[matilda] collectives

[Dan]

> The Matilda is not inclusive. Whether by accident or design the Matilda 
> excludes people who aren't from an affluent background.

There are various expensive hotels, or areas of the city, or posh bars 
and cafes, around and about - they exclude anyone who isn't rich enough 
to pay their way. MATILDA's free and open  - its the one thing that 
makes it stand out from the rest of the CIQ.  Its a space to be used, 
but you have to get stuck in and do it.

What I don't understand about this kind of attack is your motivation. 
They happen quite a lot: someone throwing stones from the sidelines. 
What do you hope to acheive?

This inclusivity thing ain't easy - just yesterday I was talking to 
someone who is doing the Lantern Festival.  A lot of people at a meeting 
this week were good friends - and there's just no way of escaping from 
the fact that they will have developed their own communication, and 
newcomers can feel outside of that.  The job's to be as aware of 
clique-ee-ness as possible and make any group open.

That happens in any context where people have worked and played 
together. And its easy enough to be lazy about new people, and not talk 
to em - just coz its more mental effort than striking up a new 
conversation... By Christ, its the kinda thing that happens everywhere, 
from school onward.

So that doesn't mean anyone's necessarily excluding anyone else.

Equally, its right to say if you think you are being excluded - but, 
again, just going 'yaa boo, yer all a bunch of middle class w*nkers' 
isn't really gonna help anyone move forward on this!

 From your e-mail, though, I'm not convinced you're interested in making 
the situation better. Prove me wrong.

Yours ciabattaly,

Dan