Poll: What should human groups be called?

[Akytalusia]

they're called mobs, right?

 

[WorstClassic]

Subject Collective Name of People
Hermits..................................An observance of hermits

If you're a hermit in a permanent observance, aren't you a monk or nun?
[hr][hr]


Because humans are, in general, self-obsessed (not me though, I'm a special unique snowflake of awesome) we've got lots of different grouping terms based on the construction of that group. e.g. A regional assembly of tradesmen* is a guild or union.

Given that we refer to groups of Chimps/Trogs as a troop, it would make sense to have humans operating at a similarly primitive** social structure as a troop as well.


Interestingly, troops seem to form from the assumed (including surrogate) kinship ties of individuals within a region. "Clan" can be used to refer to a similar group with a more developed social hierarchy, even though this isn't implied by the word's common dictionary definition.

Groups based on probable shared descent, but specifically common phenotypes are called races, but this distinction is only useful when the group does not enjoy a contiguous territory and political structure.

Still more sophisticated groups whose political structure allows for an even broader definition of kinship than a clan or the agglomeration of clans are referred to as "Tribes".

Tribes with a body politic and a stable central territory are referred to as "states".

Note here that a "nation" is a group held together by a binding belief or commonality that does not need to be political in nature, nor does it need to be kinship-based (though there are plenty examples of this being the case).

Groups can also be based on territories, but these group-names can be confusing and aren't always relevant to political structures: Abbey, Town (as townsfolk), City (as city-dwellers/denizens, or citizens which has been co-opted by larger political structures), Country, etc.



"Population" is always right, but never fun.
I submit that "crowd" is a good word for extremely localized groups of individuals and that the crowds can have constituent "cliques" of individuals engaged socially (e.g. in conversation).

Speaking of cliques, we should go bananas with visually identifiable sub-cultures. I'll start:
A scoff of hipsters (could use work)
A neatness of OCD sufferers
A bonkers of animation fans
A version of gamers.








[hr][hr][hr][hr]

*Man used here out of laziness and a professed desire to return it to a gender-neutral pronoun.

**I am just bringing out all sorts of ethnocentric or androcentric bullshit out today aren't I?

 

[Littlee300]

You realize that it's a crowd of people right?

if it was changed then probably flock like sheep.

We have a winner of the pointless thread
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crowd?o=100074

Edit: Tribes don't work
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tribe?o=100074

 

[Klarinette]

Heh... if you've ever watched a lot of people use public transit, they're totally a herd.

I think we're just considered groups, though.

 

[intheweeds]

I found this which is pretty fun



Subject Collective Name of People

...I would add:

P
Painters......................................A curse/illusion/misbelieving of painters
Peddler (US)/pedlars.......................A malapertness of pedlars/peddler (US)
People........................................A crowd/audience/congregation/ mob of people
Performers...................................A troupe/troup of performers
Poverty.......................................A skirl of pipers
Police.........................................A posse of police
Preachers....................................A converting of preachers
Gays......................................A pride of Gays
Prisoners.....................................A pity/gang of prisoners

I added the bold line
Disclaimer: Please understand that I am gay and said joke was made to me by a gay at a gay pride parade this past weekend. this is a hilarious joke and not to be taken offensively!

 

[toue]

A collection is a good option.

 

[Geeky Anomaly]

I vote packs. It's sounds awesome and dangerous!

 

[maturin]

That long list is sorely lacking a collective term for prostitutes.

 

[Lonely Swordsman]

A clique seems right. Or maybe a company.

 

[Brandon237]

Troop and crowd were the ones I was actually aware of... so... those?

 

[WorstClassic]

I would add:

P
Painters......................................A curse/illusion/misbelieving of painters
Peddler (US)/pedlars.......................A malapertness of pedlars/peddler (US)
People........................................A crowd/audience/congregation/ mob of people
Performers...................................A troupe/troup of performers
Poverty.......................................A skirl of pipers
Police.........................................A posse of police
Preachers....................................A converting of preachers
Gays......................................A pride of Gays
Prisoners.....................................A pity/gang of prisoners

I find it offensive that you put a "G" group in the "P" section. How's that?

Don't you think that the implication of "gays" is now for exclusively male homosexuals? Maybe it should be a pride of homos instead? And while I'm saying horrible things how about a, "Promiscuity of Bisexuals"?

 

[Ris]

A crowd, obviously.. if it's a smaller group then it's a party.

 

[intheweeds]

I find it offensive that you put a "G" group in the "P" section. How's that?

Don't you think that the implication of "gays" is now for exclusively male homosexuals? Maybe it should be a pride of homos instead? And while I'm saying horrible things how about a, "Promiscuity of Bisexuals"?

haha i suppose your right, but it's semantics really, i am actually a lesbian, but my friends and i don't really differentiate between the two. I am a woman, but i am still a gay. Sorry if you misunderstood. Perhaps using the word homo would be better. As for the G in the P section, my bad, i was thinking of the P in 'Pride' at the time.

Edit: this is mostly due to the fact the the word 'lesbian' is silly sounding and has a sort of granola eating hippy 'women who run with the wolves' kind of vibe to it and i'm actually more of a rock and roll kind of girl...

 

[William MacKay]

its in the title.
group.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

A large group of people acts like a herd of cattle. We even got some herd driven instincts left that influence our behaviour in groups, so yes, herd is the right term.
on the other hand the two other species of shimpanzees are called as "hordes" in large groups, so that may be ok too.

 

[Dexiro]

We already have a word for it... a group of humans.

If you were a wolf you might say "a pack of humans is called a group" just like we'd say the reverse for them.

 

[Pinkamena]

Packs or troops. When we travel in groups, there's often a hierarchical system, therefore the Packs choice. But in larger groups, we're organized, and troop would be fitting.

 

[Bassik]

"A bunch of dudes with no clear understanding of what is going on or where they are heading"

 

[Moromillas]

I believe clan is more accurate term. Tribe is more ethnic or ancestral division.

 

[Lord Doomhammer]

Swarms of children... end of discussion.