Do you know other GLOs' secret info?

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

OMG Psi U MC Vito, no! I used to drool over MacGyver when that show first came out - don't you dare insult RDA! He does NOT have a mullet!

Back on topic, I know a little bit of another NPC's ritual, but it's meaningless to me.

I actually used to love MacGyver myself. It's funny when I first saw SG1 it took me a minute to recognize RDA without the mullet.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Preston327

All this talk of heraldry has gotten me interested in the meaning behind the arms of the GLO I'm helping colonize next semester (Phi Delt). There's a lot of chivalrous/knightly stuff in it which I find intriguing. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill arms (not to knock anyone else's of course )

Sorry, this made me laugh a bit, given that heraldry has it's roots in "chivalrous/knightly stuff" -- the knight's shield, the crest on the knight's helmet . . . .

And yes, heraldry-speak can be a bit confusing when it's unfamiliar. Once you get used to it and learn what it all means, it's very precise.

[tri deezy]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

...But I get a great deal out of it nonetheless. It is literature, it is history, it is sociology, and it helps me to understand the people who ARE believers.

In fact, it seems a little sad to me that a college-educated person would have zero curiosity about literature, music, and poetry that mean a great deal to other people. Respecting privacy is great; I'm not saying anyone should seek out information that is meant only for members. But to really have no interest? If that's true, it's unfortunate IMHO.

I don't think it's true that people here have literally no interest. It almost bothers me when people say that other rituals would be meaningless or that they have no interest in others because it's like they're putting down other rituals. They mean well when they say it, of course, but it makes it sounds as if in their mind, other rituals are worthless. I also think that it's just rhetoric. I think that most people here probably have at least a tiny bit of curiosity about other GLOs rituals. Reading another ritual would not be meaningless at all- it would probably be pretty relatable to the reader and make the reader understand the roots of that org more. It would even probably give them more respect for and interest in the org. Just my two cents.

[Preston327]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Sorry, this made me laugh a bit, given that heraldry has it's roots in "chivalrous/knightly stuff" -- the knight's shield, the crest on the knight's helmet . . . .

And yes, heraldry-speak can be a bit confusing when it's unfamiliar. Once you get used to it and learn what it all means, it's very precise.

Lol, comments written late at night may not always make full sense. My family has a coat of arms which I know the meaning of having had it explained to me but as far as technical terms go I only know some of the colors and metals.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by tri deezy

...It almost bothers me when people say that other rituals would be meaningless or that they have no interest in others because it's like they're putting down other rituals. They mean well when they say it, of course, but it makes it sounds as if in their mind, other rituals are worthless....

You're right. It was a poor choice of words to have said that the other org's ritual was meaningless to me. All I meant was what others have been saying throughout this thread - the emotion isn't there if it isn't your own ritual.

I have nothing but respect for the NPC I'm referring to, and I would never intentionally put down its ritual. I'm confident that knowing a bit of their secret info is nothing like experiencing the ritual itself. What I know is just words; the ladies of the org have the benefit of the ritual experience. I guess that's why I put the "it's meaningless to me" qualifier in there. Nonetheless, it was poor word choice and I apologize for offending anyone.

[tri deezy]

Ahh yes, I get what you're saying now. Reading a ritual is very different than experiencing it. As members of GLOs, only we can recognize that. Outsiders would really just not get it!

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

Mullet???

Yes! We also elected to change our motto to "Business in the front, party in the back" at the last Conclave.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Yes! We also elected to change our motto to "Business in the front, party in the back" at the last Conclave.

Did you have a new mascot as well? Maybe make Richard Dean Anderson as an honorary brother?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Preston327

Lol, comments written late at night may not always make full sense. My family has a coat of arms which I know the meaning of having had it explained to me but as far as technical terms go I only know some of the colors and metals.

Beware -- Here comes the geeky heraldist in me. (Sorry, this thread just is bringing it out. )

It's very common in America to refer to a family's coat-of-arms -- my family has a coat of arms, too.

But in European countries where there are actually legal authorities that grant coats of arms and regulate their usage (and where the families of most of those of us who have "family" coats of arms came from), there is no such thing as a family coat-of-arms.

In countries like England and Scotland, coats-of-arms are the personal property of an individual. They belong to one person only, and it is illegal for anyone else to use them. If dad is noble and armigerous (entitled to a coat-of-arms) and dies, then it is possible that his eldest son will inherent the arms along with dad's title. But, despite the many companies that will try to sell us Americans the Smythe coat-of-arms, there really ain't no such thing.

[/nerdy heraldist]

[xomanadaxo]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

I don't find visiting other churches to be boring in the slightest! I am fascinated by the opportunity to observe religious rituals of many faiths, especially in foreign countries. There is a great deal to be learned there, even if you don't believe the spiritual aspects of the ritual.

For example, I've attended many Catholic masses, and of course I do not take communion. I'm sure that the experience of Mass is very different for someone who believes in transsubstantiation. But I get a great deal out of it nonetheless. It is literature, it is history, it is sociology, and it helps me to understand the people who ARE believers.

I think the comparison of ritual to Catholic mass (or any other religious ritual) is very fitting. Simply reading it would not provide you the full effect, nor would being an observer at it (or listening through the door ) because you are not truly a part of it. You are not experiencing that ritual as a member who lives it out each day, so it does not have that aspect of meaning to it. That being said, you would still gain something from it. I like that Low C Sharp pointed out that it can help you understand the people who are believers...I think this is true for most rituals. Personally, I know that my ritual has shaped much of who I am today. I believe it is my duty as a member of my organization to embody the ideals set out in our ritual. Knowing that ritual might help you understand a bit more about me, and you might find some meaning/application of parts of it to your own life, but you would not get the full effect of it.

The true, indescribable meaning behind all ritual events is the real secret. That secret will remain safe, no matter who tries to divulge it, because it is so deeply personal. It's like trying to define love...you can tell someone what it is, even try to describe what it's like. But until they've truly been in love, they're not really going to understand it!

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Yes! We also elected to change our motto to "Business in the front, party in the back" at the last Conclave.

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Did you have a new mascot as well? Maybe make Richard Dean Anderson as an honorary brother?

Their new president is Barry Manilow's manager, you know there is some super secret Copacabana dance party after eating Wendy's.

[Preston327]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Beware -- Here comes the geeky heraldist in me. (Sorry, this thread just is bringing it out. )

It's very common in America to refer to a family's coat-of-arms -- my family has a coat of arms, too.

But in European countries where there are actually legal authorities that grant coats of arms and regulate their usage (and where the families of most of those of us who have "family" coats of arms came from), there is no such thing as a family coat-of-arms.

In countries like England and Scotland, coats-of-arms are the personal property of an individual. They belong to one person only, and it is illegal for anyone else to use them. If dad is noble and armigerous (entitled to a coat-of-arms) and dies, then it is possible that his eldest son will inherent the arms along with dad's title. But, despite the many companies that will try to sell us Americans the Smythe coat-of-arms, there really ain't no such thing.

[/nerdy heraldist]

Ah well, my family's lineage has been traced (courtesy of some cousin of mine) back through the 1300s and its known that we had a fief in England at some point, so I imagine someone in my ancestry had arms and that's what we use today. I've also heard of arms being passed down among noble/armigerous families with slight alterations between the generations and have seen several slightly-altered forms of my "arms" so it's entirely possible.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Peers of Britain and of Scotland were allowed to give their heirs defaced versions of their arms, but it was mostly as a courtesy. European nobles were entire families that were ennobled IIRC which would mean you could have a coat of arms if you are traced to a family.

[Preston327]

Ah. I don't know which case ours is; I know that some historians have traced my family back to fighting with William the Conqueror at Hastings, and getting a fief shortly after that but idk how true that story is. All this talk about heraldry is making me want to look into my own family history more.

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Their new president is Barry Manilow's manager, you know there is some super secret Copacabana dance party after eating Wendy's.

Dang, the secret's out