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> not despite their impracticality but because of it This isn't part of the definition of a shibboleth, as I understand it. A shibboleth is simply a marker of
by ForHackernews 7y ago
> not despite their impracticality but because of it
This isn't part of the definition of a shibboleth, as I understand it. A shibboleth is simply a marker of group identity (the original case was the speaker's accent when pronouncing the word 'shibboleth').
You seem to be referring to something more analogous to peacock feathers, where hewing to some practice in spite of its impracticality signals the depth of one's commitment.
- hirundo 7y agoOK, but it's a better marker of group identity the more peculiar it is to that group. So absurdity or impracticality are common characteristics of effective shibboleths because they make the marker a better discriminator with fewer false positives.
- sridca 7y agoSome of the deeds through which the claimants based their title had slight irregularities in various signatures. With these documents and this evidence, Johnson and the other claimants having presented their petition to the Board of Commissioners established by the act of March 3d, 1851, "to ascertain and settle private land claims in the State of California," and that board having confirmed it, the United States took the case by appeal into the District Court, which court having also confirmed it, the case came to the Supreme Court: the question being whether the petition for confirmation of the claim was rightly granted and affirmed.
- nine_k 7y agoAka "costly signaling".