Hi Rich
I take many of your points, BUT it seems to me
that the reaction was ultra-suspicious. Why was
he not asked to introduce himself, give reasons
for his quest, etc. etc. if that was going to
help verify who he was and what he was up to.
Although this in itself is very naive. He could
claim anything at all via e-mail. The very fact
he did not say he was an author (and that was
purely my presumption because Jan de Vries is an
world authority on water) is not indicative of
some ulterior motive.
I understand what you are saying, but think that
if the request had come from someone who was
nearer home, the list would have reacted very
differently. Just my opinion and I had to
comment on it.
Xenophobia on the list? Why not? We are
surrounded by it in everyday and normal life. It
is an ugly British trait which has to be fought
before it gets even worse... Believe me.
Best
Janet Kaiser
Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales
----- Original Message -----
From: Rich Pederick <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 17 August 2000 11:12
Subject: Re: Condition of Holy Wells in Ireland
> Hi Janet,
>
> On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 01:07:30 +0100 Janet
Kaiser
> <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
>
> > Well, well, well. I find this a fascinating
> > turnabout. Not long ago, a request for
> > information on unknown or little used wells
and
> > water sources in Ireland from someone
wanting to
> > visit new sites (I think from the
Netherlands)
> > was treated with distrust and soul
searching.
>
> As i remember, this chap wrote to Katy? first
and she
> passed it on to the list. He did not introduce
himself and
> did not say much about his reasons for wanting
to find a
> quiet and remote place. The request did seem
suspicious,
> particularly because it came at a time when we
were being
> warned about thefts of statues etc from holy
wells.
>
> He made no mention of being a "well-known
author" or a
> "water venerator". If he had then no doubt his
request
> would have been met with more open-mindedness.
This is a
> failing of the email system in that it is
difficult to
> make judgements beyond the words on the
screen.
>
> In view of the above i think it is safest to
be suspicious
> under the circumstances. After all, there are
a number of
> books written on the subject that he could
have consulted.
> And holy wells are marked on the OS Discovery
maps.
>
> I would also question just how much knowledge
of Irish
> wells was on the list at that time. Certainly,
it was
> before i had been there.
>
> > Is this an advanced case of
> > dog-in-the-mangerism? No one cares for them,
but
> > they are not going to give others the
> > opportunity of finding them? Certainly not
> > foreigners!
>
> Oh come now! Surely you are not suggesting
xenophobia on
> the list.
>
> > And someone making the effort to search
> > out sites by subscribing to this list must
have
> > some good intention, not just mindless
> > destruction in mind.
>
> Not mindless destruction, no. But if somebody
was
> interested in stealing artefacts then why not
get some
> expert knowledge. If you doubt this is
happening then i can
> think of a number of instances of Pictish
stones,
> Sheela-na-Gigs, carved heads, or just plain
sarsen stones
> from the Avebury area being stolen in recent
years. Better
> to be safe than sorry surely?
>
> > Hopefully this current discussion shows a
change
> > of heart.
>
> I don't think there is a closed-minded opinion
to change
> here. Certainly whenever i have asked for
information from
> the list i have been overwhelmed with
information.
>
> But this does bring up an interesting
discussion that i
> have had a number of times in the past with
people on the
> Stones List. Just how much info should be made
available
> about sites. Personally, i have no qualms with
making the
> info available to whomever, but others i know
many of whom
> are site-guardians would prefer to be more
selective with
> the information they give because they have
seen the
> wanton vandalism etc that can and does occur.
Certainly, we
> all have a responsibility to the sites we
visit and study,
> but a balance between being protective and
sharing
> information is necessary.
>
> Just how much info should we make available do
you think?
> Should i include directions and grid refs on
my web pages?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rich (the suddenly verbose character who will
respond to
> any emails because of intense work-related
boredom :-)
>
> ----------------------
> Rich Pederick
> [log in to unmask]
> ----------------------
> Living Spring Journal - THE International
Electronic
> Forum for Research into Holy Wells & Waterlore
>
http://www.bath.ac.uk/lispring/journal/front.htm
>
>
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