So many things to love about this -- for starters, the etymology of "naughty," and of all the words you select, just fascinate me, Alia. It really is interesting how some words fall out of use, others fall into use, and still other words' meanings morph throughout time, sometimes ending up meaning something completely opposite from what their original meanings were. And being a word lover, who is also insanely busy, I appreciate all the more your taking us on these deep dives into the inner chambers of words! So thank you, Alia.
But also, I think I got really hooked on these secret societies such as the Masonic lodge and the Freemasons the first time I ever saw the film "The DaVinci Code." Talk about mysteries! And that black and white checkered rug -- this makes so much sense, actually, and when I think about the origins of a checkerboard, and chess itself (or checkers) with the knights and queens and kings, this idea of having the game sort of rooted in these ideas of good vs. evil, hatred vs. love, unlimited power vs. humility and responsibility for others, the entire game now takes on more meaning for me. I now feel as though I need to do a deep dive on the origins of chess! Oh, no!
That's a brilliant connection between the chequers and chess, Nancy. Certainly, it would have been prevalent in the medieval era. A quick google (I couldn't help it) brings up a mixed bag of origins for chess, with most pointing to India, but the symbolism of the game hasn't been lost on the Masons, who I read, do have their own version of chess in which some of the pieces are replaced with Masonic symbols and the rules kept mostly the same.
"...his memory of how his Dad had once shook the hands of others sandpapered by time" is a fantastic image! I enjoyed your walk into the fuzziness of what mystery means–or not–to us as a species. I once worked as a temp office worker for a Shrine temple in Minnesota. No access to anything remotely secret, but the old brick building with a vast auditorium holding faded velvet seats anchored with wrought iron footings felt like an aged vaudeville actor, pining for the dusty old days.
Thanks for naughty! Lol I feel ya about indoor kid art, but thank you for being a mum who cares about creativity over paint. 🎨💯🎉
Thanks Kate. That old auditorium sounds lovely. I like how tradition preserves these old relics. Some of the hymn books on the chairs in the Lodge looked like they were printed 100 years ago. They were so well looked after.
I’m fairly sure that my grandfather Percy was a Freemason. Well, you’ve read about him and he would have been, wouldn’t he? There’s a vanity in being privy to secrets, even if they’re very mundane (or very silly) ones. I read somewhere that that’s why we laugh when we get the joke. I’m not a joiner – couldn’t even deal with the Scouts – but I sometimes think it would be nice to belong to something. Sort of cosy.
How interesting, I can see Percy as a Freemason. Good point about the ego and secrets; they can make you feel like you're one-up on the world. I'd never made that connection with jokes, but there's probably something in it. Sometimes I think I laugh out of relief for actually getting it, haha.
I can see how the Freemasons would be cosy for some men. It exudes a strong sense of a male support network, but with strange, very outdated traditions and a commitment to devotion. It's rather special, actually, that so many of those traditions have survived time. I do wonder though how they find new members because you would have to think that many men would walk into that room and think, what the heck, and hightail out of there (like Ken!). And we don't commonly hear stories like that, so whatever they do in there, newcomers must like it. Perhaps it's the alcohol after all :) Although, it probably is, as you suggest, that cosy sense of being accepted and belonging.
I've often thought about how laughter can be weaponised – or performative. Those great explosions of laughter in male groups, they're a powerful signal of belonging. (I rather detest them - as said, I'm not a joiner.) Laughter can be horrible, exclusionary, punishing – or it can be bonding, inclusive, kind.
I wonder whether other social apes have similar behaviours.
Now that I think of it, I'm familiar with those explosions of laughter you're talking about, almost always among 'mates', and often involving alcohol. I'd never considered them as perfomative, but they would have to be on some unconscious level. Such fits can definitely intimidate those who aren't in on the joke. And as a weapon, yeah, absolutely, particularly when the topic of the laughter comes into play.
I reckon apes would have a basic equivalent. I think animal communications are more advanced than our human-centric minds have allowed us to see.
So many things to love about this -- for starters, the etymology of "naughty," and of all the words you select, just fascinate me, Alia. It really is interesting how some words fall out of use, others fall into use, and still other words' meanings morph throughout time, sometimes ending up meaning something completely opposite from what their original meanings were. And being a word lover, who is also insanely busy, I appreciate all the more your taking us on these deep dives into the inner chambers of words! So thank you, Alia.
But also, I think I got really hooked on these secret societies such as the Masonic lodge and the Freemasons the first time I ever saw the film "The DaVinci Code." Talk about mysteries! And that black and white checkered rug -- this makes so much sense, actually, and when I think about the origins of a checkerboard, and chess itself (or checkers) with the knights and queens and kings, this idea of having the game sort of rooted in these ideas of good vs. evil, hatred vs. love, unlimited power vs. humility and responsibility for others, the entire game now takes on more meaning for me. I now feel as though I need to do a deep dive on the origins of chess! Oh, no!
That's a brilliant connection between the chequers and chess, Nancy. Certainly, it would have been prevalent in the medieval era. A quick google (I couldn't help it) brings up a mixed bag of origins for chess, with most pointing to India, but the symbolism of the game hasn't been lost on the Masons, who I read, do have their own version of chess in which some of the pieces are replaced with Masonic symbols and the rules kept mostly the same.
"...his memory of how his Dad had once shook the hands of others sandpapered by time" is a fantastic image! I enjoyed your walk into the fuzziness of what mystery means–or not–to us as a species. I once worked as a temp office worker for a Shrine temple in Minnesota. No access to anything remotely secret, but the old brick building with a vast auditorium holding faded velvet seats anchored with wrought iron footings felt like an aged vaudeville actor, pining for the dusty old days.
Thanks for naughty! Lol I feel ya about indoor kid art, but thank you for being a mum who cares about creativity over paint. 🎨💯🎉
Thanks Kate. That old auditorium sounds lovely. I like how tradition preserves these old relics. Some of the hymn books on the chairs in the Lodge looked like they were printed 100 years ago. They were so well looked after.
I’m fairly sure that my grandfather Percy was a Freemason. Well, you’ve read about him and he would have been, wouldn’t he? There’s a vanity in being privy to secrets, even if they’re very mundane (or very silly) ones. I read somewhere that that’s why we laugh when we get the joke. I’m not a joiner – couldn’t even deal with the Scouts – but I sometimes think it would be nice to belong to something. Sort of cosy.
How interesting, I can see Percy as a Freemason. Good point about the ego and secrets; they can make you feel like you're one-up on the world. I'd never made that connection with jokes, but there's probably something in it. Sometimes I think I laugh out of relief for actually getting it, haha.
I can see how the Freemasons would be cosy for some men. It exudes a strong sense of a male support network, but with strange, very outdated traditions and a commitment to devotion. It's rather special, actually, that so many of those traditions have survived time. I do wonder though how they find new members because you would have to think that many men would walk into that room and think, what the heck, and hightail out of there (like Ken!). And we don't commonly hear stories like that, so whatever they do in there, newcomers must like it. Perhaps it's the alcohol after all :) Although, it probably is, as you suggest, that cosy sense of being accepted and belonging.
I've often thought about how laughter can be weaponised – or performative. Those great explosions of laughter in male groups, they're a powerful signal of belonging. (I rather detest them - as said, I'm not a joiner.) Laughter can be horrible, exclusionary, punishing – or it can be bonding, inclusive, kind.
I wonder whether other social apes have similar behaviours.
Now that I think of it, I'm familiar with those explosions of laughter you're talking about, almost always among 'mates', and often involving alcohol. I'd never considered them as perfomative, but they would have to be on some unconscious level. Such fits can definitely intimidate those who aren't in on the joke. And as a weapon, yeah, absolutely, particularly when the topic of the laughter comes into play.
I reckon apes would have a basic equivalent. I think animal communications are more advanced than our human-centric minds have allowed us to see.
That was fun :)
Thanks Rena 🙂