Don't Take Me Seriously - Book - Page 255
What have you heard about the herd?
Mum’s the word
echnically, my friends, a large group
of people can be called a “herd” –
especially if they are grazing on your
shrubbery. The definition here notes
that this group has a common interest,
purpose or bond. A further definition
notes these people might be acting or
thinking as a group and lacking the
ability to think as individuals.
And, no, we aren’t going to discuss
politics – or soccer dads.
This “herd” could also be deemed
a tribe, troop, throng, band, array,
assemblage, drove, gathering, host or
mob – depending on what brought
them together. “Tribe” implies mutual
ancestry, “troop” some sort of military
training, a “throng” is sort of a
spontaneous gathering, “assemblage”
has an air of dignity, a “drove” is more
of a mass movement, and “mob” implies
wild intent.
BTW, an “after party” of people is a
come-lately term that also indicates wild
intent. But you will rarely be confronted
with such a gathering because, well, they
won’t let you in.
As you can see, people can herd-up
for many reasons. On the other hand,
animals might congregate for more
basic reasons, such as protection from
predators and for mating opportunities
(and, in regard to mating opportunities,
I refer you to “after party,” above).
So, given that animals have more
T
Jim Walker
Don’t Take Me Seriously
basic and obvious reasons for gathering
together, the terms humans apply to
these gatherings really say more about
the labelers than the label-ees.
For example, familiar to us all, a
family of lions is called a “pride.” This
is surely because all of us fathers would
like to picture ourselves as the “king of
beasts,” lolling around without threat
from anything, and letting the ladies of
the clan do the food-gathering for us.
We would take much pride in that.
We also know that a group of geese
is called a “gaggle.” I have it on the best
authority that, in the Old English, to
“gaggle” means to “strangle,” and, if
you know geese, you know they deserve
strangling.
(Not surprisingly, groups of people
can also be gaggles, but we’ll discuss
reality shows another time.)
Similarly, gatherings of crows are
called “murders,” for obvious reasons.
On the other hand, a group of larks is
called an “exaltation.” I read that this is
“a poetic comment on the climb of the
lark high into the sky while uttering its
twittering song.”
Blah, blah, blah.
You know whales are found in “pods,”
but they are also found in “gams.” And
since whales don’t have any gams, one
can only assume this is a wistful term
conjured up by lonely sailors dreaming
of leggy women.
Video Link of the Week:
Absolutely anything is possible
W
http://bit.ly/WE9lvf
14 | >>
hile you are used to finding links to humorous videos on this page, your
Connect SCV editor occasionally switches things up when he is inspired.
You will be as well, when you watch this incredible video of a woman’s gentle
encounter with a great white shark. No, this isn’t the first time this sort of thing
has been done, and, yes, this occurred under very special circumstances – but this
is absolutely awe-inspiring, just the same. If this can happen, anything can happen,
our friends. Imagine it, plan carefully, and have the guts to attempt it.
WWW.CONNECTSCV.COM • FEB. 20 - 26, 2013
In the realm of the obvious we have:
• A “chorus” of frogs
• A “leap” of leopards
• An “ostentation” of peacocks
• A “tower” of giraffes
• A “romp” of otters
• A “prickle” of porcupines
• A “bloat” of hippopotamuses
(or hippopotami)
• A “crash” of rhinoceroses
(not rhinoceri)
• A “stand” of flamingos
(they’ll stand for anything)
• And a “parliament” of owls
(who can’t seem to agree on
any legislation)
Needing further explanation, however,
would be…
A “company” of parrots. This must
arise from the fact that, in any company,
the best way to get by is to “parrot” what
the boss puts out.
Then we have a “smack” of jellyfish.
Now we all know jellyfish cannot
talk smack … but their silence is very
accusatory.
And, finally, we have a “gang” of
elk. This term obviously arises from
inebriated Friday nights down at
the lodge.
So let’s head ’em up and move ’em out.
Comment at jwalker@signalscv.com or
at http://Twitter.com/DontSeriously.
