Shellback initiation
January 2nd, 2009 From
>Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 12:14:58 -0700
>From: Mike Potter
>Reply-To: mike.potter@artecon.com
>Organization: Artecon, Inc.
>X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01Gold (WinNT; I)
>To: mahan@microworks.net
>Subject: Shellback initiation
>Precendence: bulk
>Sender: mahan-owner@microworks.net
>
>I haven’t heard about this particular complaint but, well, yes,
>shellback initiations are demeaning. That’s their purpose. Assuming the
>complaint refers to the military, they’re also insubordinate. Is that
>news? Participation is voluntary so disgusted or faint-hearted pollywogs
>who don’t want to join the shellbacks’ tribe, are exempt. I know of a
>former vice admiral who skipped initiation as a captain.
>
>What was the basis for the complaint? Whether the rites are really
>immoral or just look that way, I suppose depends on how tolerant one is
>about events like guys dressing up as girls for a pollywog beauty
>contest. It provides a day of laughter when you’re semi-voluntarily
>separated from normal sources of fun, in particular your family.
>
>Mike Potter, shellback since ’77
>
>Tom Robison wrote:
> >
> > Bill Riddle wrote:
> >
> > > The most remarkable was their activities when crossing the
> > > Equator. In spite of 1 above, they surfaced and held Shellback
> > > initiations! This brought back the memories of when I myself was
> > > initiated into the Domain of Neptunus Rex (over 30 years ago).
> >
> > I caught only part of a news report on CNN the other night, but I got the
> > impression from what I heard that someone is complaining about the
> > shellback initiations, that they are demeaning, immoral, etc. Has anyone
> > heard any additional about this?
> >