Practical Etiquette, Period 3, Class #2 - Thursday, May 21st

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Miss Bennet was followed into class by a small trail of tiny Canadian moose. They were adorable and wobbly, and Miss Bennet had to resist the urge to cuddle them. That would not be terribly proper, she reminded herself.

"Today," she said, "I ask that you pay no attention to the delightful moose that have graced us with their presence, unless of course you have food on your person that might be shared with them. In that case, I will ask your assistance in providing our guests with an early lunch. I fear I did not prepare for moose, today.

"Instead, we are to speak of taboos. All cultures have them. In any society, there are certain things one Does Not Discuss. Sometimes there are conditions; one might discuss that topic with a confidante, but not in mixed company. Or one might refer to such things at an evening out, but not while sitting in the pews the next morning at church. These unwritten rules can be confusing to those who have no prior knowledge of the culture, and transgressing them will carry a heavy price."

"So. How is one to avoid breaking rules, when one has not been informed of them?" Miss Bennet smiled generously at her students. "I did say this would be practical etiquette. Today, we will assume that somehow, you have been placed into a society very different from your own, and are hoping to make a good impression -- or at least, enough of a good impression that you are not ostracized, or worse. Where do we begin?

"A good starting point is to avoid those things which are generally improper in most societies -- the specifics of bodily functions, for one, or the particulars of one's romantic encounters. Another is to avoid saying something unpleasant about others. The elder of the tribe may seem a bit dim to you, but he is possibly a much-respected wise man, and making a joke at his expense will earn you scorn.

"An interesting complication to this point is that, again, such matters can be highly cirumstantial. Let us say that your new friend himself made an unkind comment about the tribe elder. This does not mean that you are free to return his comment with one of your own. Familiarity allows for a great many indulgences, ones that are not extended to strangers. You are a guest in this culture; you have not earned the right to treat its members with fond irreverence."

"What will help is to watch the culture's euphemisms. For example, if everyone wears long sleeves and refers awkwardly to their 'arm joints' in hushed voices, then perhaps there is some taboo in that culture surrounding the elbow, and it would be unwise to use the word 'elbow' freely, or to bare your own arms. If everyone refers obliquely to 'acquiring nourishment later,' and takes food back to their own individual rooms quite secretively, then perhaps you should refrain from having lunch where others can observe you. A great deal can be learned from what isn't said.

"Therefore, today's activities. First, I will share a number of euphemisms from my own culture, and each of you may guess what the phrasing refers to, and what the subject in question is. Once that is discovered, we can theorize on what it means that those particular topics inspire indirect language. After that, you will share some of your own euphemisms, and attempt to discern the meaning behind one another's phrases. If your culture does not have any handy euphemisms, you may invent some, so long as the phrasing is somewhat logical. Otherwise the exercise becomes entirely unfair."

One of the moose was investigating Miss Bennet's feet, and she couldn't help laughing. "After that, I will be taking my small guests to lunch, lest they eat my shoes. Shall we begin?"

Not just yet, it would seem; first, there was a knock at the door.

Comments

Sign In [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

SQUEEING. BECAUSE YOU ARE FILLED WITH THE JOY OF MOOSES.

Re: Sign In [ET-2]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund Pevensie

During the Lecture [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Take notes, converse briefly, coo over the moose. They are adorable, okay?

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[future_sandworm]

Even if the moose were adorable, Leto did listen and pay attention. Miss Bennet certainly made some very valid points.

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Oh. Taboos. Not a touchy subject at all today, really.

Katchoo was just going to focus on the hangover. Yeah.

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[sonofmogh.livejournal.com]

Worf may have made a grunting noise when Miss Bennet said "Today, we will assume that somehow, you have been placed into a society very different from your own."

Worf might have an inkling what that might be like.

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[glacial_queen]

Karla's reaction was very similar to Worf's. Assume, indeed.

However this lecture was very useful. Karla was tired of being rude by accident. She much prefered being rude on purpose. It didn't require anywhere as much apologizing.

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose was sorta paying attention to the lecture. What? Lectures were boring, and it wasn't any different at Fandom.

She took notes. They were more like squiggles.

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[oops-mbad.livejournal.com]

Diana was having a lot of trouble paying attention due to the moose. She was about 50% sure it wasn't her fault. The problem was the other 50%.

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes took notes, of course, since being expected to pick up on unspoken rules instinctively was one of the things she was expected to be able to do. Either that or make her OWN rules as she went along, and she was determined NOT to be that kind of witch.

Re: During the Lecture [ET-2]

[yakkoyaks.livejournal.com]

Yakko was too busy trying to find tiny roller skates for a tiny moose in his pockets to pay too much attention to the lecture.

A Knock at the Door [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Miss Bennet hurried over to the door (though she was, of course, careful not to step on any of the moose) and carried on a brief conversation with an unseen person.

She was frowning slightly as she turned back to the room. "Edmund?" she asked. "I believe you are wanted."

She hoped there was nothing dire afoot.

(For the Narnian first, please. Can be open after if the mun wishes!)

Re: A Knock at the Door [ET-2]

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund frowned as he stood and walked towards the door. He saw someone he didn't recognise. The someone, who must have worked for the post office or something, handed him a letter, muttered something about 'urgent delivery' and wandered off.

Edmund threw Miss Bennet an apologetic look and turned the letter over. It bore Peter's personal seal. He hurriedly tore the letter open and scanned its contents, eyebrows raising as he did. It seemed he didn't even care to finish, because he looked up at Miss Bennet. "I'm very sorry to interrupt your class," he apologised, "and my sincere apologies but I must ask to be excused early."

Activity - Euphemisms [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Ping into this thread with your own euphemisms, real or invented. Tag into everyone else's to take a stab at guessing theirs. It's educational and fun!

Re: Activity - Euphemisms [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Miss Bennet had a few particularities that she might share, though she worried that the topic in question for one or two might be a touch ... vulgar.

Then again, such was the way with euphemisms. Therefore, she cleared her throat and began.

"She fell in with a rake, and now finds herself ruined. If her family will not have her, she will come upon the town."

Re: Activity - Euphemisms [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Another topic came quite easily to mind.

"He spent the evening dipping rather deep. By night's end, we feared he was half-sprung, if not outright foxed."

Re: Activity - Euphemisms [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Finally, she finished with:

"She has set her cap for him. If he does not watch out, he'll end in the parson's mousetrap."

Re: Activity - Euphemisms [ET-2]

[future_sandworm]

Leto thought for a moment.

"He has the face of someone who would be left in a corner at a Sietch orgy," he said, even if that was fairly obvious.

"In death his waters would contaminate the tribe."

"In this, he runs across the open bled in the daylight sun."

Re: Activity - Euphemisms [ET-2]

[glacial_queen]

Karla felt a little uncomfortable. All of the euphemisms she could think of were unpleasant.

"He's perfectly beardless, but he still needs to be shaved."

"She shattered her cystal chalice and is now walking through the Twisted Kingdom."

"There's a witch who's just asking to become a Harpy."

"Here's a place where witchblood blooms."

Re: Activity - Euphemisms [ET-2]

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"Oh, we've got quite a lot of euphemisms," Agnes said. "Mostly for... well, things involving... uh. Bodily functions. And bodily... bits. For example..."

Agnes took a deep breath, steeled her nerves, turned bright pink, and began her list. "Gazunder, earth closet, to make water, small clothes, posterior, et cetera."

She took another breath and turned even pinker.

"And... Well, is there anyone who DOESN'T know at least a dozen different words for a man's bait and tackle?"

Discussion - Post-Euphemism Considerations [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Were any of the expressions particularly colorful, or unexpected? What did the expressions say about the cultures in question? Why do you think those particular topics are not to be discussed directly?

Speak to Miss Bennet [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

She is here, after class. She might be serious about taking the moose to lunch.

Re: Speak to Miss Bennet [ET-2]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose came to find Miss Bennet when she was able. She tried to avoid the moose though they really were adorable. "Miss Bennet?" she asked. "I'm Rose Hathaway. I'm a new student in your class."

Speak to Miss Watson [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

See if she is enjoying the moose as much as Miss Bennet is!

Re: Speak to Miss Watson [ET-2]

[notahostage]

Miss Watson was not contemplating sending a delegation of tiny, friendly, polite moose to Middleman HQ. Revenge was so impolite after all.

She definitely was not going to contribute to the discussion by asking people to guess what a Code 86 meant.

Play with the Mooses! [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Because they're mooses, that's why.

OOC [ET-2]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

I am just happy I didn't make moose icons. I was tempted.

Also, to clarify: characters can ask questions about the euphemisms, make guesses, or just comment on "okay, that expression is kinda weird." Start a thread for your own, and tag into anybody else's that looks interesting. Free-form chaos is what we aim for.

Re: OOC [ET-2]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

I may never stop laughing at the picture of Eliza Bennet saying "inamorata."

Cause...heeee!