700 Year Old Disclaimer

20 Years Ago on Fitk

I've struggled a bit at times with the meaning and importance of this humble venue.

I think most of us who write regularly wonder at times if any of it is worthwhile. Comments help justify it, and those threads we can spin between disparate people (many of whom otherwise have little in common) is always encouraging.

Still, there is always that nagging little demon that pipes up (usually at 4 a.m.!) and says: “Who do you think you are? Writing such fluff?”

I found this quote from the fourteenth century that puts it all in perspective:

Since this tale nor anything else can be made to please everyone, nobody need believe any more of it than he wants to believe. All the same the best and most profitable thing is to listen while a story is being told, to enjoy it and not be gloomy; for the fact is that as long as people are enjoying the entertainment they won't be thinking evil thoughts. Nor is it a good thing when people find fault with a story just because it happens to be uninformative or clumsily told. Nothing so unimportant is ever done perfectly.
-the narrator of Göngu-Hrolf's Saga

I would have never thought that I’d find such solace from so far away and long ago… that nameless scribe concludes with:

I'd like to thank those that have listened and enjoyed the story, and since those that don’t like it won’t ever be satisfied, let them enjoy their own misery. AMEN