8/3/2019 The Policy Document Humorous

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The humorous/Silly/Odd Policy Document (Because every house has rules, but what could you

possibly say of a museum?)

1. Please No English Words in/or on the main wall, except maybe to ask a general question or make

an announcement. No silly announcement s either. The main wall is for the speaking and writing in

IGBO language and for the IGBO language projects of the group. If you can, do add your dots under

the vowel sounds. If you cant please let another add them for you. Nothing is hurt by this process.

2. While one rule holds for the main wall, there is no such rule for any other spaces on the forum,

anything can happen in the comments where the main wall is discussed. You can speak /write

English. Pidgin English. Engligbo. Whatever. Curse (but without sexual expletives), if you think it

helps. Draw the line at shouting matches and references to anatomy. Think of it like a museum.

You go in to view the art on the walls in most cases from a safe distance the art is discussed by

curators, visitors, art makers and art lovers, on the floor. If they touch the art itself, they do it with

rubber gloves. Why do they do that, you say? Its only a picture! No its art. If other cultures have

their myth-making (in a manner of speaking), why cant we have ours? If you have never visited a

museum before, then no biggy; welcome this is one.

3. Please dont feel patronized by anything. This should be too obvious to require saying, but it is

getting said anyway. Everyone here, makes the assumption that you are a lover of art. And that you

love Igbo language and culture and that you are a cultured person. Trust me, no person here means

patronage. A western (style) education, considered a sine-qua-non for the most part by most

people; is not. In fact, it is over-rated. IGBO people had cultured, ordered lives before the advent of 

(lets leave this gap in the text to your imagination its a museum after all) and they still do lead

decent live-styles, despite the rumours.

4. When you put up a virtual museum, it is virtual and special. If you can, make it even better.

Dont feel pressured to do anything anyway. Like a Jewish man, we respect once said: laws were

made for man and not the other way round. If you think we are language fanatics and that this is a

form of language fascism, some of us are and maybe it is. But there are other possibilities. Love and

passion are good considerations. We urge these on you. It is an open forum too and open at all

hours and the door revolves. And it is not like Hotel California. You can check in anytime and leave

when you want.

5. Every law can be broken, ultimately. If you think we are making things up as we go along, we

probably are. After all, Language art deserves some thought. In many ways, rule breaking is

encouraged. We take ourselves seriously, but never that seriously. Also, bear in mind - virtual things

can stop for no apparent reason. We crave longevity and good use, but if the stop happens well

thats life. It happens to real museums too the roof caves in, the walls grow dank and the stalls are

sold. It is no surprise. People die too and other art is made their place. But not today. 

Today, your love, passion, intelligence and skill will give us warmth and encouragement. IGBO is

special and our language is sacred almost.

These are the 5 commandments.