Aaaaaand, here come 5 more
This five from
madam_silvertip. Is there anyone out there reading this who hasn't asked for 5 words that I associate with them and would like them? Speak now, or for ever hereafter, etc.
Prudence
V tempted to say heroine of classic school story series, beginning with 'Prudence, New Bug at St Agatha's' and concluding with 'Prudence, head girl, captain of all teams possible, laden down with honours, wins Oxbridge Scholarship: rest of school heaves relieved sigh as she departs'. One of those deeply unglamorous qualities: the ant may be Right, and survive the winter, but suspect most people would consider the grasshopper More Fun and they would get invited to more parties (whereas ant would be the one hit up for loans, job references, etc). I suppose I am prudent: I don't breezily think everything will turn out all right, I think 'what if...' and plan accordingly. This probably means I have lost many an exciting experience. On the other hand, exciting is not the same as agreeable and I really dislike roller-coasters.
Humour, as it is spelt among my people
And, of course, something my people lay a good deal of importance on having a sense of. Mine is actually a bit intermittent. Am also possibly given to inappropriate use of, myself, since wordplay or perceived witty juxtapositions are things that do tempt me into imprudence. I also feel that it is often a useful weapon or tactic. The problem here being when people don't realise that humour is what is going on.
Scholarship
One of the things about which I am serious. Good scholarship is important. It is also a process - I am oft infuriated by people who cite something that ought to be one element in ongoing debate and research as if it is last word. Am also, however, infuriated by people who keep going over same old ground rather than branching out into fresh fields and untracked forests of potential research.
British
A complex and contested identity. Recently (well, within last year or so) reviewed book in which argument was put forward that after Act of Union socially and professionally ambitious Scots were into talking about being British (to get over the various English vs Scots prejudices). On the one hand, yes, legacy of imperialist oppression and social hierarchy and so forth, on the other hand, also tradition of resistance, reform, etc. Though extent to which latter was both stimulated by reaction to the former, and enabled by the benefits which it brought (darling Dame R has a lengthy riff in Black Lamb and Grey Falcon about Edwardian radicals who could be smugly radical protected by the British Navy, also, though I'm not sure she specifically mentioned, the economic benefits) also problematic. It is all, always, more complicated.
Realist
A short-lived periodical published by a group of intellectuals, writers and scientists in the early 1930s.... For myself, I think I have a tendency to deal with Things As They Are, which is not always or necessarily the most productive thing to do. See above, re prudence.
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