Ok so I know that there are a lot of posters who are LDS. I was listening to Ender's Shadow today and more specifically when Bean enters battle school. I thought back to when I entered the Missionary Training Center and I had some interesting connections. I know that its a stretch and Battle School's objectives vs. the MTC's are very different. (though interestingly enough their end result is the same, saving man kind)
Theology aside I thought of how the older boys would mock the wandering freshies with their dork dots. Funny thing is it was only a week or two until you get the hang of things and become one of the older boys.
I had lots of other thoughts and connections, I was just wondering if anybody else thought of this or if Im just crazy.
Posted by Dread Pendragon (Member # 7239) on :
It seems to me that in almost any institution the veterans like to torment the newbies (including on many forums). For me the MTC was the one exception to that. Other missionaries were so kind that at first I actually thought they were being sarcastic. When I actually got to my mission (Taiwan Taichung/Kaoshiung) the older missionaries did do some "initiation" pranks on us.
I'd be curious to hear some kind of social psychological explanation of why people do such things. I know that often they are innocent, but I personally loath such things and all practical jokes that last longer than a few seconds.
What? Me a humorless, bitter soul?!
Posted by Libbie (Member # 9529) on :
Oh my gosh! Totally funny that you said this. I was just talking with one of my cousins who is a couple of weeks into MTC, and he said it reminded him of the Launchies in Battle School, too! Ha!!