Two thumbs up. Sorry for not submitting.

First off, I'd like to apologize (sp?) for not submitting this time around. I really wanted to. I just couldn't think of anything good in time.

Now three of these articles really stuck out to me. The first was Mobman's because it was so darn morbid, yet so true. The second was Solemn Coyote's article because the whole "training montage" made me think. The example given would have looked rediculous on paper, but as I read it, I thought that it would work perfectly in a movie. The final article that stuck out to me was Bread's because I remember studying the eight stages in high school. That really brought me back.

I have no idea what I'm going to submit for the next issue. "Oceans" seems like another difficult topic. Again, I'm sorry for not contributing to "Rites of Passage".

Anther glorious issue of STP. Although, it seems the contributing authors/lemmings list is dwindling. If anyone can spare the time, PM a couple've your favorite authors and ask if they'd be interested in contributing.
Anyways, on to the reviewing.
WyrdWolf: About the Massai rite...the mass circumcision bit *wince* pretty much is the ritual. The killing-a-lion part is sort of an optional extra for status within the tribe. It may be that the lion-slaying used to be mandatory, but it's not a part of the modern Massai coming of age ceremony.
Mobman: "you will only ever be as good as your best impression, your best lie- your coldest stare." Good line. "a reflection of someone so messed up as to decide that any new member must drink cow urine." This was actually sound medical practice for ancient doctors. People are weird. "Nobody wants you; nobody needs you." You might just be STP's very own angst-guru.
Feather: That's pretty cool. Although, I have to admit, a binary gender model is confusing enough. I'm not sure the human race could survive changing its gender every Christmas. Or winter holiday of choice.
Felicia13: "The only thing that is the same through all cultures that have traditions of a rite of passage is that it is only for guys." This one I don't agree with. 'sweet sixteen' is a female-only rite of passage. Debutantes go through a rite of passage. Heck, donning certain female-only articles of clothing is a rite of passage not shared by most guys. I agree that the male-only rites of passage tend to be more dramatic, but I disagree that there are only male rites of passage.
"Twenty-two year old people don’t exactly qualify to become adults through a series of tests." I guess I'm in a nitpicky mood. I have to say, maturity is really a state of mind. Here, in the modern USA, people are considered (mostly) adult at age eighteen. However, this is largely because our society mandates schooling up until that point. If we lost the public school system and went back to basic agriculture...well, you don't have to be eighteen in order to guide a plow. Fourteen or sixteen might be considered 'adult'.
"Men, on the other hand, are only slightly more rational and are still very immature." Here, I agree.
Heatless Flame: "Quite often in stories, I noticed that the main character is going or goes through a pivotal point in his life." That's a really, really general statement. I mean, it's accurate, but it definitely isn't going to be something the reader didn't know.
"Who is going to throw a Going-Off-to-College-Party for a street urchin?" That's a good point. There are definitely times when a ceremony is not feasible. But, does that mean that there can't still be a rite of passage?
WyrdWolf: "In fiction, a rite of passage had better be something crazy-huge and really marvelous if you want to entertain your reader." I do agree with that. Of course, that doesn't mean there have to be fireworks at every rite of passage. Maybe the kicker is that the rite is very emotionally charged. Still, the big rites of passage don't happen every day. The reader should feel like they're important.
Canilla Stylo: I think it might be easier not to connect the episodes of classroom for the desperately jaded. That way, you can build a different scenario for each topic. Maybe even do a field trip or something once in a while.
Bread: Solid psychological theory. Always good for a bit of realism, or for ground-up character developement. It's been a while since I'd read about Erik's theories, but this article brought back memories of psych class.

See you all next issue, hopefully.

Morbid stuff, Mobman. Love it.

Yeah, most rites of passage lie beneath the radar until you actually take the time to look. *nod* It builds up importance to see them at a later time--good point.

*smile* We DO need to bring the old stuff back. Here's a dagger and some hard tack--bring me back a dead rhino. That builds serious character.

Montages are hard to work into writing. I doubt they're a good idea at all, kind of...though I can see where they'd be necessary. I don't know; that choppiness is a nemesis.

Ceremonies aren't the most convenient things, are they? Very good point--helps with realism if you follow that guideline.

I love this classroom. Learning with entertainment; it had a good overview of the whole RoP concept.

Wow. No one ever thinks about those in terms of rites of passage. And now I actually know a tad about psychology. ^^ I think I'm slightly stuck in identity confusion...maybe. Hopefully not, and hopefully not for long.

Fantastic. It was article-licious.

Oceans, mm? I think I might end up writing something deep. Uh-oh. ^^ Well, we'll see.

Wolfie

Discovery Channel, Bread? Really?

Heh. Where'd you learn that one, Shane? Seems a little ... um, graphic, don't you think?

Mobman, you have summed up my feelings on the world quite beautifully in this angry essay. Bravo.

I love how that particular quote is coming from a guy named 'Hubert Humphrey.' ^^

“I shall live like a decadent king off of these pilfered cafeteria tea packets.” Did you really think such a thought, Coyote? Hooray for milestones.

Hm. Thanks, Feather. Relevant AND interesting!

Ha ha. I rock. ^^

... I like pretending to be hypocritical. Try THAT one on for size.

Heh. When Beowulf kicked the dragon, I immediately thought, "Chuck Norris." Coincidence? I think not ... Wow! Thanks. I never knew how to fit all that training in ... Sorry. I'm being sarcastic. It was helpful, but I don't do training ... oddly enough.

People are petty and vindictive no matter what. What is this 'Somerset Maugham' talking about?!

Yay for short guides, Heatless Flame! Wait, I've never seen you before! Welcome!

Well, Shane, you mustered enough. I enjoyed that. Except ... there weren't any bad scenarios. That made me sad. :(

... the devil? Kahlil Gibran, you are on crack. Shame, shame.

Nice continuation, there, Stylo-Bille. Enjoyably, as always. Hooray for Slash! ^^

Bread, when you put it like that through 8 stages of 'acceptance' you make it seem like people have no hope as a race. No one's going to go through all of those without some despair. Rawr.

*sticks tongue out at Bread* Why don't I get a proper summary? Are you still sour that I implied you were without superpowers?

*hangs head* Sorry, Bread. I'll try to get something in by the 27 ... oceans are interesting, so it's ok. I might even do TWO segments. You never know. The usual compare-contrast bit'll be a little harder this time ...

Bye, kids! Great article, as usual.

Felicia.