Patrick Curtin |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Philosophical maunderings at 6 AM EST:
I am studying law at the moment and I am reading a book about law on the side called The Bramble Bush, by K.N. Llewellyn. It is a fantastic book for anyone even the slightest bit interested in law, he really does explain exactly WHAT law is quite well. (and if you think that is easy, try it right now).
Anyway, one thing that he mentions about teaching law to students is that a student that comes in and eagerly learns the rules and forms of law, and nothing else, takes away the shell and leaves the substance. Basically what he is getting at is that law is more than just a collection of rules. It is an ongoing ,evolving part of our culture that should be concerned with justice and a sense of rightness rather than following the rules.
This got me to thinking about the whole RAI/RAW debate that pops up in gaming circles. It seems to me that the GM is very much a judge (heck-some games even name the GM so). Interpreting the spirit of the rules, rather than following the rules themselves, is something GMs and lawyers have in common. Perhaps that is why I enjoy both.
Patrick Curtin |
Fun fact about K.N. Llewellyn. In 1914 he was a young Germanophile, and he decided that he would go over to Germany and fight for them in WWI. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending) He was wounded and discharged before America joined the fray. He was, however, awarded the Iron Cross (second class) for his service, thus becoming the only American citizen to ever be awarded that medal.
Aberzombie |
Did I mention that the day before the wedding somebody clipped my car where it was parked in front of the house and took off the driver's side mirror? No note or anything. We went to move my car because people were showing up for the rehearsal, and there it was.
Given my insurance has a deductible, I didn't even bother filing a claim. It wouldn't pay, but they'd have an excuse to raise my rates anyway.
That reminds me of an incident back around 12 years ago or so. The wife (who was then just the girlfriend) had spent the night at my apartment. As was typical, she had left her car parked on the street, along with dozens of others, and overnight someone went down the line with a baseball bat, taking out passenger side mirrors. They probably hit 20 or more cars.
Treppa |
3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Signed up for an art class, my very first! Ever since they yelled at me in kindergarten for not coloring within the lines, I have avoided being artsy except on my own and in secret. I was told doing light pencil outlines in preparation for sketching was wrong. I was told coloring in ovals was wrong. Thanks you youtube and a couple of good books, I've found out that I was NOT doing everything wrong, depending on the medium, and I actually can draw a little.
So this will be my very first jump from doing something for fun to a more disciplined approach. Really nervous. But it's pencil, so how awful could it be?
Rysky |
Signed up for an art class, my very first! Ever since they yelled at me in kindergarten for not coloring within the lines, I have avoided being artsy except on my own and in secret. I was told doing light pencil outlines in preparation for sketching was wrong. I was told coloring in ovals was wrong. Thanks you youtube and a couple of good books, I've found out that I was NOT doing everything wrong, depending on the medium, and I actually can draw a little.
So this will be my very first jump from doing something for fun to a more disciplined approach. Really nervous. But it's pencil, so how awful could it be?
O_O
F*## em, you do you Treppa.
*channels positive feelings*
Hope you have fun ^w^
Treppa |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Treppa wrote:Signed up for an art class, my very first! Ever since they yelled at me in kindergarten for not coloring within the lines, I have avoided being artsy except on my own and in secret. I was told doing light pencil outlines in preparation for sketching was wrong. I was told coloring in ovals was wrong. Thanks you youtube and a couple of good books, I've found out that I was NOT doing everything wrong, depending on the medium, and I actually can draw a little.
So this will be my very first jump from doing something for fun to a more disciplined approach. Really nervous. But it's pencil, so how awful could it be?
O_O
F#~! em, you do you Treppa.
*channels positive feelings*
Hope you have fun ^w^
Thank you! I'm having massive anxiety already, just reading the materials list. "Final plate will be provided." Final plate!? What? Ogodogodogod!
Rysky |
Rysky wrote:Thank you! I'm having massive anxiety already, just reading the materials list. "Final plate will be provided." Final plate!? What? Ogodogodogod!Treppa wrote:Signed up for an art class, my very first! Ever since they yelled at me in kindergarten for not coloring within the lines, I have avoided being artsy except on my own and in secret. I was told doing light pencil outlines in preparation for sketching was wrong. I was told coloring in ovals was wrong. Thanks you youtube and a couple of good books, I've found out that I was NOT doing everything wrong, depending on the medium, and I actually can draw a little.
So this will be my very first jump from doing something for fun to a more disciplined approach. Really nervous. But it's pencil, so how awful could it be?
O_O
F#~! em, you do you Treppa.
*channels positive feelings*
Hope you have fun ^w^
*hugs*
You can do it.
Patrick Curtin |
3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Signed up for an art class, my very first! Ever since they yelled at me in kindergarten for not coloring within the lines, I have avoided being artsy except on my own and in secret. I was told doing light pencil outlines in preparation for sketching was wrong. I was told coloring in ovals was wrong. Thanks you youtube and a couple of good books, I've found out that I was NOT doing everything wrong, depending on the medium, and I actually can draw a little.
So this will be my very first jump from doing something for fun to a more disciplined approach. Really nervous. But it's pencil, so how awful could it be?
I feel you.
I was very intuitively artistic as a child. I even won a contest at five. Then, I was discouraged from going on with it. It's left a hole in my life. Now, I doodle and support artists.
I found out much later my biological family is comprised of nothing but jewelers and artists. If I had been kept I would likely be a jeweler today. I am still fascinated by gems.
I had an odd encounter one day. It was Christmas season about five years ago. I was shopping in the local New Age/crystal/knickknack shop. As I was cashing out the woman at the counter asked if she could look at my palms. She told me, 'I've never seen this before. Your palm indicates you are incredibly artistic but that you stopped doing art'. I'm not a big fan of palmistry but that bit of unsolicited info was intriguing.
Best of luck!
Treppa |
Thanks!
I used to enjoy drawing pictures out of books and copying the Sunday comics large-size. The response to that was "you're just copying; it's not art." I wish I hadn't given up. I had no clue that copying was developing skills that are needed for real art. I thought you could either draw Binky or you couldn't, no in between.
Calex |
Go gettem Treppa! I'm picking up an old child-hood hobby too. As a young sprat my father bought me a rock tumbler so I could polish all those beach stones I was picking up at the seaside cabin we had at the time. I played with it a few times, got some really neat polished stones out of it, and like kids will over something that takes weeks to wait for, promptly lost interest.
Recently I went out and bought a another tumbler, with the idea of taking some stone from my grandmother's mountain homestead and maybe turning it into pendants or jewelry, to give her a piece of home. She's unable to live there anymore since her health has gotten to the point where she can't live by herself, and none of the family was closer than 6 hours to the farm- assuming the road was open. I havent been able to set it up yep- need to find room in the garage- but I got my mom and aunt to collect some rock from both the mountain and the South Thomson river that runs next to her homestead.
And it really is a homestead in the old way- gran & granpa claimed a 40-acre plot and cleared it out of wilds back in the 50s, even had to fight the gov't for compensation when they pushed the highway through their land in the 60s (they claimed they were squatters, until gramps went to assay office with the tax forms to prove he had paid the homesteaders rights.) So now the land is split into 2 parcels- 1 20 acre plot next to the river on one side of the highway, and another nestled next to the mountain on the other side of the freeway. Its rather depressing to think that all that work will be gone once gran passes. None of the kids really want the place, so it will prolly get sold and a really neat piece of family history will disappear.
Calex |
Rock Tumbling is a fun hobby. I was thinking of getting one myself
If you do take it up don't make the mistake I did. I bought my machine new, and then found another on ebay that was less than half of what I paid. Same model and everything. So check there 1st is my recommendation.
Storyteller Shadow |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Philosophical maunderings at 6 AM EST:
I am studying law at the moment and I am reading a book about law on the side called The Bramble Bush, by K.N. Llewellyn. It is a fantastic book for anyone even the slightest bit interested in law, he really does explain exactly WHAT law is quite well. (and if you think that is easy, try it right now).
Anyway, one thing that he mentions about teaching law to students is that a student that comes in and eagerly learns the rules and forms of law, and nothing else, takes away the shell and leaves the substance. Basically what he is getting at is that law is more than just a collection of rules. It is an ongoing ,evolving part of our culture that should be concerned with justice and a sense of rightness rather than following the rules.
This got me to thinking about the whole RAI/RAW debate that pops up in gaming circles. It seems to me that the GM is very much a judge (heck-some games even name the GM so). Interpreting the spirit of the rules, rather than following the rules themselves, is something GMs and lawyers have in common. Perhaps that is why I enjoy both.
Laws should be concerned with justice but rarely are. Laws degenerate into just do's and do not's without any consideration for ethics or morality when those who are writing them are concerned with a specific goal and less about justice. I could probably write forever on this (but I am buried with work right now) but one example.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CRACK
COCAINE SENTENCING LAWS
How Crack Vs. Coke Sentencing Unfairly Targets Poor People
Does that seem just or moral?
Sounds like an interesting book Patrick! Maybe it should be required ready for Politicians and Judges.
---------
With respect to game playing, to me the books are a guideline really.
The rules for games are what everyone agree upon. Provided they are applied equally then it does not matter if they are RAW or otherwise. That is how I run my table top games at any rate, I keep what I think is good and throw away the rest.
Patrick Curtin |
My thoughts exactly. It's just interesting that there is a thread of legal philosophy that adheres to the 'guideline ' ethos as well as one in gaming. Perhaps like the philosophy being called 'legal realism', we should have a 'gaming realism' philosophy. Stated thusly : The rules of the game should not determine the outcome, but are merely a framework or guideline to interpreting situations on a case-by-case basis, since every situation is different and should be adjutated accordingly.
Patrick Curtin |
I agree, but there's got to be some level of consistency, fairness, and communication. If I build a character who is gutted by sudden Rule 0 decisions, I'm not a happy camper.
Well, in legal realism the laws are there to assist in a just outcome. But, that doesn't mean a judge can just make up his own laws. I feel gaming realism would be the same. Once the rules of a game are decided upon, it behooves the players and GM to adhere to them. However, the rules are not an iron fetter: If a sense of fairness or good gameplay dictates an 'interpretation ' of the rules, then by all means.
Storyteller Shadow |
I agree, but there's got to be some level of consistency, fairness, and communication. If I build a character who is gutted by sudden Rule 0 decisions, I'm not a happy camper.
I have been gaming with the same group (some add on some fall off) for 20 years. Most rule decisions I make are at the table with all Players input. I don't generally make rules that are not favorable based on builds and if I do I allow players to revise their builds accordingly. For me where the rules effect PC's and NPC's the same way I have reached balance and consistency in the "gaming world" and all is well.
Ragadolf |
Treppa wrote:I agree, but there's got to be some level of consistency, fairness, and communication. If I build a character who is gutted by sudden Rule 0 decisions, I'm not a happy camper.Well, in legal realism the laws are there to assist in a just outcome. But, that doesn't mean a judge can just make up his own laws. I feel gaming realism would be the same. Once the rules of a game are decided upon, it behooves the players and GM to adhere to them. However, the rules are not an iron fetter: If a sense of fairness or good gameplay dictates an 'interpretation ' of the rules, then by all means.
Ergo, 'The Rule of Cool',...
Which states thusly;"As long as IT be Awesome, whether Heroically, Emotionally, or Amusingly, IT shall be Allowed to be Tried. As long as IT is not an Auto-Succeed. There must be an Element of Danger and/or a Chance of Failure, or the Success is not Awesome." ;)
(Somewhat paraphrased from 40+ years of Gaming) ;P