LukkyKnight
Equal Opportunity Enjoyer
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2001
- Posts
- 58,516
Once upon a time, in a land not very far from anywhere, there lived a diverse assortment of people in a bedroom community. There was no industry in their town, you see, no major employers, no mass transit system, none of the trappings of a big city. The people came and went on their various schedules, waving to each other as they passed, sitting in pubs and holding parties and the like, talking about everything from politics to the weather, from gossip about those not present to defend themselves against rumors to lofty philosophical concepts, and everything in between.
Being people, and human to the core, they sometimes took offense at something another had said; they sometimes teased each other; they flirted; they fought; they forgave; they formed fast friendships - all the things you'd expect of a community, and some you might not. They were generally curious to meet newcomers, and generally delighted when an old, familiar face returned after some hiatus. Some, of course, went to more trouble than others to quickly get to know the new arrivals, for it was an assortment of individuals all with their own styles, backgrounds, memories, and personal philosophies.
Many - many indeed - arrived bearing scars from their journeys, or their time spent in other communities. Even the young often showed signs of deep and abiding pain incurred elsewhere, so some were quite sullen, even belligerent. Life is not always gentle, but there were no guards around the community, and when drawn to the lights newcomers merely passed a sign which listed some very minimal rules {which can be distilled to three, for the purposes of this narrative: 1) Be an adult. 2) If it's not nice don't say it. 3) If it's not nice don't do it.} So, people came and went, some leaving quickly, others more inclined to settle there, depending on their needs and desires, and upon how closely they felt the community would meet those (though it must be said that not all knew what they were looking for.)
Unsurprisingly, some arrived full of bluster in spite of their scars, claiming to be somehow unique and special to such a degree that all those already present should accommodate them in every way. Naturally not all those present would choose to do so, and reactions to such imperious arrivals by posturing travellers ranged from bored yawns to cries for expulsion. Typically these were not true villains, but merely loud ruffians not practiced at integrating with existing social structures - yet sometimes they became so entrenched in the idea of maintaining the appearance they'd first projected that it was nigh unto impossible for them to be accepted, which variously confused or offended the nomadic ruffians, for they did tend to see the place as attractive and worthy of them.
The connundrum for the increasingly ostracized vagabonds at times reached the level of an obsession, "I'm coming in and you're going to deal with me, like it or not." Yet the louder they huffed and puffed the less accepted they became by the very community which so attacted them. Really, this isn't such a complex tale after all, you see. Really, this community was just like every other community. Really, if you want to be part of a group, you have to be part of the group.
Be an adult. If it's not nice, don't say it. If it's not nice don't do it. The other ways lead to a solitary, nomadic existence.
Being people, and human to the core, they sometimes took offense at something another had said; they sometimes teased each other; they flirted; they fought; they forgave; they formed fast friendships - all the things you'd expect of a community, and some you might not. They were generally curious to meet newcomers, and generally delighted when an old, familiar face returned after some hiatus. Some, of course, went to more trouble than others to quickly get to know the new arrivals, for it was an assortment of individuals all with their own styles, backgrounds, memories, and personal philosophies.
Many - many indeed - arrived bearing scars from their journeys, or their time spent in other communities. Even the young often showed signs of deep and abiding pain incurred elsewhere, so some were quite sullen, even belligerent. Life is not always gentle, but there were no guards around the community, and when drawn to the lights newcomers merely passed a sign which listed some very minimal rules {which can be distilled to three, for the purposes of this narrative: 1) Be an adult. 2) If it's not nice don't say it. 3) If it's not nice don't do it.} So, people came and went, some leaving quickly, others more inclined to settle there, depending on their needs and desires, and upon how closely they felt the community would meet those (though it must be said that not all knew what they were looking for.)
Unsurprisingly, some arrived full of bluster in spite of their scars, claiming to be somehow unique and special to such a degree that all those already present should accommodate them in every way. Naturally not all those present would choose to do so, and reactions to such imperious arrivals by posturing travellers ranged from bored yawns to cries for expulsion. Typically these were not true villains, but merely loud ruffians not practiced at integrating with existing social structures - yet sometimes they became so entrenched in the idea of maintaining the appearance they'd first projected that it was nigh unto impossible for them to be accepted, which variously confused or offended the nomadic ruffians, for they did tend to see the place as attractive and worthy of them.
The connundrum for the increasingly ostracized vagabonds at times reached the level of an obsession, "I'm coming in and you're going to deal with me, like it or not." Yet the louder they huffed and puffed the less accepted they became by the very community which so attacted them. Really, this isn't such a complex tale after all, you see. Really, this community was just like every other community. Really, if you want to be part of a group, you have to be part of the group.
Be an adult. If it's not nice, don't say it. If it's not nice don't do it. The other ways lead to a solitary, nomadic existence.
