The word Mundane

[Sollie]

Do you use it to describe stuff? Do you feel it is slightly elitist? Not a good definition?

I am very interested in what you guys think. It's been floating around and I've seen a few posts with it in it, some think nothing of using it, others find it offensive. Why?

[Zibblsnrt]

I toss the term around quite a bit. I usually use in a pretty straightforward way when describing things ("a mundane sandwich") or quite ironically when referring to people ("he seemed mundane until I noticed he was reading The Aeneid in the original Klingon").

People who toss the word around in an I-am-superior-to-these-lesser people annoy me in the same way that people who seriously use terms like "the rabble" or "muggle" or "the unwashed masses" do; all three are instances of self-promotion that the person using the term generally hasn't earned the right to apply to themselves.

I find the idea of reacting to the word as though it's intrinsically offensive kind of silly though.

[new_hope]

I say mundane, when describing my day sometimes... But, personally, I think it's one of those words that will end up slipping out of usage soon

[Isabel]

I use it on occasion, but only in referring to myself, my day, etc. Never as a "bad" thing. And honestly, I think I can count only five or six times I've every actually used it. Most of the time, there's just no need.

[Sequoia]

The word itself isn't what's offensive. There are perfectly mundane ways to use the term "mundane". (Like that?) Heck, you can even get away with using it to describe non-"magical" things, as they would be secular and ordinary things. Mundane herbs vs. "Magical" herbs, for example. (Of course those overlap, but it was the first example that came to mind...) Oh, or a mundane ceremony (like a courthouse wedding) vs. a non-mundane ceremony (a church wedding, with full religious representation).

It's all about the context of how some people use it, though, that presents an issue. Mostly when it's NOT used as an adjective, but as a noun.

When pagans (and other people who use "magic") use it to refer to non-pagans (or more commonly, people who don't use "magic"), it is a very pompous term to use, nothing less than a slur. Not to mention the maturity level associated with this word (as a noun). I've seen people use it interchangeably with "muggle"... :rolleyes:

The complete disregard with which I've personally seen/heard the term used is why it irritates me in this context. I've seen it used as everything from a supposedly benign label of, "Oh he won't understand, he's just a mundane," to being used as an insult to others when XYZ doesn't satisfy the person ("magic"-user) making the insult.

I've even heard select "magic"-users talk about how they're going to "freak the mundanes", a term meant to imply that by using "magic" in some form or fashion, one can enact an "inexplicable" experience for a "mundane", who won't understand what's going on, and hence "freak out"... done for amusement. I've yet to see them particularly succeed with this effort, for a variety of reasons, but the maliciousness is there.

[Sollie]

It's all about the context of how some people use it, though, that presents an issue. Mostly when it's NOT used as an adjective, but as a noun.

When pagans (and other people who use "magic") use it to refer to non-pagans (or more commonly, people who don't use "magic"), it is a very pompous term to use, nothing less than a slur. Not to mention the maturity level associated with this word (as a noun). I've seen people use it interchangeably with "muggle"... :rolleyes:

The complete disregard with which I've personally seen/heard the term used is why it irritates me in this context. I've seen it used as everything from a supposedly benign label of, "Oh he won't understand, he's just a mundane," to being used as an insult to others when XYZ doesn't satisfy the person ("magic"-user) making the insult.

I've even heard select "magic"-users talk about how they're going to "freak the mundanes", a term meant to imply that by using "magic" in some form or fashion, one can enact an "inexplicable" experience for a "mundane", who won't understand what's going on, and hence "freak out"... done for amusement. I've yet to see them particularly succeed with this effort, for a variety of reasons, but the maliciousness is there. This is almost always the way I've seen/heard it used.

[Toki Wartooth]

...using it to describe non-"magical" things, as they would be secular and ordinary things. Mundane herbs vs. "Magical" herbs, for example. (Of course those overlap, but it was the first example that came to mind...) Oh, or a mundane ceremony (like a courthouse wedding) vs. a non-mundane ceremony (a church wedding, with full religious representation).

It's all about the context of how some people use it, though, that presents an issue. Mostly when it's NOT used as an adjective, but as a noun.

When pagans (and other people who use "magic") use it to refer to non-pagans (or more commonly, people who don't use "magic"), it is a very pompous term to use, nothing less than a slur. Not to mention the maturity level associated with this word (as a noun). I've seen people use it interchangeably with "muggle"... :rolleyes:

I mainly use it in the first way...describing things that are not necessarily magical (which is sometimes dependent upon context).

I actually haven't heard it used as an insult like that...and I myself have not used it as such.

[Caitlin.ann]

Its also a big insult in the vampire community and pissed me off to no end when I was active in the OVC. "Mundanes" were non-vampiric, "normal" people who didn't know about vampirism or other concepts. Similar to "muggles". I thought I escaped that terminology when my activities in the OVC declined..guess not. :(

When I do hear someone being called such my defensiveness automatically goes up, btw. And I'm usually not very nice afterwards.

[Sequoia]

Its also a big insult in the vampire community and pissed me off to no end when I was active in the OVC. "Mundanes" were non-vampiric, "normal" people who didn't know about vampirism or other concepts. Similar to "muggles". I thought I escaped that terminology when my activities in the OVC declined..guess not. :(

When I do hear someone being called such my defensiveness automatically goes up, btw. And I'm usually not very nice afterwards.

I suppose that any sub-culture wanting to make themselves feel "cool" might be inclined to use it.

"Look how awesome we are. We are not of this Earth. We aren't like everyone else. We aren't ordinary! Let's call them a name! Oh I know! I'll be TOTALLY ORIGINAL and call them 'mundanes'!"

[Caitlin.ann]

I suppose that any sub-culture wanting to make themselves feel "cool" might be inclined to use it.

"Look how awesome we are. We are not of this Earth. We aren't like everyone else. We aren't ordinary! Let's call them a name! Oh I know! I'll be TOTALLY ORIGINAL and call them 'mundanes'!"

Yup..thats exactly why it ended up irritating me so much. Especially when people used "human" instead of mundane. "I'm not like those humans". Lol. *head desk head desk head desk*

[Sequoia]

Yup..thats exactly why it ended up irritating me so much. Especially when people used "human" instead of mundane. "I'm not like those humans". Lol. *head desk head desk head desk*

Yeah, that'd be some massive headdesking going on here, too. A fun one to pull in the Therian & Otherkin communities is to ask people to go get DNA tests done. They almost unanimously refuse. Or change their claim to be "spiritual"... or change their claim to be "psychological"... etc, etc. OR, they claim that they would then be abducted by government Agents, or something like that. Heh.

[Darth Brooks]

For me, "mundane" means "secular." Here's an example of how I normally use the term:

"I enjoy The Dukes of Hazzard for purely mundane reasons."

I.e., it doesn't necessarily mean that something is inferior or worthy of contempt. It simply means it has no religious or spiritual significance to the speaker. This can, of course, be turned into an insult, but such is optional, not required.

Now, if you want a word that I think people do use in a generally insulting fashion, consider the word "profane." An example of its usage would be:

"The land of Israel was profaned with Asherah poles."

The word "mundane" is neutral and can be used in a positive or negative way. But "profane" is always negative, even when it's used to describe positive things. I am offended by groups that refer to outsiders as "the Profane."

[Heart of All]

I tend to dislike the word. Mostly because it makes me a little itchy in my pantheist tendencies. I much prefer secular to mundane. Mundane has so many connotations to me to transcendental religions with with a physical, mundane world, and a better, transcendent one.

I usually try to use secular as the opposite of spiritual or religious.

[Infinite Grey]

Mundane

worldly, profane, vulgar as opposed to heavenly
ordinary; not new
tedious; repetitive and boring


The word's potential for insult is higher than its neutrality.

[MamaWytch]

I have always considered it to be a word used to separate things of a spiritual, magical or religious significance from those that are not; for instance, "mundane" candles that I bought at Yankee Candle Co. because they smell good. I have never personally heard it used as a pejorative, but I lead a rather sheltered life.

The word that irks me to no end when used like that is muggle.

[Thunder]

The word itself is not pejorative and is not intended to be so. It is itself, mundane. I have heard it used in the pejorative but no more so than any other word with similar meaning... in fact less so. To native speakers it is just another word.

eta.... vampires and such not withstanding... "mundane" is not a noun. To use it as such is a corruption of the language.

[Thunder]

For me, "mundane" means "secular." Here's an example of how I normally use the term:

"I enjoy The Dukes of Hazzard for purely mundane reasons."

I.e., it doesn't necessarily mean that something is inferior or worthy of contempt. It simply means it has no religious or spiritual significance to the speaker. This can, of course, be turned into an insult, but such is optional, not required.

Now, if you want a word that I think people do use in a generally insulting fashion, consider the word "profane." An example of its usage would be:

"The land of Israel was profaned with Asherah poles."

The word "mundane" is neutral and can be used in a positive or negative way. But "profane" is always negative, even when it's used to describe positive things. I am offended by groups that refer to outsiders as "the Profane."This

exactly... "profane" is a pejorative, "mundane" is not.

[Lilrodrigues]

For me:
Mundane= Secular.

Do i find offensive? Of course not.

[CelticMoon11]

I guess it depends how PC you want to get. I personally believe it is all in the context to which it is used. I personally am not overly fond of people relating to "the realms of the mundane and mystical" like that something that is not "magic" is instantly mundane. But then you could argue everything has a mystical aspect so nothing is really mundane :P.

Muggle I think is a cute word, I've read some Harry Potter, seen the movies, not a huge fan, but the term muggle isn't used in a derogatory way, mudblood is the offensive word in HP. However, that said I don't use the word muggle in my diction, I just don't mind the word :).

[C. Iulia Regilia]

People have always had words for those who are outside of the community. I don't see any huge problem as long as it doesn't turn into an us VS them thing. I've honestly heard worse used in different contexts (go vist politico.com for some creative labeling of outgroups) it's a human thing. If something is not the same as other things, we label them.