In 1908, Robert Baden-Powell published his classic boook of advice for young men called "Scouting For Boys", the handbook for his fledgling Scout movement.
At the last minute, his publisher got cold feet and urged him to remove a passage on "self-abuse", advice which B-P grudgingly took. Luckily for us, the passge was not entirely lost, and was restored in a 2004 reprint.
So, what did Baden-Powell think of masturbation? (Hint: He's not a fan)
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Perhaps sound advice at the time of writing, if hysterically medically inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteNot exactly future-proof though is it?
For example: What if the scout leader is a very attractive lady, who I would be pursuing myself in a most gentlemanly manner, if I wasn't already married?
...hypothetically speaking, of course*
* Definitely not hypothetical at all.
Now everything becomes clear. If only I had had this advice as a boy. Then perhaps I would not be mad, an idiot and blind in one eye.
ReplyDeleteI met a known Scout Master once.
ReplyDeleteI can't find that bit in my book, can you tell me what page it's on please?
ReplyDelete@Keith Smith
ReplyDeleteIt's probably on the pages that are stuck together.