A Post Literate Society

And of course, a hat

A few weeks ago, I ran a little poll here on Emeth. In it, I asked if you would prefer it if I included voice narrations or even videos of the posts I write here. I thought at the time that it is important to provide my thoughts to you in your preferred way of receiving them. I also thought that lots of you would like a more modern format better.

I was, honestly, quite surprised when 88% of you responded that you want the written word.

I’ve considered that, quite a lot, in the weeks since.

It is claimed, by many thinkers now, that we are rapidly becoming a ‘post literate society.’ A society in which multimedia technology has advanced to such a point that people don’t need to, and in many cases don’t read and write. Indeed I heard that claim made again today by a member of President Obama’s Administration.

I think that’s true. I know people who consume all, or virtually all, of their media via audio or video. I imagine that you do as well.

My little poll showed, quite clearly, that Emeth’s readers aren’t interested in that post literate future.

And after thinking about it deeply, I have to say that I am very pleased by that.

We may complain, as our Brother Mackey did so very long ago, that too many Masons read too little about our Craft, and I agree with him, but plainly many do read about Freemasonry, and want to read about Freemasonry.

Those readers, Emeth’s readers, are the men who will transmit Masonry into future generations.

It is said that ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ and I believe that is true over the long term. Tyranny always fails when people are unafraid to write and publish against it. Humor works for that as well, tyranny can’t survive when the people laugh instead of obey.

Just as importantly, our words can live on. From generation to generation. We remember people of ancient Greece, not for what they accomplished, but for the words they used. Moving to Rome, would we bother to learn anything about the Emperor Marcus Aurelius had he not written his Meditations, still published today, 2000 years after he wrote them? More recently, haven’t we all read words of Shakespeare?

The words of others that we consume have the potential to change us. The words that we use have the potential to change others, and indeed to echo through generations.

None of that could be possible in a post literate society.

Orwell warned of that in his novel 1984. In it, the words within his envisioned dystopia weren’t set or fixed. They could be, and were, changed on a whim. Making it impossible to ever seek or find the truth. We’ve actually seen some of that nonsense, for example in 2023 when a publisher changed the words of Roald Dahl’s novels to remove anything that could be considered offensive. Likewise with Ian Fleming and other authors. Something so reprehensible that even the Queen of England spoke out against it.

Dahl’s novels, those in e-book format, were automatically updated to use words not his own. That is the danger of a post literate society. Change like that is easy, and in most cases unnoticeable. But truth is lost. Those with printed copies could still read Dahl’s words.

Ultimately, there is nothing more important than words. Our words can help or harm. Comfort or hurt. Build a better society, or return us to barbarism.

Remembering that, I have to say, I’m pleased that 88% of Emeth’s readers prefer the written word.

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BC Bac Pac Traveler

Moving on to a much lighter subject, check out the new hat! There it is in all its glory, having just come in from the rainstorm outside.

I’ve got to say, it’s a really cool leather hat, made by a fellow named Bill Conner, an American expat in Australia. He started making the things in 1969, and retired around 5 years ago. Unfortunately, there won’t be any more, I found this one ‘new old stock.’ Luckily, it fits!

Anywhoo, this past Monday was the Stated Meeting of my Lodge, and I was able to take it for a spin standing in the East. It performed admirably!

There are two rather unique things about this hat, which is why I mention it. One is the fact that Bill Conner put leather sweatbands in his hats. Not crappy elastic or some other junk. This is fairly rare among the makers of this style of leather hat. The second, which is completely unique I think is that the hatband is held on by little snapped loops, one on each side of the hat. Making it perfectly easy to switch out the band anytime. I figure that will be really cool for festive occasions.

If you want one, don’t buy it from Amazon or a similar e-commerce place. Those are all fakes, not made by Bill Conner. You can snag them used on Etsy, Ebay, and similar places, or if you want one that is ‘new old stock’ shoot me an email. I know a legitimate seller who has them (only in brown, and not in all sizes.)