Hi Janet,
Maybe you are right and the reaction was ultra-suspicious.
But i don't think that this was at all xenophobic or
an instance of being deliberately secretive. I think that
it was simply a reaction (and probably an over-reaction) to
a request that seemed odd at that time. The fact that he
was from Holland does not figure in the equation as far as
i can see. At least i certainly hope it didn't. And i agree
that such close-minded attitudes are rife and should be
discouraged at all times.
Basically we agree, and i just wanted to add some thoughts
to try to persuade you that the way that the request was
publicly dealt with was in no way related to his
nationality or because of a wish to shroud wells in mystery.
So Janet, anybody, tell me, just how open should we be
about the location of wells, especially if the site is in a
remote place and open to vandalism and or artifact theft?
Is it wise to publish grid refs in LSJ or on web pages?
Am i being paranoid?
Cheers, and best wishes,
Rich
On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 21:49:55 +0100 Janet Kaiser
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 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
> >
> >
>
----------------------
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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