# more info please \[re: secret societies\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [June 30, 2013, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255 "2013-06-30T10:13:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ender34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@ender34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ender34)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255/1 "2013-06-30T10:13:23Z")

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“I’ve participated in this shadowy process myself. Occasionally afterward I go to the public meeting at which the matter is nominally decided, or more often ratified (I live in Chicago, OK?), and I think: most of the people in this room have no clue.”

Could you give us more details on how and when you participated in the closed-door meetings that precede the open ratifications? Who let you into the room and why? Did they exact vows of secrecy or what? You are aware that sunlight is the best disinfectant; perhaps it’s time to disinfect yourself.

> **[Do secret societies control everything?](https://www.straightdope.com/21344200/do-secret-societies-control-everything)**

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255/2 "2013-06-30T10:16:21Z")

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It sounds like you’re quoting someone, but who?

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255/3 "2013-06-30T10:22:34Z")

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[He’s quoting Cecil’s recent column on secret societies.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3108/do-secret-societies-control-everything) I’ll add a link to the OP.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255/4 "2013-06-30T12:26:31Z")

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Moved to CoCC/Staff

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**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255/5 "2013-06-30T18:18:51Z")

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Cecil was either referring to business politics where the higher-ups decided on an outcome privately and then had an open meeting with everyone to steer the group their predetermined decision.

Or, Chicago politics. Same thing.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-info-please-re-secret-societies/662255/6 "2013-07-01T10:40:28Z")

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Mod note: I’ve edited the thread title to be more clear to readers what this is about.