Well, the original symposiums (symposia ? ) of classical Athens prohibited women. Except for prostitutes, of course. So excluding a whole major demographic group is “traditional” for selected values of “tradition”.
The traditional purpose of such a symposium for for the invited group to all get equally drunk together. Nobody binge drinking, no “designated driver” sober judgmental scolds, nobody there just to glutton down on the grub. A carefully moderated period of talking, bull shitting, and drinking, until everybody was tired of talking and inspired by drink to accomplish something. Anything.
So, after accomplishing the desired level of drunkenness, the classical / traditional symposium would leave the party room and roam the streets. At this point the group became known as a komastai. The drunks would assault passers-by, rape respectable women, and vandalize store fronts. Action, not talk.
I’m thinking there are modern demographic groups who would be quite happy to exclude themselves from “symposiums” of the original sort — and others who’d find their natural inclinations well indulged.
If this is good, it would be even better if people of different races had their own schools and universities. Why hasn’t that been tried yet?
Well, the original symposiums (symposia ? ) of classical Athens prohibited women. Except for prostitutes, of course. So excluding a whole major demographic group is “traditional” for selected values of “tradition”.
The traditional purpose of such a symposium for for the invited group to all get equally drunk together. Nobody binge drinking, no “designated driver” sober judgmental scolds, nobody there just to glutton down on the grub. A carefully moderated period of talking, bull shitting, and drinking, until everybody was tired of talking and inspired by drink to accomplish something. Anything.
So, after accomplishing the desired level of drunkenness, the classical / traditional symposium would leave the party room and roam the streets. At this point the group became known as a komastai. The drunks would assault passers-by, rape respectable women, and vandalize store fronts. Action, not talk.
I’m thinking there are modern demographic groups who would be quite happy to exclude themselves from “symposiums” of the original sort — and others who’d find their natural inclinations well indulged.
If this is good, it would be even better if people of different races had their own schools and universities. Why hasn’t that been tried yet?