107 lines
5.6 KiB
Plaintext
107 lines
5.6 KiB
Plaintext
From duncan@rmy.emory.edu Wed Sep 12 10:22:08 1990
|
|
From: duncan@rmy.emory.edu (Sara Duncan)
|
|
Subject: anthropological study
|
|
Keywords: science, chuckle, original
|
|
|
|
|
|
(I wrote this myself while lamenting the plight of the pitiful graduate
|
|
student that I am. Thus, it is original and, alas, is all the research I
|
|
have managed to do this summer.
|
|
Sara Duncan duncan@rmy.rmy.emory.edu)
|
|
|
|
The Pedagological Tribal System of Primitive Cultures of the
|
|
Scientific Research Community
|
|
|
|
This study deals with a pedagological tribal system with
|
|
definite, almost overwhelming paternalistic mores and codes.
|
|
I had had some difficulty studying these tribes because they are
|
|
quite fierce and often impossible to communicate with except
|
|
in their own languages, which are diverse and may have roots
|
|
in latin. (I, however, tend to hold that these languages are a
|
|
development of the tribes themselves and are a major
|
|
contributory factor in their continued isolation from the
|
|
global community.) In general, members also appear to have
|
|
little ability to learn new languages. To overcome these
|
|
barriers, I am attempting to infiltrate a tribe and become a
|
|
full-fledged member of it. I am currently undergoing
|
|
initiation rites in a southeastern tribe called "Physiology
|
|
and Pharmacology". This is a preliminary report of my current
|
|
findings.
|
|
|
|
The adult males of any of the tribes which can be grouped
|
|
under the broad designation "researchers" are called
|
|
"professors" and sometimes "doctors".
|
|
The terms are not entirely interchangeable as the
|
|
higher ranking males are always referred to as "doctor"
|
|
whereas "professor" is a more generic term for all adult
|
|
males who have completed any variation of the initiation
|
|
process which is called "graduate school".
|
|
|
|
There are two groups of females in this culture, one group is
|
|
granted low ranking status as a quasi-male with
|
|
responsibilities similar to the very low-ranking males. They
|
|
are referred to as "professors" also, but are never actually
|
|
allowed to progress beyond certain set heirarchial levels.
|
|
This group is not often granted reproductive status. The
|
|
second group of females could be classified as sub-adult, as
|
|
they are never granted any of the rights of the full adult,
|
|
which is, of course, always male or quasi-male. They are
|
|
termed "professor's wives" and may only assume any status
|
|
through the male to whom they are attached and by telephone
|
|
calls to secretaries. The phone calling privilege is unique to
|
|
the "professor's wife" and is *never* usurped.
|
|
Interestingly, offspring of these unions are not acknowledged
|
|
within the culture and leave the tribe upon reaching
|
|
adolescence.
|
|
|
|
Reproduction is quite unusual and very interesting! The
|
|
tribes call this "recruitment". Several select members of the
|
|
tribe, usually middle-ranking males and even a few quasi-male
|
|
females travel to distant tribes called "undergraduate
|
|
colleges" where they put on quite lovely displays and make
|
|
generous offers to the neonates from the "undergraduate
|
|
colleges". This is similar to courtship in some cultures, but
|
|
is directed at procuring neonates. The neonates put on a
|
|
secondary display for the professors of their choosen tribe,
|
|
wherein they accept the wonderous offers. These are very
|
|
intricate dances, and only the best research tribes and neonates
|
|
are successful.
|
|
|
|
Once the new tribe members have arrived at their new tribe,
|
|
however, initiation may take anywhere from four to
|
|
seven years. I have seen examples of initiates being
|
|
subjected to trials for eight years! This does vary somewhat,
|
|
but the general rule is an extrordinarily long and quite
|
|
demanding set of incomprehensible tests that the candidates
|
|
for initiation must perform well on. These are similar to the
|
|
tribes of Africa who have to walk on hot coals in bare feet or
|
|
draw elaborate scars on all parts of their bodies. The
|
|
actual trials are called "preliminary exams" "qualifying
|
|
exams" and, of course the dreaded "dissertation defense" rite.
|
|
|
|
Unfortunatly, I have not yet been made privy to all the
|
|
inuendos of this final rite. Although I have been allowed to
|
|
watch during several. I was actually required to watch this
|
|
horrible test of human ability to withstand the agony of hours
|
|
of questions in very highly ceremonial language, many words of
|
|
which I am not yet informed. The medicine man of the tribe
|
|
changes for each different initiate. He is called the "major
|
|
professor", possibly referring to his power during the rite of
|
|
passage. The power of the medicine man is reflected on the
|
|
initiate and will follow him through his entire adult life.
|
|
|
|
These tribes have not yet been well characterized. This is
|
|
understandable in light of the extreme reclusivity and
|
|
exclusivity of all of the research tribes I have encountered.
|
|
Yet this should not preclude further in-depth analysis of a
|
|
truly unique way of life. I shall continue work within my
|
|
present tribe in hopes of becoming a full fledged member, as
|
|
it were, and of coming to full understanding of this culture.
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
Edited by Brad Templeton. MAIL your jokes (jokes ONLY) to funny@looking.ON.CA
|
|
Attribute the joke's source if at all possible. A Daemon will auto-reply.
|
|
|
|
Please use looking.on.ca and not just looking or looking.uucp.
|
|
|
|
|