I've been thinking a lot lately (for a slug) on how to approach this issue more effectively. I think it's important to 'be the fish' before going fishing. There's so many aspects to Discordianism that it's easy to confuse/amuse people, but that's not going work as well as appealing to their fears/desires. Give people what they want to hear, and they'll pick up the rest later, in their own way.
Right now, in a general sense (it should be tailored to each fish if possible), I'm chosing to describe Discordianism as a means of increasing empathy, open-mindedness, expanding perceptions...partly through understanding/accepting strife and making it turn it's frown upside-down. In this way I provide some part of their unconscious a promise for betterment, and a cure for woes.
The method of fishing can change, because Discordianism has so many aspects at it's disposal that we just need to pull out what's appropriate to whoever we're targeting...tell the Hippies it's all about love and weed, tell the Christians it's a way to increase their relationship with Jesus, tell the Axe Murderers it'll increase their hunting skills...etc..etc...
Is any sense being made here?
But, it isn't all about anything. Right there you are already betraying Discordianism by trying to tie it up in a neat package which the book goes to great lengths to discourage. And honestly, I'm worried less about converting someone so that they can say they are part of a Discordian movement. I'd rather just have the person start to explore themselves and understand the limits and parameters they have, probably unwittingly, placed upon themselves, their lives, and the way they proceed through those lives. Expanding vision. Tapping back into that imagination and creativity that adulthood buried. The label is unimportant.
Hello Rev. What's-His-Name? (Is that Rogie-Poo or another Rev??)
I was merely offering an idea on one possible way to increase interest in
Discordianism™, if that's what someone reading might think is a worthwhile
thing to do. The question "How best to describe Discordianism™ to the
unaware?" to me implies some sort of concearn over how Discordianism™ is
portrayed/perceived. I guess I expanded on that too much (thinking more along the lines of online campaigns to increase exposure to whatever Discordianism™
may or may not be) when he/she was simply curious how others handle similar social situations in RL. I apologize if I missed the point and used that as an excuse to further my selfish, hypothetical agenda.
As for the "betraying Discordianism by trying to tie it up in a neat package" comment, I thought I was pretty clear that what I was purposing was a way of giving unaware people a way of getting interested in something which can be so very difficult to find on their own, so that they may eventually have at least a chance of learning something. Those that have no way of dipping their feet in the water on their own at least deserve to know that there's a massive ocean out there (best metaphor I can think of while very busy at work)...even if I have to tell them we're going to Disneyland as I drive to the dentist, anyone worth 'having' will understand when they grow up, but this is getting a little old, again I apologise.
Also, it's spelled Discordianism™ (from now on).
Whew! This illumination process is exhausting. Good thing I always remember to do my stretches before I log on here or I'd pull something for sure.
