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As part of the continuing work on the new SLOPedia, Mulefoot and I found ourselves in a discussion regarding traditional rites of passage amongst certain species and cultures in the SLOPverse.
The first we discussed was that of the Bo (i.e. sentient Bovids), most specifically that of the Toro tribe (which includes most sentient "beef" cattle breeds).

We had felt that certain traditions in our world, such as the Corrida, would also exist in the SLOPverse, albeit with a different twist. In the SLOPverse, the Corrida is a rite of passage for young Toro, where they will face off in the ring against non-sentient bulls using only those weapons, which the creator gave them: namely their hooves and horns.

Further discussion came up with the idea that there are three traditional Rites of Passage for young Toro, which are as follows:

(1) Getting your hot-brand
(2) Getting your first nose-ring
(3) Surviving your first Corrida

We're currently spit-balling Rites of Passage for other species as well, such as a first successful hunt with only your teeth and claws for Felids...

So, I thought I'd open up the floor to discussion and see what other folks might think.

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"Popular lies have ever been the most potent enemies of personal liberty. There is only one way to deal with them. Cut them out, to the very core, just as cancers are..." - Ragnar Redbeard, "Might is Right" (1890).

The Church frowns upon these rites as it encourages racial pride rather than cooperative existence.

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What call have I to dream of anything?
I am a wolf. Back to the world again,
And speech of fellow-brutes that once were men
Our throats can bark for slaughter: cannot sing.

(Redacted)

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"Popular lies have ever been the most potent enemies of personal liberty. There is only one way to deal with them. Cut them out, to the very core, just as cancers are..." - Ragnar Redbeard, "Might is Right" (1890).

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"Popular lies have ever been the most potent enemies of personal liberty. There is only one way to deal with them. Cut them out, to the very core, just as cancers are..." - Ragnar Redbeard, "Might is Right" (1890).

Well the biggest problem is that we as humans don't have a non-sentient counter part standing around.
So we see cattle with brands showing ownership and nose rings to lead them around with.
The closest analogy I can come up with:
You don't see humans walking around with their SSN or some other number, tattooed to their inside left fore arm.
Or in the 1800's the biggest fashion trend was to wear steel neck bands.

Now I can see if they were xenophobes and the brand was so they knew that they were mating with a 'pure' member of their own kind.
Or some how flip the nose ring wearing around and only a few well off bulls had massive gold rings to show leadership...

But I'm really struggling with the idea that some Toro is going to feel pride with a "tattoo" when he can look over the fence and see an animal with a similar brand.

And I didn't mean to make this personal, it's just that everything you said more or less went counter to what I felt about sentient bovine.

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Emoticons are the wheelchair ramps for the humor impaired.

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Emoticons are the wheelchair ramps for the humor impaired.

(Redacted)

_________________
"Popular lies have ever been the most potent enemies of personal liberty. There is only one way to deal with them. Cut them out, to the very core, just as cancers are..." - Ragnar Redbeard, "Might is Right" (1890).

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Never Underestimate the Gentle Giant

Si ego certiorem faciam.... mihi tu delendus eris

(redacted)

_________________
"Popular lies have ever been the most potent enemies of personal liberty. There is only one way to deal with them. Cut them out, to the very core, just as cancers are..." - Ragnar Redbeard, "Might is Right" (1890).

_________________
Emoticons are the wheelchair ramps for the humor impaired.

_________________
Emoticons are the wheelchair ramps for the humor impaired.

_________________
Emoticons are the wheelchair ramps for the humor impaired.

_________________
"Popular lies have ever been the most potent enemies of personal liberty. There is only one way to deal with them. Cut them out, to the very core, just as cancers are..." - Ragnar Redbeard, "Might is Right" (1890).

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"Y'know, if nothing else, living here has incredibly sharpened my 'Hey, there's someone coming for my dick!' defense skills." -