2004-03-09 21:56:15.472983+00 by Dan Lyke 5 comments
Conspiracy theorists, start your engines: Man killed during initiation at Masonic Lodge. How many times do we have to tell you, kids (well, not exactly, the responsible party appears to have been 76 years old): The gun is always loaded, and you don't fire it unless you intend to kill.
[ related topics: moron Current Events Guns Conspiracy ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2004-03-09 22:23:27.899398+00 by: ziffle
Ihave high regard for the Masonic organization, and I think there is something fishy here, as guns have never had a place in a lodge.
Ziffle
#Comment Re: made: 2004-03-10 00:03:51.837158+00 by: TheSHAD0W
Well, the lodge here houses the local gun show. ;-) But no, I don't think this is a matter of a conspiracy as much as stupidity.
#Comment Re: made: 2004-03-10 00:39:36.002235+00 by: polly
Why would you point a gun with blanks at someone anyway? Blanks can cause harm up close....stupid.
"the ceremony included a loud noise to frighten the new member"...and the point of scaring someone is???? I've never understood these "initiation" rites of the Masons, Shriners, Elks, Bubbas, & Billy Bobs...does becoming a member have to be a degrading experience? I don't play that way...these groups seem to depend on their status symbols of "oh yeah, I'm a Mason", or wear the little Shriner hats (grandfather had one) and put up with the initiation indignities or in the case of this article..tragedies...to become a member! Yeah, buddy, let's all do that!
Thanks, but no thanks...even if they allowed women in.
#Comment Re: made: 2004-03-10 00:47:29.76558+00 by: polly
#Comment Re: made: 2004-03-10 07:51:00.119298+00 by: crasch
Initiation rites enhance the perceived value of the club. Check out Robert Cialdini's book Influence for a more detailed explanation of the phenomenon.