I'm very new to this philosophy/worldview/religion/thing called Discordianism. So far all I really know is - it seems a hell of a lot like that philosophy i've been calling "Pratchetteanism" up until now. On another forum, a Discordian told me the worldview and philosophy running through Pratchett's Discworld series is full on Discordianism. So here I am on this forum to ask if that's true.
While I've never heard Pratchett call himself a Discordian, the idea that he is not aware of it, after reading "Thief of Time" or playing "Discworld Noir" (which actually has a religion that is so close to Discordianism that it is scary) is untenable, to say the least. If I ever get the chance to meet him in person, it is a question I intend to ask.
Also, many Discordians enjoy his work, which I suspect is not entirely chance. There is plenty of overlap, Discordians don't have a monopoly on humour or surrealism or clever critiques of society disguised as humour, but they definitely appeal nonetheless.
Thank you :)
I've generally thought like I am the Discworld. For years. I've tended to call it "Pratchetteanism". Then I get the funny looks. "You base your worldview mostly on a comedy fantasy book series?" Nooo. I just think like that philosphy. Yeah. The one in the comedy fantasy series. YOU GOT A PROBLEM?
If it's Discordianism (whether it was originally meant to be by Pratchett or not) SIGN ME UP. :lord: (I've got me own 'Pope Card'. The Second Bottle Washer and some other stuff gave it to me.)
So now i've been keeping a vague eye on the threads here and i feel a hell of a lot like this guy ~> :whack:
Especially when it comes to the Operation Midfuck section. . . . . .. ..
It's meant to do that - right?
Please tell me someone has a map!
I've heard hints that I can pretty much do what I want as long as I am not someone who is completely unable to understand fnord.... It just seems too good to be true.
I have gotten this vague idea that there's this book i should know the contents of so...
-Wonders off to read 'Principia Discordia'-
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 08, 2009, 12:13:58 AM
Please tell me someone has a map!
I've heard hints that I can pretty much do what I want as long as I am not someone who is completely unable to understand fnord.... It just seems too good to be true.
I have gotten this vague idea that there's this book i should know the contents of so...
-Wonders off to read 'Principia Discordia'-
I'm not one to give you advice on Discordianism, since I only read a third of the PD, and I have no idea what a 'fnord' is.
But welcome!
If you ever find the right map, or have any ideas on how to construct one, do let me know!
That said, I think that once you pick a map, you start seeing structures which approximate that map where ever you look. Which in turn starts making the map you picked at random, look like a very fortuitous find. Explaining why that fortune occurred to you an initial task of the map. E.g. A Christian might believe themselves to be "chosen", then read Pratchett and see only those parts which talk in a rhythm to their own beliefs.
So I see Discordianism as a system which basically says "choose your own map, use it, defend it if you want to, or not, pick a new one whenever you feel like it". Intellectually that would seem to be the least stifling, and there are unexpected consequences to using _any_ map, but it may be seen as lazy or just plain stupid to people using a map which looks nothing like mine.
If that makes any sense?
EDIT: And of course, you're not limited to using only one map at a time, but the more maps you use, the less easily you can successfully map between them.
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 08, 2009, 12:13:58 AM
Please tell me someone has a map!
We don't even have a car in one piece, we have a habit of rolling while trying to drive off-road.
Anyway, I'm not sure whether Pratchet knows of PD or not, but there are a lot of good writers out there who have similar ideas to us, but may not have heard of PD, see the Douglas Adams thread below this, for instance.
Anyway, welcome, we have a pool on the roof.
Twas the thread that got me to start this one.
I've been reading PD for the last several hours - and have answered my own question. He must have read it. That or Eris was involved somewhere. If i don't leave this forum and bugger off somewhere else (I get distracted easily) I might add some reasons. (I will mention that I often describe a "Pratchettean" as a person who has looked at the world and seen the joke. That and spreading the gospel of Pratchett by forcefeeding books to all friends and families (It's a selective art) (We aren't required to 'convert', we just do) are typical of Pratchettean based religions. While we're not sure about the heavy stand on hotdogs, we do believe there's no excuse for putting pineapple on pizza. OK i'm done on this sidethought.)
-cough-
From what I can tell so far though - here's my theory. He is a Discordian, but a particular breed. From what I can tell so far - all Discordians are different - except the ones who aren't.
I already am a Pope (like i said, Pope card - and an initiation ritual that came with extra forum wine) and I am resisting (with much effort) naming myself a Saint right yet. (Last time i was a bright eyed newbie I was 13 and running after Wicca. It's been a few years.) I haven't (wait - on the years thing - not that many - just a few) been able to prevent the image search. My computer pictures folder already has the sexiest Sacred Chao i could find. :oops:
So anyways, yeah. Thank you for the welcome ( :lulz: ) I'll be in the pool. :mrgreen:
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 08, 2009, 03:10:23 AM
we do believe there's no excuse for putting pineapple on pizza.
QFT
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 08, 2009, 03:10:23 AMMy computer pictures folder already has the sexiest Sacred Chao i could find. :oops:
Are you going to share?
(http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww82/Elf86/TheSacredChaobig.jpg)
OK, just checked my copy of Discworld noir. It didn't work, because its not made to work with Vista.
However, I did check a game guide and it reminded me of a few things. In particular, how does this strike you? A conspiracy theorist named Malaclypse, who can be found at the Temple of Small Gods and worships the Ephebian (ie Greek) goddess of Misunderstandings, Errata, who, according to the plot of the game:
"was the cause of the Tsortean Wars; not, as most people believe, Elenor. Understandably not the most liked goddess, Errata wasn't invited to many weddings, one of which was Peloria and Theta's. She was not pleased, and so devised a plan for revenge. She had Neoldian forge a golden falchion with "For the Strongest" engraved on it. This caused a fight between almost 80 different war gods. Luckily Neoldian had also engraved "Batteries Not Included" on the falchion, which fortunately for Errata, caused an argument between Patina, who thought the sword was a subtly observed metaphor for the hopelessness of existence, and Cephut, who thought it was a big knife. In the end it became so heated that Astoria bribed Rhome of Tsort to steal and hide the falchion just to shut her sister up. In return, Astoria gave Elenor to Rhome and the resulting extramarital confusion blew up into the Tsortean Wars."
Yeah, Pratchett has never heard of Discordianism.
Quote from: Rumwolf on August 08, 2009, 04:20:53 AM
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 08, 2009, 03:10:23 AM
we do believe there's no excuse for putting pineapple on pizza.
QFT
That would be because there's no need for an excuse to put pineapple on pizza. It is an inherently good thing.
SCHISM!
Thanks for that quote Cain, it warms my little heart to see it.
I think there was a thread somewhere around here full of Discordian-esque Pratchett quotes...
http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/index.php?topic=15016.0
Here.
The man probably counts as an honorary Discordian.
Quote from: Cainad on August 10, 2009, 04:20:38 PM
Quote from: Rumwolf on August 08, 2009, 04:20:53 AM
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 08, 2009, 03:10:23 AM
we do believe there's no excuse for putting pineapple on pizza.
QFT
That would be because there's no need for an excuse to put pineapple on pizza. It is an inherently good thing.
You better stay the fuck away from my pizza! :argh!:
Quote from: Rumwolf on August 11, 2009, 02:00:40 AM
Quote from: Cainad on August 10, 2009, 04:20:38 PM
Quote from: Rumwolf on August 08, 2009, 04:20:53 AM
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 08, 2009, 03:10:23 AM
we do believe there's no excuse for putting pineapple on pizza.
QFT
That would be because there's no need for an excuse to put pineapple on pizza. It is an inherently good thing.
You better stay the fuck away from my pizza! :argh!:
There was a time when I was like you. Then I was shown the way, the light, the truth.
I can only pray that one day you shall walk the same path.
:hippie:
:lulz:
Quote from: Cainad on August 11, 2009, 02:02:41 AM
There was a time when I was like you. Then I was shown the way, the light, the truth.
I can only pray that one day you shall walk the same path.
:hippie:
Peace loving pineapple consuming.. HIPPIE!!! :zombie: Burn all heretics :argh!:
~cough~
Thank you for the thread :mrgreen: It's awesomeness.
~Heads off to simultaneously create the Pratchettean Church of Discordia and relax in the pool on the roof~
You can't have pineapple on a pizza without olives marinated in kahlua. Otherwise it would just be wrong[/].
Relevant:
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/collections.png)
Quote from: WyrdKitten on August 11, 2009, 08:01:28 AM
~Heads off to simultaneously create the Pratchettean Church of Discordia and relax in the pool on the roof~
I recommend maintaining vigilance in or near the pool on the roof.
Far better to do that kind of shit in the bunker in the basement.
Quote from: Cain on August 07, 2009, 10:17:17 AM
While I've never heard Pratchett call himself a Discordian, the idea that he is not aware of it, after reading "Thief of Time" or playing "Discworld Noir" (which actually has a religion that is so close to Discordianism that it is scary) is untenable, to say the least. If I ever get the chance to meet him in person, it is a question I intend to ask.
Yeah, I think that
The Thief of Time was almost definitely intended to touch on Discordian themes; If that was a coincidence I'll eat my hat.
The Thief of Time actually touches on both "classic" Discordianism AND on the Church of the SubGenius (http://www.subgenius.com/), what with the time-controlling powers and the yetis and all...
True, I kind of overlooked the latter, but yes, there is only so much coincidence one can take before you have to declare there is indeed a pattern there.
Quote from: Cain on August 10, 2009, 08:01:31 AM
OK, just checked my copy of Discworld noir. It didn't work, because its not made to work with Vista.
However, I did check a game guide and it reminded me of a few things. In particular, how does this strike you? A conspiracy theorist named Malaclypse, who can be found at the Temple of Small Gods and worships the Ephebian (ie Greek) goddess of Misunderstandings, Errata, who, according to the plot of the game:
"was the cause of the Tsortean Wars; not, as most people believe, Elenor. Understandably not the most liked goddess, Errata wasn't invited to many weddings, one of which was Peloria and Theta's. She was not pleased, and so devised a plan for revenge. She had Neoldian forge a golden falchion with "For the Strongest" engraved on it. This caused a fight between almost 80 different war gods. Luckily Neoldian had also engraved "Batteries Not Included" on the falchion, which fortunately for Errata, caused an argument between Patina, who thought the sword was a subtly observed metaphor for the hopelessness of existence, and Cephut, who thought it was a big knife. In the end it became so heated that Astoria bribed Rhome of Tsort to steal and hide the falchion just to shut her sister up. In return, Astoria gave Elenor to Rhome and the resulting extramarital confusion blew up into the Tsortean Wars."
Yeah, Pratchett has never heard of Discordianism.
He lives best who's fain to hide Eris beneath a veneer of the sane.