To the standard English speaker, mundane is the word reserved for things like brushing our teeth, doing dishes, or getting homework done. Mundane tasks are, by definition, characteristic of the commonplace. In other words, mundane is boring.
In the Society for Creative Anachronism, mundane is a slang term to describe people who aren't in the group. The SCA (to which I belonged from ages 16 to 20) is a historical reenactment society concerned with education, except you usually need to deemphasize historical and strong deemphasize education. I knew many excellent people in the SCA who were veritable encyclopedias of medieval knowledge, whether it be kings and queens, noble clothing, fabrics, crafts, or fighting. However, for every one historically accurate person I know, there are at least four or five who come to the SCA for reasons other than history. Some come for the granduer: even if you're a night security watchman in your "mundane" life, you can still be the knight in shining armor on the battlefield. Others come to escape the hellish pit their life has become due to debt, lack of education, or even just poor luck. And yet others attend SCA events to dress up and party down. Many a new drinking game originated in the SCA (see: tablero -- fun, supposedly historically accurate, total hoax).
Anyway, people from the SCA often refer to those not in the SCA as "mundanes." This, in and of itself, is not a problem; however, when you begin using this terminology in everyday life to sort out the people you know, it can get problematic.
Example:
My best friend from high school (whom I rarely talk to anymore because I bailed out of the SCA and she is still an active part of it) is turning 21 on the 21st of October (yeah, she's just a little younger than me . . . 8 days). For her birthday, she sent out a huge email to friends and family (tho I never got it . . . ). She must have used the term "Mundane Family" and Friends. Her uncle emailed her a letter (which she forward to our mailing list, which is how I read it) that chided her on utilizing the term mundane to describe her family:
As a side Bar (from your Uncle); I'm a little surprised at your inclusion and use of "Mundane Family" and Friends. The tone of that paragraph is really harsh. Do you really think my family fits this ugly statement? Or others? ***Engage the brain cells girl***
Mundane: Ordinary, Dull, Commonplace, Boring, Unexciting, Uninteresting, Humdrum, a pain and effort to be around.
Part of growing up (along with the right to drive, drink and move out on your own) is to grasp and accept the diversity of your family, and friends, while I know you pride yourself in being all-accepting.
With this e-mail going to so many people – it really sets a poor impression of what you think of your "family" and friends outside of the SCA vs. what they are really like – it creates preconceived thoughts.
For future reference, you might want to create multiple e-mails. One e-mail that is more positive friendly relative oriented - for us Mundane Family members.
She's all upset. I'm not sure why; I think his viewpoint is quite valid. I don't think she intended for mundane to be an insult to her family. However, she has to be aware that not everyone will read her emails in the exact way she intended. Personally, I think his compromise solution is quite resonable. Let's hear it for people that can work to a solution *yay*. Now, on a sidebar from me: this is why I am growing up and why I really no longer talk to any of my friends. Apparently, everyone else found the email from her uncle highly offensive.