ELL I just got back from WTT3, and I got ta say, despite the mud in my boxers, the rain, and the weird saturday evening, it is the best I've been to. This of course inspired me to write the 1st Rant in a long time. And this rant is inspired by a conversation I had with Malcom the last day.

What it comes down to is paradigms. Fer you Illiterate types, a Paradigm is defined as such:

1. Example, Pattern; especially : an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.

2. an example of a conjugation or declension showing a word in all its inflectional forms.

3. a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated.

Now this important in regards to elves, otherkin, and butt-monkeys. Well, maybe not butt-monkeys. Ya see, most of the emotional and reality coping problem that such folk have due to following the wrong paradigm.

Ever wonder why the Toxic One is always up in arms about Dandelion eating, sitting on toad-stool, Forrest Frolicking elves? Read on andlearn. Basically, that Tolkien, D&D, and popular folklore image reinforces many negative points. Firstly, it promotes the idea that elves can only live happily in non urban environments. Bullcrap. All women will agree with me that indoor plumbing is the mark of a truly civilized society. Secondly, there is the problem of this being the "humans world". Yeah, right. We share this world with them and quite frankly it is the choosing to let human outlooks and judgment bother you that is the problem. This is home. Honestly there is little else I can see to happiness besides good friends, good drink, shelter, and good woman in your bed. Lastly, it encourages too much of a group mentality. I don't believe that elven hive mentality is healthy. All these things can be achieved here if you look and try and don't give up. In general, the classical elven/fae paradigm promotes a lot of unhealthy ideas that can depress ya pretty bad.

Now lets take a look at a good paradigm: the way of the Toxic Elf. !st off I like it cause it lets me get through life with an outlook I can live with. A side benefit is that it's very nature gives others an example of an individual paradigm that works. It is both functional and educational. Most importantly it it is what I am more so than who. Not to say that the Toxic paradigm is the one true path, for anyone but me. In fact , I believe it will work only for me.

So now on to th' meat and potatoes of a good paradigm. Well it ought to fit in with your daily exsistence to the point you can maintain identity and sanity.It should be individual and uniquely your own. A very important aspect is functionality. If your paradigm does not let you function outside of a Gathering, then it is not healthy. Remember this though: A paradigm is an aspect of you, and is no more important than your appearance, religion, or sexual orientation. It is a part of you, not the entirety.

Well hopefully this will give ya bastiches a clue. And if yer paradigm really is eatin dandelions, more power to ya, though I hear them things taste repugnant.

-Kyrin, The Toxic Elf, 6/20/00