"Potlatch" ISH type of gathering for fun..

I want to propose a GIVING event;
probably early morning near a cafe
the late afternoon near the farmers market

maybe the only participant being me!

I am disenchanted with the Yard sale,flea market,and craigslist world too much haggling

My partner and I are up cycle art teachers promoters and creators and in that capacity
for 35 years I became an accidental Hoarder (or museum curator,with no REAL Estate) just fake estate
with that and no credit cards and no security guards..

no one labels themselves a hoarder ,others do. I just get stuff that might be good for art or temporary decoration or parade floats. I love stuff. I also love people; managing stuff takes me away from people.

So if I give you stuff will that make you too busy to see me? hmmm

anyway I want to PAY IT FORWARD more so one of these SUNDAYS soon I,or we, will meet in a parking lot,put out some stuff (not just junk) goodies (you know like pocket knives watches,lighters carabiners etc etc tools toys and knick knacks .. Anybody care to join? any body want to play,anybody love or hate stuff want to come heckle or get and give?

one things for sure ,what with china cranking it out,and us stumbling around with money, there is sure a LOT of stuff these days. I think we should all paint our cars with bottle caps but I am strange

Let's have a Potsmash and give it all away, I'll be there ! date to be announced soon(as a potter I have the right to smash any of my pots I do not care to keep intact. )

Like your idea, here is my silly take on stuff. Evidently Carlin had lots of stuff. I think you can find his stuff piece on you tube ~ rn

enough stuff

what if we didn't buy stuff
what if folks just said
enough stuff!

would santa claus disappear
would the nation fall into
deep despair
or
would jobs then be about
poets, art, kindness
and helping each other
or
would the wheels fall off
and everyone starve
go insane, grieve

would panhandlers stop
panhandling
(nothing to give away)
would stuff riots break out
a chant go viral:
"we want our stuff and we want it now"
would george carlin
finally be vilified
people thinking his mocking
stuff skit
started the stuff revolution

hard to imagine
no stuff
We'd have to start talking and telling stories
no books and TV and computers
we'd have to walk everywhere
no cars

would the world be destitute without stuff

richard nichols jan 2014

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Posted in reply to the post by nicofrog:

I want to propose a GIVING event;...

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I went through the various descriptions of the Potlatch, and was shocked to see this:

"Every Indian or other person who engages in or assists in celebrating the Indian festival known as the "Potlatch" or the Indian dance known as the "Tamanawas" is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not more than six nor less than two months in any gaol or other place of confinement; and, any Indian or other person who encourages, either directly or indirectly, an Indian or Indians to get up such a festival or dance, or to celebrate the same, or who shall assist in the celebration of same is guilty of a like offense, and shall be liable to the same punishment.^"[19]

Yes I've seen Carlin's bit on stuff ,he is funny ! he is also MEAN and a lot of his ,pardon the expression ""STUFF "" is negative and thrives on criticizing others.

My take on stuff is very different ,it's a shame he is not still alive we could debate in the issue

I was raised in a very low income family,and learned to MAKE everything we needed .We were potters and painters,and as such our own carpenters,plumbers electricians ,auto repair specialists,etc etc. good without hands.

I learned to discern quality stuff from Junk, and to scavenge and rebuild and fix, value old over new etc etc

I have a huge attitude about how America's waste and think they have some know how about possession and gathering gleaning owning bearing and disposing of "stuff" I both love it and hate it.

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Posted in reply to the post by Shandi:

I went through the various descriptions of the Potlatch, and was shocked to see this...

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Great find ,I wonder what that was?? from probably an Oregon or Washington state legislatures history.
when the merchants came in to sell the "Indians"blankets laced with disease,they needed to make sure that the local "giving " culture would be crippled ,so they could make bank and take home furs for the upper class ladies in New York to wear!!

Id love to be busted for giving!! second only to being busted for parading backwards!that almost happened to us once in S F !! thanks for posting !

Lets all get together and hate to love stuff! (or love to hate it!!) some folks get and almost orgasmic reaction to violently chucking it in the GARBAGE CAN!!. once a hippy friend of mine on acid bought one of my fathers pieces and borrowed a hammer from him so he could smash it !!

Shandi, the cultural tradition of Coastal Northwestern tribes (Potlatch) was indeed banned in Western Canada during the late 19th-early 20th century during that era's deluded goal of "assimilation." We here in America have equally heinous histories, if not more so.

Having lived in BC and being half Canadian, I can say for certain that Canada has done much to recover and celebrate the Potlatch tradition and the heritage it once sought to erase.

What I object to is the appropriation of Potlatch by the earlier writer here in California no less, without really understanding this very complex cultural ritual--much more than "giving or exchanging" that actually existed in another country and nations (aboriginal nations.)

I really feel that just doing a net search and coming up with sound bites is a disservice to history. Let's step away from instant expertise and take the time to really learn about what we are talking about.

In this case, a great tradition and culture was used---yes used--- to talk about a "giving exchange."
And while I understand your response--having done a net search---once again, the full picture as a result was not presented.

How about we all agree not to appropriate other cultures, for starters?

I'd like to point out that all Shandi did was quote the abuses that suppressed the Potlatch. Since her quote was out of historical context, I objected, but right here now I want to also object to the other uninformed postings that I can't even dignify with a response.

Shandi, thanks as always for putting info out there, and for being willing to be part of the dialogue.

My two cents, Gypsey

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Posted in reply to the post by Shandi:

I went through the various descriptions of the Potlatch, and was shocked to see this:

"Every Indian or other person who engages in or assists in celebrating the Indian festival known as the "Potlatch" or the Indian dance known as the "Tamanawas" is guilty of a misdemeanor,...

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Thanks "Gypsey"

I certainly do not care to usurp anyone’s cultural tradition or even claim to know much about the original meaning of the word.

Just liked the concept it partially represented,I will happily change the name in deference to YOUR preferences,hope that brings you to the event and out of your armchair..

By the way have you checked in with the Romany people about using Gypsey as a name?

I got my Spanish name from my parents,but I doubt they checked to see if it was O K with their Mexican Friends,but in these days of being politically correct ,we can never be to safe..

Nicolas

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Posted in reply to the post by gypsey:

...How about we all agree not to appropriate other cultures, for starters?
My two cents,
Gypsey

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There are many names that are now colloquial, though I come by "Gypsey" honestly. That is very different than appropriating a cultural and religious practice. I am sure you meant no harm. But would you have used a Catholic, Muslim or Jewish ritual in the same way? Just asking....

As a follow up to my earlier posting, I am sure the Roma have no problem with my using "Gypsey" . As Romani, or Roma, no doubt the words "gipsy" and "gypsy" are familiar to them, But not Gypsey.
Anyway, again I know you meant no harm. I was just sharing that the Potlatch concept as described y you (not just the word,) is actually a scared religious and cultural ceremony, much more than how you described it.
So...it's not about names.
And BTW I don't think you need to get me out of my armchair.

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Posted in reply to the post by nicofrog:

Thanks "Gypsey", I certainly do not care to usurp anyone’s cultural tradition or even claim to know much about the original meaning of the word...

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you mean like Christmas? or thanksgiving SURE I'm here for the fun of it

but I am also grateful for the RULES and the gatekeepers who hold them

(the elders joke about it) the gate keepers feel important

Yay for all of it

Nico

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Posted in reply to the post by gypsey:

There are many names that are now colloquial, though I come by "Gypsey" honestly. That is very different than appropriating a cultural and religious practice. I am sure you meant no harm. But would you have used a Catholic, Muslim or Jewish ritual in the same way? Just asking....

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