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Barah :: collective name for woodturners

I cannot (can I?) be the first to pose the question of what we term ourselves when two or more gather in the name of woodturning? For example we know of collective terms such as Flock of Birds, Host of Angels, Cast of Actors, Panel of Experts, Den of Thieves?. But what of woodturners?

Apparently there is no word that can safely and accurately group us, without defining the activity of the group. When sociologists talk about humans in groups, the general word they use is "group." But we are more than just a "group" of woodturners since the term can be applied to almost any gathering of humans, animals or plants. Words that are used to describe creatures of the sea, air, and land are singular collective nouns - like the English words fish, fowl, and cattle.

So let me be the first to propose that we are a BARAH of woodturners. In the absence of any other term ? and I have scoured the world-wide-web for a solution ? I think barah perfectly fits the bill.

Let me explain - it's a very ancient word which arises in different cultures and traditions and, depending on where you find it, has different interpretations. In essence its means "to cut"; "to create"; "to choose/select"; "to make something out of nothing".

That's what we do.. we select or choose and then cut a tree or a log, and we create something from what was nothing.

Welcome to the Barah

Niall Cahill

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Reply to
NC
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I believe there have been several threads on this topic, actually.

Experts are empaneled and comprise a panel, but only if they are on a panel. If they're together for, saaaay, a conference, they're just a "bunch of experts." If actors aren't acting but are together in a group, they're not a cast, but most likely either a waitstaff or a political convention. And "den" is where thieves hang out, not their collective name. More like a "gang" or "mob."

Well, our name defines our activity, by default.

Sociologically, we are a subculture, since we have language, customs and behaviors unique to our group, and the acceptance and practice of which makes "us" part of that group.

There are other cross-species terms as well, like a mob of striking workers and a mob of kangaroos, a school of thought and a school of fish, a colony of pioneers or a colony of ants, a pod of whales and a pod of peas.

Um, "cattle" is a fairly specific term, unlike "fish" and "fowl."

Sounds very California.

A lot of the names of groups of things are clever or descriptive, based on some real or imagined common trait of the members of that group. Since, as turners, we have all had to (or are in the process of) travel a sometimes steep learning curve, and on that curve have stumbled over the same bumps, I have an alternate proposal that is unique to us and identifies us to each other with not only a common characteristic but a common experience that only we can identify with...one of those wry-grin-shake-your-head kind of things. So, as my alternative, if less scholarly name for a gathering of "us", I propose:

A Catch of Woodturners

"Catch" requires no explanation to anyone who has ever turned wood on a lathe, is easy to pronounce, easy to remember and, if I do say so myself, "catchy."

-- Chuck *#:^) chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply. <

September 11, 2001 - Never Forget

Reply to
Chuck

=====================

So, Chuck and Leo, One our meetings would be a "Turnout" of "Catches" ?? :-)

Ken

Reply to
Ken Moon

I do not think I want to tell people I am knot a woodturner. I prefure to let them think I am a woodturner. Mabe we want to be a gander of woodturners.

Reply to
Henry

Has 'Catch of Woodturners' been suggested yet?

Reply to
Lobby Dosser

dunno..... but I think I'll pass on the first rotation and wait for later turnouts.. could be some interesting spin offs, too..

Reply to
mac davis

'An argument of woodturners'

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

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Reply to
Arch

My newsreader lurched on this thread. Or had a catch, not sure which.

Reply to
Lobby Dosser

See my previous post in this thread.

-- Chuck *#:^) chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply. <

September 11, 2001 - Never Forget

Reply to
Chuck

After a spate of speculation I suggest the alliterative "wealth of woodturners."

Reply to
George

Splinter group

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

LOL

Yes aren't we ??

Leo Lichtman wrote:

Reply to
Leo Van Der Loo

One splinter group, the oldest known professional group, are the trick turners. They have been outlawed in most localities. They are often found "Barah" ssed and their clientele can be quite em "Barah" ssed to be caught dealing with them.

Eric

Reply to
Rob Dingnagian

"Rob Dingnagian" wrote: One splinter group, the oldest known professional group, are the trick turners. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ROTFLMAO I believe you will enjoy this, if you have not heard it before: "Coyote," the hookers union sells a Tee-shirt with this slogan. "The trick is not getting caught."

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

Might we ask how you know this?

Reply to
Harry B. Pye

"Harry B. Pye" wrote: Might we ask how you know this? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Certainly, you may ask...

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

But I guess I shouldn't hold my breath while waiting for an answer!

Reply to
Harry B. Pye

Well, as I understand it, "Barah" is a Hebrew verb that means "to create out of nothing" or in Latin, Ex Nihilo. This is opposed to assembling something out of existing parts. It's not a term you see everyday. In woodturning circles (pun intended), we are relasing the Bowl Within, rather than an Ex Nihilo creation. I'm afraid I'll have to vote no to Barah.

I kind of like CLUTCH but similar-sounding CATCH has more meaning, as most lathes I've seen don't have clutches, but belt-drives or direct-drives. Technically they could be considered clutches, but it doesn't feel like it to me.

Possible alternatives: a ROUND of turners. Or for the eccentric chuck set, an OFF-CENTER of woodturners. For spindle turners: a COVE of turners. How about a SPIN of turners? Or, based on how we actually act, a CURMUDGEONRY of turners? Hm. Then there could be a CHUCK of turners. Naw, let's chuck that one out.

Aw, CATCH is something I'm used to -- like when I do my exploding bowl trick. Let's use that. John Pierce Maker of Fine Wood Chips and Sawdust

Reply to
woodgrinder

Well, as I understand it, "Barah" is a Hebrew verb that means "to create out of nothing" or in Latin, Ex Nihilo. This is opposed to assembling something out of existing parts. It's not a term you see everyday. In woodturning circles (pun intended), we are relasing the Bowl Within, rather than an Ex Nihilo creation. I'm afraid I'll have to vote no to Barah.

I kind of like CLUTCH but similar-sounding CATCH has more meaning, as most lathes I've seen don't have clutches, but belt-drives or direct-drives. Technically they could be considered clutches, but it doesn't feel like it to me.

Possible alternatives: a ROUND of turners. Or for the eccentric chuck set, an OFF-CENTER of woodturners. For spindle turners: a COVE of turners. How about a SPIN of turners? Or, based on how we actually act, a CURMUDGEONRY of turners? Hm. Then there could be a CHUCK of turners. Naw, let's chuck that one out.

Aw, CATCH is something I'm used to -- like when I do my exploding bowl trick. Let's use that. John Pierce Maker of Fine Wood Chips and Sawdust

Reply to
woodgrinder

Well, as I understand it, "Barah" is a Hebrew verb that means "to create out of nothing" or in Latin, Ex Nihilo. This is opposed to assembling something out of existing parts. It's not a term you see everyday. In woodturning circles (pun intended), we are relasing the Bowl Within, rather than an Ex Nihilo creation. I'm afraid I'll have to vote no to Barah.

I kind of like CLUTCH but similar-sounding CATCH has more meaning, as most lathes I've seen don't have clutches, but belt-drives or direct-drives. Technically they could be considered clutches, but it doesn't feel like it to me.

Possible alternatives: a ROUND of turners. Or for the eccentric chuck set, an OFF-CENTER of woodturners. For spindle turners: a COVE of turners. How about a SPIN of turners? Or, based on how we actually act, a CURMUDGEONRY of turners? Hm. Then there could be a CHUCK of turners. Naw, let's chuck that one out.

Aw, CATCH is something I'm used to -- like when I do my exploding bowl trick. Let's use that. John Pierce Maker of Fine Wood Chips and Sawdust

Reply to
woodgrinder

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