# Origin of goats, etc. for initiation **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 20, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820 "2005-01-20T23:45:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/1 "2005-01-20T23:45:39Z")
So when did it start? Provide links! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/2 "2005-01-21T02:39:46Z")
The first rule of the goats is: don’t talk about the goats. Maaaaah! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/3 "2005-01-21T02:41:15Z")
I don’t know…I can’t remember…it’s all gone hazy. Those crazy days of initiation… ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/4 "2005-01-21T02:42:57Z")
constant bleating! make it stop!!! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/5 "2005-01-21T02:50:10Z")
Man, you people act like it’s some big scray secret or something! What a bunch of fraidy-cats. I will happily tell you all about the goats. See, it started when… \ We’re sorry, but this transmission has been interrupted by… ummm… powers beyond our control. Stay tuned, someone will get back to you. \ ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/6 "2005-01-21T03:02:35Z")
I still have no idea. Google pie. (not band name… cat name, maybe) I did when I first got here. I was looking for pie but discovered something interesting. Though it helped very, very little. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/7 "2005-01-21T03:04:03Z")
I managed to avoid the goat initiation. The key is to not make ANY IMPACT WHATSOEVER on the boards. Judging from some of the introduction threads I’ve seen since signing up, I think I made the right decision. **MSUbulldogs** , I presume you’re a student in Starkvegas? I have a lot of high school friends going to MSU… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/8 "2005-01-21T03:09:16Z")
> [@Nightwatch Trailer](#): > > I managed to avoid the goat initiation. The key is to not make ANY IMPACT WHATSOEVER on the boards. Judging from some of the introduction threads I’ve seen since signing up, I think I made the right decision. ::throws a bag over \*\*Nightwatch’s \*\* head:: GET HIM, GUYS! ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/9 "2005-01-21T03:18:16Z")
Goats are cheaper than cows. That’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/10 "2005-01-21T03:28:03Z")
Goats also provide goat hair, which can be made into cloth. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/11 "2005-01-21T03:33:26Z")
If you have a goat, an onion, and some peppers, you’ve got chili! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/12 "2005-01-21T03:34:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If you have a goat, an onion, and some peppers, you’ve got chili! 😃 I really hope you’re not implying what I’m thinking you’re implying. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/13 "2005-01-21T03:34:53Z")
There are no goats. There aren’t even any stories about goats. Anything you read that states otherwise is a lie. Shhhh! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/14 "2005-01-21T03:39:10Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I really hope you’re not implying what I’m thinking you’re implying. What? You mean you actually _believed_ them when they told you that the old goats were taken to the country, to live out their days frolicking on a farm? You _bought_ that? oops. _burp_ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/15 "2005-01-21T03:42:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What? You mean you actually _believed_ them when they told you that the old goats were taken to the country, to live out their days frolicking on a farm? You _bought_ that? > > oops. > > _burp_ But…but… :sobs, runs off crying into the night:: ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/16 "2005-01-21T04:03:43Z")
The last thing I remember was being handed this _straw_… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/17 "2005-01-21T04:10:17Z")
We’ve had goats ‘round these parts since 2000. That’s all I’m sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/18 "2005-01-21T04:12:37Z")
There are no goats. The goats are harmless. We can all relax about the goats. :: a quick flash of tentacular motion :: Now, the _calamari_ on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/19 "2005-01-21T04:22:03Z")
The origin is lost in the mists of time. Only the ancients know the secret mysteries of The Goat, The Jell-o and The Straw. Suffice it to say, the ancient threadkillers of the SDMB were made of stronger stuff than such mere mortals as we. Though the deepest meaning of the ritual is lost, we maintain its practice so that someday, when the great ones return to reclaim their thrones of power, all mysteries will be revealed… …I think. ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820/20 "2005-01-21T04:29:30Z")
Exactly right **Sunspace**. The _Straight Dope_ on the use of animals is… Can you keep a secret? If not, close the thread now because I am about to give out info that everyone will deny. Still here? Ok. We had no choice after the lime Jello incident :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-goats-etc-for-initiation/285820.md?page=2)