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THREAD: During the 1800s, many people believed that masturbating would drive you insane.
There was a huge cultural fear of masturbation. This natural act was punished, criminalized and pathologized.
Academics call this "The Great Masturbation Panic." https://www.mimimatthews.com/2016/05/17/the-solitary-vice-victorian-views-on-masturbation/
There was a huge cultural fear of masturbation. This natural act was punished, criminalized and pathologized.
Academics call this "The Great Masturbation Panic." https://www.mimimatthews.com/2016/05/17/the-solitary-vice-victorian-views-on-masturbation/
2/ When people saw someone with a mental illness who was masturbating in public, they believed the mental illness was caused by masturbation, and didn't realize it was the mental illness causing the socially inappropriate behaviour.
https://www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/londonasylum/selfabuse.html
https://www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/londonasylum/selfabuse.html
3/ Victorian culture was obsessed with masturbation!
Doctors & religious leaders regularly warned about the severe dangers of "self abuse."
Young people were constantly threatened about masturbating. If caught, they'd be punished or sent to an asylum.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071473/
Doctors & religious leaders regularly warned about the severe dangers of "self abuse."
Young people were constantly threatened about masturbating. If caught, they'd be punished or sent to an asylum.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071473/
4/ Psychological torment plus vicious punishments & restraints were used to stop people from doing the normal act of touching and exploring their own bodies.
Masturbation was considered so dangerous that brutal suppression was justified.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/the-brutal-anti-masturbation-devices-of-the-victorian-era/BA3ABBTE2RP3LBY7BOEKHYKVMI/
Masturbation was considered so dangerous that brutal suppression was justified.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/the-brutal-anti-masturbation-devices-of-the-victorian-era/BA3ABBTE2RP3LBY7BOEKHYKVMI/
5/ Dr. John Kellogg (inventor of corn flakes) was one of many medical leaders who considered masturbation a great health risk, and urged parents to stop masturbation by torturing their children with electric shocks and circumcision without anesthesia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_masturbation#Health_concerns
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_masturbation#Health_concerns
6/ It's hard to overemphasize how obsessed their culture was with masturbation. There was intense, widespread fear that young people were touching themselves for sexual pleasure, and that this would lead to insanity, crime and social breakdown.
https://www.geriwalton.com/masturbation-among-victorian-youth-in-board-schools/
https://www.geriwalton.com/masturbation-among-victorian-youth-in-board-schools/
7/ Of course most people likely still masturbated, but they would feel ashamed and guilty.
They would never admit to it in public, and if they did they would be ridiculed, punished and criminalized.
This "War on Masturbation" went on for over a century. https://jodebloggs.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/why-was-masturbation-such-a-medical-concern-in-the-19th-century/
They would never admit to it in public, and if they did they would be ridiculed, punished and criminalized.
This "War on Masturbation" went on for over a century. https://jodebloggs.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/why-was-masturbation-such-a-medical-concern-in-the-19th-century/
8/ Nowadays we know that masturbation is normal.
We recognize that some people can have issues with masturbating too often or in an unhealthy way, but for the vast majority, touching our own bodies for pleasure is normal & not a big deal.
Instead we have pathologized drug use.
We recognize that some people can have issues with masturbating too often or in an unhealthy way, but for the vast majority, touching our own bodies for pleasure is normal & not a big deal.
Instead we have pathologized drug use.
9/ I see the modern "Drug Panic" as equivalent to the "Masturbation Panic" of the past.
Many people now believe that drug use drives you insane.
There is a huge cultural fear of drug use. This natural act is punished, criminalized and pathologized.
Many people now believe that drug use drives you insane.
There is a huge cultural fear of drug use. This natural act is punished, criminalized and pathologized.
10/ When people see someone with a mental illness who is using drugs in public, they believe the mental illness was caused by drug use, and don't realize it is the mental illness causing the socially inappropriate drug use behaviour.
Most drug users live "normal" lives.
Most drug users live "normal" lives.
11/ Our culture is obsessed with not using drugs!
Doctors & religious leaders regularly warn about the severe dangers of "drug abuse."
Young people are constantly threatened about drug use. If caught, they get punished or sent to an asylum. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/straight-inc-camp-republicans-us-abuse-teenager-children-trump-mel-sembler-a8834016.html
Doctors & religious leaders regularly warn about the severe dangers of "drug abuse."
Young people are constantly threatened about drug use. If caught, they get punished or sent to an asylum. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/straight-inc-camp-republicans-us-abuse-teenager-children-trump-mel-sembler-a8834016.html
12/ Psychological torment plus vicious punishments & restraints are used to stop people from doing the normal act of exploring their own mind and body with drug use.
Drug use is considered so dangerous that brutal suppression is justified.
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/gop-mogul-behind-drug-rehab-torture-centers-bankrolling-opposition-pot-legalization-colo/
Drug use is considered so dangerous that brutal suppression is justified.
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/gop-mogul-behind-drug-rehab-torture-centers-bankrolling-opposition-pot-legalization-colo/
13/ Parents are told that drug use is such a great health risk that they must send their children off for punishment and brainwashing, sometimes with devastating results.
http://survivingstraightinc.com/
http://survivingstraightinc.com/
14/ It's hard to overemphasize how obsessed our culture is with drug use. There is intense, widespread fear that young people are taking drugs for pleasure, and that this will lead to insanity, crime and social breakdown.
15/ Of course most people still use drugs, but they are taught to feel ashamed and guilty about it.
They would never admit to it in public, and if they did they would be ridiculed, punished and criminalized.
This "War on Drugs" has gone on for a century or more.
They would never admit to it in public, and if they did they would be ridiculed, punished and criminalized.
This "War on Drugs" has gone on for a century or more.
16/ One day we will understand that drug use is normal.
We will recognize that some people sometimes have issues with using drugs too often or in an unhealthy way, but that for the most part, using drugs is normal & not a big deal.
https://www.release.org.uk/nice-people-take-drugs
We will recognize that some people sometimes have issues with using drugs too often or in an unhealthy way, but that for the most part, using drugs is normal & not a big deal.
https://www.release.org.uk/nice-people-take-drugs
17/ At their root, both the "Masturbation Panic" & the "Drug Panic" come from the same source: The twisted idea that pleasure is a sin, & that we must stop people from feeling pleasure or we will lose control of society.
The result: generations of senseless punishment and pain.
The result: generations of senseless punishment and pain.
