I must admit, I get that exact same feeling from that particular group of people. Every time I'm at a gathering and there are about 3 or more of them there, I allways feel like I'm being preached to. It's like when I'm talking with the Jehova Witnesses. I make it known that I am not a member and have no intention of ever becoming a member, yet I am willing to discuss it and interested in learning about it. And they turn it around somehow in their heads and seem to think that means that I want to be preached to.
Now, not everyone in that group does that as much as others.. Some of the more advanced students there seem to get the idea that I'm never going to join and somehow turn off the preaching. But then they seem to allways be looking down to me. They have a sort of "I know something you don't and you could never understand it" approach to me. Hell, I've flat-out been told that it's something I couldn't understand.
Which, granted, I don't mind one bit. If understanding it makes people act like that and shut out anyone not a part of the "in" crowd, I hope I never understand it. May my mind be ever confuzed (not a far step from my current state).
But the fact remains, and the point I'm trying to get to, is that I have also felt the "you're not one of us", "we don't need or want you here" vibe from that group on many occasions. I'm not expecting to be invited on the mat for a workout with the group the instant I walk in the door (I think my group is the only one that does that) but I would at least like to have my presence aknowledged after sitting by the mat for a bit. Maybe have an advanced student or the Sensi come over and explain what is going on. Or am I just expecting too much from any dojo in general?
wow, that was long-winded.. apologies to anyone who actually read all that trash.
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momijizukamori
Re: opinion
Date: 2001-12-06 04:45 pm (UTC)Now, not everyone in that group does that as much as others.. Some of the more advanced students there seem to get the idea that I'm never going to join and somehow turn off the preaching. But then they seem to allways be looking down to me. They have a sort of "I know something you don't and you could never understand it" approach to me. Hell, I've flat-out been told that it's something I couldn't understand.
Which, granted, I don't mind one bit. If understanding it makes people act like that and shut out anyone not a part of the "in" crowd, I hope I never understand it. May my mind be ever confuzed (not a far step from my current state).
But the fact remains, and the point I'm trying to get to, is that I have also felt the "you're not one of us", "we don't need or want you here" vibe from that group on many occasions.
I'm not expecting to be invited on the mat for a workout with the group the instant I walk in the door (I think my group is the only one that does that) but I would at least like to have my presence aknowledged after sitting by the mat for a bit. Maybe have an advanced student or the Sensi come over and explain what is going on. Or am I just expecting too much from any dojo in general?
wow, that was long-winded.. apologies to anyone who actually read all that trash.