Secret Societies

[Scutisorex]

This is just a general inquiry. What do the folks at EN World think about secret societies in general. Do they intrigue you? Make you angry? Make you want to bake a souffle? Personally, I've always found them to be interesting in a silly sort of way. The Illuminati, Vril Society and so on always make me chuckle a bit.

If they do interest you, which ones do so and for what reason?

 

[Angel Tarragon]

No interest whatsoever.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

No real interest, especially in the fictionalized or non-existant ones.

Certain secret societies really beef me, but that largely has to do with political things and the ability of secretive elite groups to corrupt a political process. The Skull & Bones is an example, whether or not they actually do the things they are alleged to their mere existence damages the political process. So no real need to go further here given the no politics rule.

 

[Scutisorex]

No real interest, especially in the fictionalized or non-existant ones.

Ah but those are the fun ones!

Certain secret societies really beef me, but that largely has to do with political things and the ability of secretive elite groups to corrupt a political process. The Skull & Bones is an example, whether or not they actually do the things they are alleged to their mere existence damages the political process. So no real need to go further here given the no politics rule.

Suffice it to say I agree with you on this point.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Actually, on contemplation, I have to admit that fictionally speaking, my favorite ss would have to be the Illuminati. In the disney show Gargoyles, they have a presence and Matt Bluestone's ties to it always piqued my interest.

 

[bento]

My favorite secret societies are HYDRA and A.I.M. from Marvel Comics.

I love me some yellow bucket heads!

 

[Scutisorex]

Actually, on contemplation, I have to admit that fictionally speaking, my favorite ss would have to be the Illuminati. In the disney show Gargoyles, they have a presence and Matt Bluestone's ties to it always piqued my interest.

The Illuminati, particularly of the Bavarian variety, is one of my favorites.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Secret societies? There's no such thing. If we knew about them, they wouldn't be secret, would they?

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Much ado about nothing really, at least in the real world. In the real world most "secret societies" are not much more than country clubs or Masonic lodges; rather open about their existence, you can get in if you know the right people and they do have an agenda, but then so does everyone and their agendas are usually to make money, not to rule the world.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Much ado about nothing really, at least in the real world. In the real world most "secret societies" are not much more than country clubs or Masonic lodges; rather open about their existence, you can get in if you know the right people and they do have an agenda, but then so does everyone and their agendas are usually to make money, not to rule the world.

Yep, mostly the things people call "secret societies" are anything but. Masons, Templars, Elk's Club, Moose Club, etc. I've got close relatives in all of them and was part of their activities when I was younger. All of them I've heard called secret societies but they're more like a club that tends to stick to itself. And in various regions some of them have become local social institutions with widespread membership and participation.

Of course this throws off people from true secret societies which tend to exist in very small numbers within the elite of every society or country. They usually aren't even noticed because they don't draw attention to themselves, and aren't outwardly tyrannically inclined like fictional secret societies. Now these groups do tend to have some negative effects on the culture they exist within because of their actions which are usually intended to enrich their members.