Discussion on the origin of the Ivory Tower

[Upgrade00]

This thread is for discussion, and also to correct or validate some historical facts. If it's not fit for this section, I'll have it locked.

There are are many historical paths to the origin of the Ivory Tower and it's being a representation of an elite coterie. One of them can be traced to the origin of malaria:
The word malaria is gotten from two Italian words, 'mal' and 'aria' and it literally translates to bad air. In the early days, it was associated with the air which was thought to be the vector and wet grounds the source of the epidemic. To escape the disease, the elite group built ivory towers to escape the wet grounds and be at a height where they can breathe clear air. They were not entirely wrong and the towers provided a sort of protection from the outbreak. Until science disproved the bad air theory and identified mosquitoes as the source.

Could this be likened to what the Ivory Tower here on BT represents, an elite group created to escape the spam and bad air nearer to the ground?
There are many theories to the origin of the phrase Ivory Tower and it's representation, which do you accept?
Where would you rather be, at the top of the tower or the lower grounds?

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[bitmover]

I didn't know about this Malaria history and ivory tower.

I know ivory tower was originally created to host philosophical discussions and religious discussions long ago.

Nowadays this term used for (useless) academic discussions.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_tower

I believe this board isn't fulfilling  its original proposal: more serious discussions.
It is now used for off topic discussions, mostly related to political or some other random discussion. It is interesting and I like this board, but I feel it lacks more discussions and more orientation.

There are more serious discussions boards here in this forum. Imo, technical discussion boards and even beginners and help have higher quality discussions.

I see some interesting discussions in offtopic and political boards as well that could fit here.

[Carlton Banks]

I believe this board isn't fulfilling  its original proposal: more serious discussions.
It is now used for off topic discussions, mostly related to political or some other random discussion.

not that I disagree, but to neurotic navel-gazers, starting threads about what color socks to wear seem like a serious topic, to them. In this context (i.e. the stigma of "ivory towers"), it might be a good counter balance to have topics that are distinctly not-serious, just so that the whole sub doesn't seem like a bunch of self-important assholes talking about opera music.

[Jet Cash]

In opera, and aria is a long song.

[Carlton Banks]

you see JC! look what we've done, we already look/sound like a bunch of old men with monocles and medals on our jackets!

[bitmover]

you see JC! look what we've done, we already look/sound like a bunch of old men with monocles and medals on our jackets!

We got some medals on our profiles.

[paxmao]

In opera, and aria is a long song.

Not long , just a "solo". Aria sounds similar to "aire" in Spanish, "air".

Any way, an Ivory Tower is a place far from reality so the name of the section is perhaps not an accurate description I´d say.