Warning: this post consists of a large block of turgid prose concerning the philosophy and design of imagi-nations.
I was playing, and playing is the right word, around with ideas for the background for my eastern frontier. I had my WRG book on the dark ages and looked up the Khazars, this seemed just the ticket, a nomadic tribe with a Jewish faith. Lots of opportunity to put in some Rider Haggard details on the lost tribes etc. Googling around suddenly brought me back to a very unpleasant reality. Virulent anti semeticism, hard core Zionism, threats, violence, rabid nonsense. It occurred to me that if I write up my own ramblings then search engines will draw these unpleasant nutters to my site like flies to shit.
I have already alluded to a certain unease caused by having a 'civilised' germanic nation waging war on its slavic neighbours. Like it or not we live in world where an historic 1941 exists no matter how many alternative 1941's we invent. I guess that is why I am not really a Society of Daisy fan, I don't want my wargames to exist in an alternative universe because I am defeated my the moral complexities of this one.
" Give us a break", I hear you cry, " Its only a game of bleeding toy soldiers."
Quite right too!
I am therefore making an addition to the list of cultural icons that influence my imagi- world. Welcome the late Talbot Rothwell, policeman, RAF pilot, POW and most importantly writer of many of the Carry On scripts. Who can forget Sir Roger de Lodger in Carry on Henry.
So away with Khaziristan and all the baggage it carries, welcome instead the Khaganate of Khasistan. The vast area of forest and lakes to the east of Moravia, is collectively known as the Khasi and yes, its capital city is Borat.
(At the risk of stating the obvious, US readers may not know that Khasi was 60's slang for toilet or lavatory.)
13 comments:
It's unfortunate, but I think you make a good point. Sadly nutters (both pro and anti) may be attracted. The Khasi sounds good, it could have a city called Khasihole, led by a KhasiHead and so on, but I'm sure you can come up with better! I look forward to your posts on the subject.
Thanks for the clarification as to "Khasi" . . . here on the west coast of North America, I did not know that.
As for your "revelation", I sadly concur. Many folks who do not understand our hobby or history could take it the wrong way.
-- Jeff
It is indeed a sadness but I fear you have a valid point...
I look forward to seeing where your interesting project will go from here. Keep up the good hobby work and do not be too dis spirited!
best wishes
Alan
While I'm revulsed by 'political correctness' I understand your point -and warmly second a decision that offers you a good (series of) pun(s)!
Looking forward to discovering the armies and their campaigns.
Jean-Louis
Hi John,
My Dad was a plumber and I got to help when I was old enough to lug a toolbox, so the Khasi already have a special place in my heart. Do the Khasi troops rally to the immortal battlecry of, "Pickles Down The Rathole!"?
Another west coast north American here. I didn't know the slang of which you speeak so I am glad for the clarification (even if it did seem like stating the obvious to some people). :-)
Do what makes it fun for you (That's the Society of Daisy way, too, as far as I understand it and is certainly my motto when it comes to hobbies), and remember, you're the one who defines what that means for you. :-)
Thanks for the comments, and cheering thoughts. Not dispirited at all, just the downside of the internet. A small price to pay when one considers all the interesting contacts one makes through blogs etc.
Just a thought though, in case I have expressed myself badly. I am not anti the Society of Daisy. Otto and all the rest are a great bunch of blokes and I love a lot of what they come up with.
Just that my take on it is from a slightly different slant. I prefer bending history a little to reating a completely imaginary world. Just the difference between Cheddar and Camenbert, both great cheeses but different.
John
No worries, John. :-)
Otto does things his way, which is a bit over the top for my tastes. In any case, I believe the main point of Daisy is to have fun and not take things too seriously. Some opt for slapstick, others for puns, or dry humor, or farce or whimsy, or a bit of each or whatever else takes their fancy. It's all good. I think you're stuff fits into the spirit of Daisy (as would most of the other blogs dealing with wargaming the 18th century I have seen).
Regardless, I enjoy your blog and it sounds like you have fun. The rest is immaterial, in my opinion.
:-D
Bring on the Burphas!
The big question is where does the Kenneth Williams character fit into the new plan?
Ever read the Arthur Koestler book on the Kahazars? "the 13th tribe"- a bit of social history, with a general narrative..used to be published by Picador IIRC
John,
I always thought the dinner party scene while being bombarded by the rebels in 'CO Up the Kyber'was a classic bit of comedy. I would have loved to have sat in on the script writing meetings.
Guy
As another Daisyite, I fall more in your line of things, prefering to have a reasonably plausible fictional state existing in the "real" Europe going on around it. While there are in-jokes, I like to think that all I've created is pretty reasonable outside of the lack of its geography actually existing.
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