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Mon, 01st Mar 10 8:22pm |
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By:
BigCol |
125 Views, 4 Nods, 16 Comments..
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Post Number: 4731 |
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Having had a giggle at the Sex Education Handbook of the 50s/60s (ref 4710), I thought we’d go a bit further back and have a look at the founder of the Scout Movement’s ideas on ‘self restraint’ amongst boys in the early 20th Century.
The following is in two parts; the first is what appeared in the book ‘Scouting For Boys’ in 1908 and the second is what Lord Robert Baden Powell WANTED to publish, but reluctantly withdrew on the advice of his publisher.
This is what actually appeared:
“Smoking and drinking are things that tempt some fellows and not others, but there is one temptation that is pretty sure to come to you at one time or another, and I want just to warn you against it.
You would probably be surprised if you knew how many boys have written to me thanking me for what I have written on this subject, so I expect there are more who will be glad of a word of advice against the secret vice which gets hold of so many fellows. Smoking and drinking and gambling are men's vices and therefore attract some boys, but this secret vice is not a man's vice, men have nothing but contempt for a fellow who gives way to it.
Some boys, like those who start smoking, think it is a very fine and manly thing to tell or listen to dirty stories, but it only shows them to be little fools.
Yet such talk and the reading of trashy books or looking at lewd pictures is very apt to lead a thoughtless boy into the temptation of masturbation. This tends to lower both health and spirits.
But if you have any manliness in you, you will throw off such temptation at once. You will stop looking at the books and listening to the stories, and will give yourself something else to think about.
Sometimes the desire is brought on by eating food that is too rich, or from sleeping in too warm a bed with too many blankets. It is a help at times such as these to take a cold bath or shower, or exercise the upper part of the body by arm exercises, boxing, etc.
It may seem difficult to overcome the temptation the first time, but when you have done so once it will be easier afterwards.
If you still have trouble about it, do not make a secret of it, but go to your father, or your Scoutmaster, and talk it over with him, and all will come right.”
Oh wow! What an ending. However……
WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE VERSION BADEN POWELL WANTED TO PUBLISH, but consulted with his mother about the section’s inclusion and reluctantly removed it from ‘Scouting For Boys’ under strong advice from his publisher.
“I have told you of the dangers of drink and of smoking and of which, if indulged in boys, are certain to make you unhealthy in the end and useless as a scout. A good many of you will never feel the want of these so you won’t have any difficulty in keeping away from them.
But there is another practise which is perhaps more dangerous than either of them and it is one which is sure to tempt every one of you at one time or another. I speak quite openly. People are much too apt to make it such a secret that many boys never hear the truth and suffer in consequence.
You all know what it is to have at times a pleasant feeling in your private parts, and there comes an inclination to work it up with your hand or otherwise. It is especially likely to happen when you see a dirty picture or hear dirty stories and jokes.
Well, lots of fellows from not knowing any better, please themselves in this way until it often becomes a sort of habit with them which they cannot get out of. Yet I am sure that every sensible boy, if he were told in time of the danger of it, would have the strength not to do it.
So I want to warn you all about it.
The practise is called ‘self-abuse’. And the result of self-abuse is always - mind you, always - that the boy after a time becomes weak and nervous and shy, he gets headaches and probably palpitation of the heart, and if he carries it too far he very often goes out of his mind and becomes an idiot.
A very large number of the lunatics in our asylums have made themselves ill by indulging in this vice although at one time they were sensible cheery boys like any one of you.
The use of your parts is not to play with when you are a boy but to enable you to get children when you are grown up and married. But if you misuse them while young you will not be able to use them when you are a man.
Remember too that several awful diseases come from indulgence - one especially that rots away the inside of men’s mouths, their noses and eyes, etc.
So for all reasons be on the lookout against this temptation. The next time you feel the desire coming on don’t give way to it; resist it. If you have the chance just wash your parts in cold water and cool them down. Wet dreams come from it especially after eating rich food, or too much meat, or from sleeping with too warm a blanket over your body or in too soft a bed or from sleeping on your back.
Therefore avoid all these.
Avoid listening to stories or reading or thinking about dirty subjects. You will soon find that the temptation will not worry you so much. Be strong and don’t give way to it. If at first you find a difficulty about it don’t be afraid to go and talk openly to your officer about it and he will tell you what to do.”
U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E
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Comments: Most recent first.
 | | BigCol - 2010-03-02 19:37:57 | | | Ha-ha I was wondering if someone would bring that up elsie. Fact is, having read the clip on sex education in the 50s/60s emailed by Messmanager, it reminded me that a pal of mine back in Kent(credit Doug Hudson)used to use this Scouting for Boys article in his comedy act, so I went looking for it to share with you good people. Can't get me there you know. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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 | | elsie - 2010-03-02 19:30:06 | | | What's more worrying BC is how you just "happened" across this item. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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| | BigCol - 2010-03-02 19:07:45 | | | @ Messy - Watching a clip like that and the ignorance is laughable. Nevertheless I can’t help finding a certain beauty in the innocence of it all. I almost feel it’s a shame we can’t find our way back to a point half way between the two. An age of innocence without the ignorance. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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 | | messmanager - 2010-03-02 18:03:58 | | | Nice Col. Like yourself, I never did read this particular publication.
I have, however, found another little 'clip' on a similar subject.
Try this link, sorry it's not a proper link but just copy and paste...
http://jezebel.com/5010603/1950s-sex-education-was-neither-educational-or-about-sex
Enjoy.
Comments welcomed, if clean, you naughty boy... | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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| | BigCol - 2010-03-02 12:53:33 | | | Careful Signwriter, I was a Boy Scout. A pretty bad one I hasten to add. Things kind of went downhill once I discovered Girl Guides. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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 | | MasterSignwriter - 2010-03-02 12:44:58 | | | I was also once a cheery and sensible boy, damn those pleasant feelings in my private parts and the sunsequent misuse of them. Funny really when my memories of those who became scouts were of a bunch of tossers. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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| | BigCol - 2010-03-01 22:42:26 | | | That's the one Foxy. Not recommended to walk down a flight of stairs that aren't there. Thanks for the research compliment and like you suggest, you couldn't write this and expect to get it accepted as a comedy sketch could you. It'd be considered too far fetched. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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 | | FoxyCollins - 2010-03-01 22:35:50 | | | By the way,was that the time I was warned the minute I walked into the Palace Theatre "Mind that bloody big step at the back of the stage Col just fell down that?" | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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| | FoxyCollins - 2010-03-01 22:31:36 | | | I've tried to think of something clever to write here and it's just impossible to even get in the same league as this.This is a great read and makes you realise how thing's have changed.Great research BC. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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 | | MamaP - 2010-03-01 21:25:38 | | | Now I know why all those mags are on the top shelf out of reach of little boys. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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| | BigCol - 2010-03-01 20:39:08 | | | Must admit NG, as my life passed before me in those few seconds as I was falling, I'm sure one or two 'self-abusive' moments flashed up. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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 | | Hoodie - 2010-03-01 20:35:45 | | | It was quite a commonly held belief. Kellog invented cornflakes as an intended cure for it. Think of that when you splash your milk all over them. | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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 | | NotGandalf - 2010-03-01 20:34:28 | | | I dunno Col - When you missed that step, backstage at the Palace - I thought THAT was the headmasters warning finally coming true! | | Nod+ (0) | Report | Follow |
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