tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post5890017626749138814..comments2024-03-29T07:29:00.952+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: British MythologyKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-29529732561052702052012-11-27T19:54:27.131+00:002012-11-27T19:54:27.131+00:00Sure, I don't think that real bandits really d...Sure, I don't think that real bandits really did help the serfs!Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-73493658310859761182012-11-27T07:21:43.238+00:002012-11-27T07:21:43.238+00:00Hi, Paul!
I'm sorry, but I still disagree wi... Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> I'm sorry, but I still disagree with much of what you said. I do not in the least believe that bandits gave a whoop for the serfs. And they certainly did not distribute the loot to the serfs. And I disagree with your mother, no offense! Theft is still theft, no matter the age we live in.<br /><br /> My vague recollection is that the Robin Hood legend began during the anarchy of King Stephen's reign (r. 1135-1154). Stephen was a weak king who was unable to keep a strong hand on his barons. That meant many barons simply went wild and became no better than bandits themselves. It needed a strong king like Henry II to restore order and rein in his barons.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-87981207233779563992012-11-26T20:25:46.417+00:002012-11-26T20:25:46.417+00:00I think there must have been a lot of oppression, ...I think there must have been a lot of oppression, deprivation, injustice and poverty for the legend of Robin Hood to become so strong and to challenge conventional morality. Amazingly, I was taught "Thou shalt not steal" but was also told by my conservative, law-abiding mother that what Robin did was ok!<br /><br />Of course, what happened in reality is another matter. Law abiding travellers should not be forced to pay for others' misdeeds. On the other hand, if the outlaws really did re-appropriate wealth that had been exploited from serfs and returned it to those serfs, then I would support that.Paul Shackleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180596532266581425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-87769201231500191272012-11-26T15:49:13.589+00:002012-11-26T15:49:13.589+00:00Hi, Paul!
Perversely, perhaps, my sympathies lie... Hi, Paul!<br /><br /> Perversely, perhaps, my sympathies lie with Robin Hood's archfoe, the Sheriff of Nottingham! I cannot approve of bandity or theft by anybody, no matter the alleged motives for doing so. Why should law abiding travellers be forced to pay for OTHERS misdeeds? It's still WRONG to use force or the threat of force to rob people. Therefore I would side with the Sheriff of Nottingham's efforts to put an end to Robin Hood's (or "Robber wearing a Hood"?) banditry.<br /><br /> SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com