[FBC] The Social Guide to Rocky Project

[jrising]

It's strange to think that there are residents of the greater-Cambridge area who don't understand basic mailing list rules of behavior. But it's no surprise that Rocky newbies are forever shooting their feet: Rocky has one of the most sophisticated set of social rules and hazing mechanisms I've ever encountered. I consider myself a fairly observant fellow, and I'm still learning unspoken expectations.

I keep wanting to write them all down. Gary is compiling an official rule guide-- what about having an underground one? I'm imaging sections on communication (email conventions, elvis, list abuse, good ways to criticize), Rocky parties (expectations, yellow, fives, rules to common games, how to start/join an orgy), illicit activities (participating and avoiding), traditions, and the unofficial social roles of people in the cast.

But maybe recording it would do unwarranted abuse to an already well-functioning and ever-fluid system. I come from a world where people consume friend-making algorithms, social technologies, and relationship guides like candy, because what is obvious to some people is a bizarre mystery to others.

Would anyone find this useful? (Finding it useful for someone else doesn't count.)

Comments

[smurf24.livejournal.com]

I don't know. When you put it like that, it doesn't sound like much fun. There is no "how to start/join an orgy" rule. And I don't think there should be. I think some things are just better left alone because once you write it down, it loses some of its value. What I love about Rocky is that everyone has their own expectations and people who have new ideas often bring a whole new dimension to Rocky.

[jrising.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful that almost everyone at Rocky manages to figure these all out for themselves, but I know that there are always some people who have a lot less fun because they haven't figured some of them out.

As with everywhere, people at Rocky can impose their expectations on each other and hurt or get hurt without meaning it. I think that some people who do this just end up being alienated by the cast and leaving. Which I suppose is a fairly effective way for things to work, but it isn't the only way.

If I were to write some guidelines for starting or joining orgies, I fully agree that would only be a gross approximation of reality, but they might still be useful (e.g., Tristram taught me that asking often works fine).

[d-day.livejournal.com]

ACK! LJ ate my long and well written response!!@!

In short:
All Social Systems have fluid rules
A guide might work if it was VERY tounge and cheek
We used to have Party rules but now it is up to each house

I think it might be cute if we made an FBC year book... but I don't know if I have time.

[jrising.livejournal.com]

I'm curious what the party rules were. I remember my first party had a posted list, including "What happens at the party stays at the party" and "If you've been at FBC less than two years, you have to play". What else was there?

I love studying social groups, and I'm afraid I'd present my observations as fact, even though I know that it's always more fluid and individual and changeable than any of the general expectations I'd like to read into it. Even worse, people might read them and react to them as though I'm presenting them as fact.

A year book would be great, even if it were just a collection of pictures on a webpage for the past year.