• Kit
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    1 year ago

    Bars on Friday nights, volunteering, or church. The Masons if you’re male and want to meet intellectuals.

    • AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
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      1 year ago

      Joining the Masons for intellectual discourse sounds a few centuries out of date. During the Enlightenment, Masonic lodges were rife with radical debate about science, philosophy, human rights and more perfect forms of government, though these days they’re mostly for elderly conservative small businessmen in provincial towns. (You even have to swear to believe in a supreme being to be a Mason, though someone apparently fudge this by defining a supreme being in a circular fashion.)

      • Kit
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        1 year ago

        I can assure you that the Masons are still primarily focused on intellectual discussion.

      • Fondots@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I recommend the paid subscription masons, the ads in the free version are really obnoxious

      • Kit
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        1 year ago

        Yeah. I joined in my 20s and enjoyed it, but it was a bit too old of a crowd for me to really fit in. I figure I’ll go back in my 40s.

        • Mane25@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          Too many of my relatives are Masons, I figure it would just be like hanging out with my old relatives.

          • Kit
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            1 year ago

            Hahaha it can definitely feel that way sometimes. There were a few younger guys at my lodge but we never really clicked. On the plus side, politics are never talked about in the lodge so I never felt like I was around a bunch of conservatives or anything like that. It was a great experience and everyone was open-minded and friendly.

            I ended up working on a project for the lodge for a few years with a small group that was guys in their 40s to 80s, and it felt great to get several father figures. They gave me some great guidance in my young adulthood.

            I’ve heard that the Shriners attract a younger crowd and they apparently have some crazy parties, but I never got that far. You need to be a Mason to become a Shriner.