Normal People and Permanently Bewildered05 Feb 2009 02:41 pm

Makes Sense When You Think About It

By Nelson

Thanks to Jen for this comment from a Times article about an extinct species of giant snake.

perhaps the childish game ‘snakes & ladders’ is actually a vestigial trace of what was once basic human survival training ? i remember being shocked as an 7 year old learning the true significance of the words to ‘ring-a-ring-of-roses’…….
Simon H, Anglesea, Australia

It’s highly likely. That same basic safety training is the origin of many wonderful games like “Tigers, Knives and Cholera” and old songs like O’Carolan’s “Planxty Don’t Cram Brittle Stuff Up Your Poopflue”.

I also found this one which I like because it’s nice to see someone so uncynically overcome with enthusiasm for Very Big Snakes.

Cor!
Fred, Bristol, UK

18 Responses to “Makes Sense When You Think About It”

  1. on 05 Feb 2009 at 2:59 pm   Samwel

    The hunt for a 58 million-year-old fossilised ladder continues, in order to confirm Simon H’s hypothesis.

  2. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:11 pm   skunkpussy

    From the Daily Heil comments:

    The size of the snake showed that temperatures were 10 degrees hotter then today, eh? So where did they park their 4x4s’ then?
    richard, worcester u.k., 4/2/2009 16:59 rating +64

    Dick.

  3. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:14 pm   Rich

    O’Carolan knew someone called Don’t Cram Brittle Stuff Up Your Poopflue? Crazy Irish.

  4. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:16 pm   Moonshine

    I love you Fred, Bristol.

  5. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:29 pm   Daily Male

    At the opposite end of the spectrum from Fred, Bristol, more Daily Mail ramblings about fat snakes:

    <p This is rubbish !!
    A snake weighing more than a ton!!
    Oh dear. Still working are we ?
    wasted my time in reading this story.

    - jt, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, 5/2/2009 0:39

  6. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:29 pm   Col John Matrix

    I see that Richard from Worcester has a firm grasp on the science behind the global climate, both prehistoric and present day.

  7. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:37 pm   Wiping Tears From My Thighs

    I see Simon H from Australia still believes the complete myth that “Ring o’ Ring o’ Roses” is to do with the plague. Which it isn’t. Not least because the tune was invented four hundred years too late to save anyone from an agonising bubonic death.

    Sorry not to have said anything funny…

  8. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:46 pm   Mr Cat

    perhaps the childish game ’snakes & ladders’ is actually a vestigial trace of what was once basic human survival training?

    Is he saying that our ancesters survived by climbing up ancient ladder and sliding down the backs of giant snakes? And made a board game to teach people?

    Sounds like the Flinstones.

  9. on 05 Feb 2009 at 3:58 pm   bi and proud

    wow; reading through some of these posts, I think I may have died a little inside. How do these people get to the age where they can form words around their meaningless drivel without being killed in some hideous way, maybe forgetting to breathe? Oh dear…my head hurts, I think I’m going to lie down now.
    relax; i’ll just get baked.

  10. on 05 Feb 2009 at 4:02 pm   bi and proud

    Although Fred, Bristol, managed to bring a smile to my scowling deathmask of a face with his simple enjoyment of the things he has been shown…it must be great to be stupid sometimes.

  11. on 05 Feb 2009 at 4:09 pm   Nelson

    O’Carolan knew someone called Don’t Cram Brittle Stuff Up Your Poopflue? Crazy Irish.

    Nah, he knew someone called Planxty.. as made famous in his pissed-up smash-hit, “Planxty Planxty”

  12. on 05 Feb 2009 at 6:31 pm   dirigible

    How many actual commenters are there on this thread?

  13. on 05 Feb 2009 at 7:41 pm   damian

    One.

  14. on 06 Feb 2009 at 9:51 am   Rich (MMath)(Oxon)`

    I saw a hippo in a museum once. And then it dawned on me:

    Hungry Hungry Hippos is actually a vestigial trace of what was once basic hippo survival training.

  15. on 06 Feb 2009 at 1:11 pm   Silly Bint

    I think it might have been a vestigial trace of this one ton snake which tragically wiped out all the little birds in my local area. How tragic… if I’m right.

  16. on 06 Feb 2009 at 1:25 pm   Kelvin

    Monopoly is clearly a racial memory of a time in the far past when we could afford mortgages and hotel rooms.

  17. on 06 Feb 2009 at 4:26 pm   Kevin but me mates call me kev

    Maybe its just me but snakes and ladders always serves as a vestigial reminder of the time amanda donohoe bit off my penis in a jacuzzi

  18. on 07 Feb 2009 at 7:40 pm   Paitingi Owen

    I quite like Carolan’s “Planxty Don’t fucking catch smallpox it can make you blind and then 400 years later your repertoire only gets played by fat women who dress up as witches”.