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AaronArmitage's avatar

The problem isn't with most folks who practice the ritual, but the first few to practice it. Ritual practices tend to be inherently silly (or boring, or both), with the silliness obscured by solemnity and age. The trouble is getting over that hurdle with the first people, who are aware of the fact that they didn't used to do this stuff. Three ways come to mind: 1) get people are are okay with being silly, 2) pretend to be re-introducing an old ritual which fell out of practice, or 3) gradually ritualize originally non-ritual behavior.

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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

Agnostic --

Science fiction fan conventions go back to the 1930's. Star Trek and comic book and mystery conventions go back to the 1970's. Rodeos and country fairs go back to the 19th century -- properly considered, perhaps back to medieval times.

Our ancestors lacked lives.

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