel included in something when you've just begun. But
> that doesn't mean the group is a clique.


Kelli is so smart. I have a rabbit named Kelli. You can see her picture (and
all the others <g>) at our rabbitry website:
http://www.mizbookbiz.com/shortstack

But that's not what I wanted to say. Or wait, yes it is.

Okay, so when I first got "into" showing rabbits, I started going to shows
and what I did first was watch (I didn't enter any rabbits in the
competition, I just watched). I saw how judging works. I read some books and
internet sites on rabbit shows. I politely asked everyone around me all the
questions I had. I filed away information, taking what was useful and
sensible to me and leaving the rest.

I bought some rabbits. Turns out, these rabbits didn't win everything in
site. I could have stomped off in a huff. Instead, I paid attention to the
judges' comments on the rabbits and also on the ones who were winning. Then
I started writing (clerking) for the judges, and ramrodding (helping the
judges' table run more smoothly). Doing this, in no time I knew all my
fellow exhibitors and they knew me as a person who would jump in and spend a
fairly gruelling four hours or so on her feet cheerfully keeping their show
running smoothly. They found me to be a fine person, a person who just like
them was willing to work for her fun.

I bought some more rabbits, and this time they were better rabbits because
a) I'd learned enough to go to the people with the really good stuff and b)
The people with the really good stuff WANTED to help me. They wanted me to
like showing rabbits because I turned out to be the kind of person it's fun
to show with and against.

I could have bought some rabbits, complained they didn't win, bad-mouthed
the breeders I bought them from, sat on my large behind at shows with an "I
paid my entry fee I don't have to work" entitlement, and generally made
myself useless and unpleasant to everyone. I don't think other breeders
would be lining up to help me put together a nice barn of rabbits today if I
had that attitude.

We choose not only how we are perceived, but how to perceive things.
Attitude matters.

Pam, Wrabbit Wrangler & Wradical Unschooler

Fetteroll

on 8/9/03 11:16 PM, Pam Hartley at pamhartley@... wrote:

> I don't think other breeders
> would be lining up to help me put together a nice barn of rabbits today if I
> had that attitude.

I think the reason you now are part of the rabbit "inner group" is because
your primary interest was showing rabbits not fitting in. Since you didn't
care about fitting in, it didn't matter to you whether you felt "in" or
"out". Since what you cared about was the information, you sought out ways
to get the information that also, as a side effect, brought you in contact
with people and made you a vital part of the group and you automatically fit
in.

That's true here and probably true of every group. The people who come here
seeking just information don't care if they're part of some "inner circle"
or fit in or not. They do what they need to do to get what they want. Those
who enjoy the purpose of the list, the deconstruction of ideas, writing
about and explaining unschooling, automatically become part of the "inner
circle" because that's all the "inner circle" is. It's just the people who
enjoy participating in the purpose of the list. Friendship comes as a side
effect of having found a place to share a common interest and passion.

Joyce

Kelli Traaseth

----- Original Message -----
From: Pam Hartley
To: [email protected]

**Kelli is so smart.**

Oh,,, thanks Pam! Uh, but you might have meant your meant your rabbit! <g> Damn internet!


I just looked at your website, she's smart and cute!


Kelli~


Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003 10:16 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] Re: staying home all day with cliques. I mean kids.


----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-Discussion] Digest Number 3901
>Date: Sat, Aug 9, 2003, 8:38 AM
>

> Doesn't everyone feel a bit "out of it" when you come into something new?
>
> You can't expect to feel included in something when you've just begun. But
> that doesn't mean the group is a clique.


Kelli is so smart. I have a rabbit named Kelli. You can see her picture (and
all the others <g>) at our rabbitry website:
http://www.mizbookbiz.com/shortstack

But that's not what I wanted to say. Or wait, yes it is.

Okay, so when I first got "into" showing rabbits, I started going to shows
and what I did first was watch (I didn't enter any rabbits in the
competition, I just watched). I saw how judging works. I read some books and
internet sites on rabbit shows. I politely asked everyone around me all the
questions I had. I filed away information, taking what was useful and
sensible to me and leaving the rest.

I bought some rabbits. Turns out, these rabbits didn't win everything in
site. I could have stomped off in a huff. Instead, I paid attention to the
judges' comments on the rabbits and also on the ones who were winning. Then
I started writing (clerking) for the judges, and ramrodding (helping the
judges' table run more smoothly). Doing this, in no time I knew all my
fellow exhibitors and they knew me as a person who would jump in and spend a
fairly gruelling four hours or so on her feet cheerfully keeping their show
running smoothly. They found me to be a fine person, a person who just like
them was willing to work for her fun.

I bought some more rabbits, and this time they were better rabbits because
a) I'd learned enough to go to the people with the really good stuff and b)
The people with the really good stuff WANTED to help me. They wanted me to
like showing rabbits because I turned out to be the kind of person it's fun
to show with and against.

I could have bought some rabbits, complained they didn't win, bad-mouthed
the breeders I bought them from, sat on my large behind at shows with an "I
paid my entry fee I don't have to work" entitlement, and generally made
myself useless and unpleasant to everyone. I don't think other breeders
would be lining up to help me put together a nice barn of rabbits today if I
had that attitude.

We choose not only how we are perceived, but how to perceive things.
Attitude matters.

Pam, Wrabbit Wrangler & Wradical Unschooler

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