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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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The things you learn ... Here is a link to a script of the speech given by Mr Samuel Clemens to the Stomach Club in Paris in 1879 on the subject of onanism. http://www.ralphmag.org/onan.htmlWho knew? Leading me to contemplate the seemingly infinite euphemisms for onanism. In my experience (er, hmmmm, that doesn't sound right), nearly any phrase containing a verb and a noun can be interpreted as indicating a one-handed party. How many can we list? spanking the monkey beating the meat ____________ ?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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And Thomas Malthus, who, when he expressed his views about populations growing faster than food supplies inspired not only Darwin-- but a malthusianism society-- (who aim was to curtail population)
Onanism is just a form of malthusiamism!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Is malthusiastic the evil twin of enthusiastic?
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addict
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addict
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Okay, since Jackie's not looking, I can post this here. I've just finished The Professor and the Madman, recommended here at AWAD some time back. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but was struck by a phrase that appeared in the description of the meeting of the two protagonists. Each had a most impressive beard, that was described as having "sideburns and ample bugger's grips" or something to that effect. I can venture a guess as to the source of this colorful phrase, but will refrain from doing so. The thing that struck me was that Winchester, the author, used it at all - it seems like it's remarkably vulgar and out of place for such a book. Is this phrase used in the UK in polite society, per Winchester's use, or was he being a bit risqué here? A quick google turned up the following which, although I don't think it necessarily gives the correct definition for bugger's grips, will have many answers to the initial question posed by Sparteye. Forgive me: http://www.viz.co.uk/profanisaurus/propagesA_Z/page_b.htm
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Sparteye, I can't help but ask what you were looking up that you'd stumble upon this speech (which is still hilarious, more than a century later!). For Twain, nothing was sacred, was it.  All I think I'll contribute here [delicate cough e] is my immense fondness for the Brit term wanker, which has proven to be quite, er, flexible.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
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have a J. Arthur...
(it's rhyming slang)
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
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A friend of mine recommends onanism on the ground that the best sex is with someone you love. This is the same friend who advocates bisexualism because it doubles your chances for getting a date on Friday night.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
I can't help but ask what you were looking up that you'd stumble upon this speech
I was reading a thread on the straight dope message board, which posted this link. I can't even remember which thread it was, or which forum the thread was in, since I got distracted. Apparently, the Stomach Club met regularly to discuss topics which were not acceptable subjects of conversation in the rest of society.
I agree that wanker is very handy. One softball pitcher hereabouts heard the chant of wanker every time he intentionally walked the best batter on my husband's team. I wonder if the term stuck.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 328 |
You're right, Max. Atomica shows a secondary meaning for the word which might explain the use of Onan's name:
o·nan·ism (ô'nə-nĭz'əm)
n.
1) Masturbation.
2) Coitus interruptus.
[After Onan, son of Judah (Genesis 38:9).]
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