I hate to say it, but I am just now (at age 38) beginning to get a clue as to why social groups are important, although I still don't think that they are as necessary as people assume.
For the sake of my family, I must accept the "group thing"; church, scouting, sports, etc.
It seems that without these community connections, they will just die!
But, I still can't figure out why grown men would put on stupid hats and do a secret handshake or salute and repeat vows of secrecy and codes of behavior while calling themselves Masons, Elks, Shriners or whatever.
It's just too damn weird for me.
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"Honey, would you buy me some boobles for my 40th b-day?" "No way, they're too expensive. Your own baubles will have to do."