We could argue about the origins of the practice 'til doomsday, but the important thing is the current intention of it.

I don't know what horrifies me more - the punch-line to Pip's jest, or this latest splat of pure bullshit from Smokey. Surely an understanding of the origins of the practice are integral to the current intention of it. If you're not clear on the former, then how the hell can you be so certain of the latter?