reppepper
"It's not someone who's seen the light. It's a cold and a broken Hallelujah." -- Leonard Cohen
Pranks
campThe 2006 Camp Gitchigomee season is over and I'm hoping to blog a few reflections on my time there at each of the three weeks, including how much (surprisingly) I now like buffet-style meals -- for a small group, that is.
But first:
Last century, when we at Dorion Bible Camp acquired Becky Wright from Camp Gitchigomee in the Big Trade* for "future options" (turned out to be me), I got the idea (correctly or not) that Camp G. had a culture of pranking.
* = Insert winky emoticon here.
In the mid-80's we at Dorion Bible Camp learned by our own foolishness the emotional dangers of pranking. Humour itself did not die out, but we took steps to curb the kind of "practical" (i.e. physical rather than verbal) humour that comes at others' expense (and is emulated by campers).
Speaking personally I did grow uncomfortable for myself and for the camp, when pranks began a condoned resurgence c. 2000. I was told that this is how people make friends and I felt helpless. It's too bad, because I'm sure that we could have talked it through and arrived at a helpful policy.
Admittedly, my attempts to word one in those days were unnecessarily complicated. I now like the way Manitoba Pioneer Camp words it simply (in addition to a few references to misuse of property) "Would the other person laugh?" If the answer is "no", don't do it. If the answer is "I don't know." (possibly because s/he's a virtual stranger), then don't do it.
I would simply add that we also have to remember that the campers are watching and may copy an acceptable joke, but without the same respect for boundaries.
Anyway, I can't comment on what place pranks do or don't have at Dorion Bible Camp since '02, but when I had finished my 2nd week at Camp G. this year, it dawned on me that my times there in the last 3 years had been prank-free -- but also with very little comment about it. (No lectures from directors etc.) Prank-free, but certainly not humour-or-fun-free.
I thought I'd better not blog about it last weekend, however, and tempt fate, until the last week was over.
Camp Cultures are influenced greatly by the long-term leaders and due to the transience of summer staff, can often be changed quickly by a conscious decision. Only two summers need to pass and a Camp Tradition can become history or legend.
But first:
Last century, when we at Dorion Bible Camp acquired Becky Wright from Camp Gitchigomee in the Big Trade* for "future options" (turned out to be me), I got the idea (correctly or not) that Camp G. had a culture of pranking.
* = Insert winky emoticon here.
In the mid-80's we at Dorion Bible Camp learned by our own foolishness the emotional dangers of pranking. Humour itself did not die out, but we took steps to curb the kind of "practical" (i.e. physical rather than verbal) humour that comes at others' expense (and is emulated by campers).
Speaking personally I did grow uncomfortable for myself and for the camp, when pranks began a condoned resurgence c. 2000. I was told that this is how people make friends and I felt helpless. It's too bad, because I'm sure that we could have talked it through and arrived at a helpful policy.
Admittedly, my attempts to word one in those days were unnecessarily complicated. I now like the way Manitoba Pioneer Camp words it simply (in addition to a few references to misuse of property) "Would the other person laugh?" If the answer is "no", don't do it. If the answer is "I don't know." (possibly because s/he's a virtual stranger), then don't do it.
I would simply add that we also have to remember that the campers are watching and may copy an acceptable joke, but without the same respect for boundaries.
Anyway, I can't comment on what place pranks do or don't have at Dorion Bible Camp since '02, but when I had finished my 2nd week at Camp G. this year, it dawned on me that my times there in the last 3 years had been prank-free -- but also with very little comment about it. (No lectures from directors etc.) Prank-free, but certainly not humour-or-fun-free.
I thought I'd better not blog about it last weekend, however, and tempt fate, until the last week was over.
Camp Cultures are influenced greatly by the long-term leaders and due to the transience of summer staff, can often be changed quickly by a conscious decision. Only two summers need to pass and a Camp Tradition can become history or legend.
No Snappy answer to stupid questions - Make it snappy!
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