Hello, Discordian parent-types, older siblings and writers! I am working on a book project on Discordian parenting, and after reading the fabulous Intermittens #7 I realized that it would be a far richer project (not to mention far more likely to actually be completed) if it were collaborative rather than solitary. What I am looking for is essays on parenting with a Discordian bent, project ideas for little Discordians, and any other writings (memoirs, songs, games, poetry and recipes) that are Discordian and have something to do with kids.
My goal is to get it in front of as many eyes as possible; the idea of a Discordian parenting book on the shelves at Barnes & Noble cracks me up. A Real Live Publisher will do the best job of that, and while unlikely to lead to fame or fortune, it would be a nice publication credit for everyone involved. To that end, I will pitch this book to Llewellyn press (and if that fails, smaller presses; suggestions gratefully accepted) for big-girl publication in the hope that this will end up on shelves in the big chain stores. If it is not accepted by any third-party publishing companies, I'll self-publish it as Fnord Press. In either case, submissions will be copyrighted to the authors and royalties apportioned equally between all contributors, unless an author specifically wishes to opt out and release their work under a Creative Commons license.
Due to my intentions to submit this book to third-party publishers, I cannot accept previously published work, or work that is licensed under the Creative Commons no-profit license.
Email submissions to raisingeris@gmail.com. Please make sure you include the name you wish to have your contribution credited to. If this goes to publication with a "real" publishing house I will also need your legal name and mailing address for royalties. Your legal identity will be held in strictest confidentiality.
Please repost this far and wide!
Are you registered at EB&G? They have a whole sub-forum over there devoted to parenting, though it isn't necessarily always related to Discordianism. But there might be something there you could use, or at the very least, it would be a good place to post your call for submissions.
I am, thanks! I didn't realize there was a parenting subforum there.
Are childcare stories from camp, programs, or lesson teaching relevant?
Quote from: Nigel on July 09, 2009, 07:29:16 PM
I am, thanks! I didn't realize there was a parenting subforum there.
It's the one called Magdalene's Hearth. Unless they changed it. I haven't been over there in awhile.
Good luck Nigel! I'll send anything as it comes to me.
Considering my daughter's name I am legally required to write something about this. I have no idea where to start though. Give me some time to think about it.
my gf's neighbor also has a daughter named eris. I'll pass along the word. :wink:
I would really appreciate this, my catholic grand mother told my son that when he's a bad boy 'his ANGEL cries' and when he is a good boy 'his ANGEL is happy'. 1. I really don't need this shit from her right now and 2. Any thoughts on raising children from an non-dogmatic group of folks such as yourselves would be rather helpful.
I have the impression you're looking for serious parenting info and resources, even if done from a humorous point of view--am I right? Things like discipline, encouraging your kids to keep an open mind (like Robert Anton Wilson said, be an agnostic in everything), real activities kids might like, etc.
In any case, I'll pass this along. I think it's a great idea! It sounds like it would be great for non-Discordians too, for any parents/legal guardians who don't have their ideas of parenting stuck in a reality tunnel.
Quote from: Richter on July 09, 2009, 07:52:29 PM
Are childcare stories from camp, programs, or lesson teaching relevant?
YES
YES YES YES
Being a sibling, aunt or uncle, teacher, babysitter, WHATEVER is relevant.
Quote from: Iason Ouabache on July 10, 2009, 01:33:44 AM
Considering my daughter's name I am legally required to write something about this. I have no idea where to start though. Give me some time to think about it.
Take your time... I am thinking I'll leave the call for submissions out for a year, and then start editing.
Essays about living with a Discordian child are a welcome format, as well as actual "how I parent as a Discordian" type articles. I would really love to get a wide variety of writings, so whatever you come up with, I'm interested in.
Quote from: Sheered Völva on July 10, 2009, 04:29:11 AM
I have the impression you're looking for serious parenting info and resources, even if done from a humorous point of view--am I right? Things like discipline, encouraging your kids to keep an open mind (like Robert Anton Wilson said, be an agnostic in everything), real activities kids might like, etc.
In any case, I'll pass this along. I think it's a great idea! It sounds like it would be great for non-Discordians too, for any parents/legal guardians who don't have their ideas of parenting stuck in a reality tunnel.
I hope so! I love the idea of random people picking this up and feeling inspired to relate to their kids in a more... well, Discordian way.
I don't have any kids... but if/when I do, I probably won't tell them about Discordianism until they're teens :wink:
It screws up my head bad enough, I have no idea what it would do it a young, impressionable child :horrormirth:
Well, you could always raise your child a Discordian without telling them.
That is, employ Discordian philosophies and strategies in your parenting.
And I have to say, it has been very useful to me to keep those things in the back of my head.
So when I'm telling my Daughter not to do something, that really in the grand scheme of things harms no one, the little bell goes off that says "Um, what the hell are you doing?"
Nigel, feel free to use this, if you wish:
http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=12215.0
Quote from: Havok on July 10, 2009, 10:41:51 AM
I don't have any kids... but if/when I do, I probably won't tell them about Discordianism until they're teens :wink:
It screws up my head bad enough, I have no idea what it would do it a young, impressionable child :horrormirth:
It's not about telling them they're Discordians, it's really about raising them as little Discordians, with Discordian principles (question everything, think for yourself, strife is not always negative, etc) so that they become the best adults they can be; fully realized and without some of the constraints many of us have battled with.
That said, my older two kids are aware that we are Discordians, and the oldest one has read the PD several times. The youngest one wouldn't get it yet. She doesn't even know what religion is. When she asks, I'll tell her.
Quote from: LMNO on July 10, 2009, 02:11:51 PM
Nigel, feel free to use this, if you wish:
http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=12215.0
I like this. If the illustrations got finished, it would make a great little story for the middle of the book. Maybe I should ask my housemate if she would illustrate it?
Go for it!
Quote from: Nigel on July 10, 2009, 06:03:36 PM
Quote from: Havok on July 10, 2009, 10:41:51 AM
I don't have any kids... but if/when I do, I probably won't tell them about Discordianism until they're teens :wink:
It screws up my head bad enough, I have no idea what it would do it a young, impressionable child :horrormirth:
It's not about telling them they're Discordians, it's really about raising them as little Discordians, with Discordian principles (question everything, think for yourself, strife is not always negative, etc) so that they become the best adults they can be; fully realized and without some of the constraints many of us have battled with.
That said, my older two kids are aware that we are Discordians, and the oldest one has read the PD several times. The youngest one wouldn't get it yet. She doesn't even know what religion is. When she asks, I'll tell her.
This. Truckloads of this. Mine has been exposed through Billy and Mandy, but hasn't read the PD yet as he hasn't read much more than a couple of light fantasy adventure series, and some Poe. He can name 1 of the 5 Apostles of Eris, tho. I think I'll wait until the sex jokes are funny for him to give him the PD and Illuminatus.
Quote from: LMNO on July 10, 2009, 02:11:51 PM
Nigel, feel free to use this, if you wish:
http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=12215.0
Quote from: LMNO on November 19, 2008, 08:02:58 PM
I was unsure myself, but here's my conclusion, after months of thought.
By Discordians, For Discordians.
{page opposite last page is blank, with the caption, "What does Johnny See?" written in small type at the top.}
I like the open ending. Kids might want to draw a picture, and it could leave parents an opening for discussion with their kid. How you see the world is a matter of personal perspective.
I remember hearing about an IQ test for kids a few years ago. One question had a couple drawings of women. I don't remember the exact details, but one woman was heavy and without makeup, and the other had a slim but not skinny figure and makeup. The kid had to decide which one was prettier.
If your mother looked like the first woman, you'd likely pick her. That shows your IQ is lower.
Fortunately they changed the test.
what size page are you using, ill try and find large scans of the discordian coloring book
I was just thinking about the "I.Q." test with the larger figure and slimmer figure.
There's no reason not to include it. With an explanation of what it used to mean in the test and that we now know that a child is just more likely to pick a figure closer to that of their mothers.
That is, in fact, a great idea, alongside a fully-developed accompanying essay about how it relates to parenting and what someone would do as a Discordian parent to counteract that kind of pervasive culture bias.
I ran into a teacher yesterday who had a great point about kids who just naturally start reading late getting unfairly pegged as "slow" and learning to hate school, I'm going to ask him to write something.
Also I might have to rethink my "everyone gets equal royalties" concept because I've gotten some one-paragraph submissions and it seems unfair to people who've put a lot of work into an article, to give people who dashed off two lines the same compensation. Or I might just not use the really short stuff unless it's mindblowing.
Quote from: The Lord and Lady Omnibus Fuck on July 12, 2009, 07:06:34 PM
That is, in fact, a great idea, alongside a fully-developed accompanying essay about how it relates to parenting and what someone would do as a Discordian parent to counteract that kind of pervasive culture bias.
I ran into a teacher yesterday who had a great point about kids who just naturally start reading late getting unfairly pegged as "slow" and learning to hate school, I'm going to ask him to write something.
Also I might have to rethink my "everyone gets equal royalties" concept because I've gotten some one-paragraph submissions and it seems unfair to people who've put a lot of work into an article, to give people who dashed off two lines the same compensation. Or I might just not use the really short stuff unless it's mindblowing.
Typically even with a big-money making book, those who contribute a couple lines get paid nothing. A friend of mine who's a professional writer got an entry in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary changed between 10th and 11th edition. Payment? $0.00.