• School stories

    From Steve Hayes@hayesstw@telkomsa.net to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Thu Apr 2 05:33:56 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 31 Mar 2026 20:25:02 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:27:19 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

    Aha bliss,. I think you would really enjoy Rudyard Kipling's 'Stalky &
    Co'
    - an account of his childhood in a British Public School.

    I reread that several times, as well as Kim. In retrospect some of the >behavior verged on what CS Lewis wrote about 'public' schools.

    Kipling was writing fiction, though no doubt based on his own
    experience at school, what Lewis wrote was non-fiction.

    My review of "Stalky & Co" here: <https://methodius.blogspot.com/2023/04/rebellious-victorian-schoolboys-stalky.html>

    In which Kipling deals mainly with the question of authoritarianism in
    schools.

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The
    Silver Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was
    ostensibly a libertarian school.
    --
    Stephen Hayes, Author of The Year of the Dragon
    Sample or purchase The Year of the Dragon: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/907935
    Web site: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
    Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
    E-mail: shayes@dunelm.org.uk or if you use Gmail hayesstw@telkomsa.net
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From rbowman@bowman@montana.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Thu Apr 2 19:33:18 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Steve Hayes@hayesstw@telkomsa.net to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 07:16:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver
    Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.
    --
    Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
    Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
    Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
    E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 10:43:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 02/04/2026 20:33, rbowman wrote:
    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver
    Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out.
    'bestiality' (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    Kipling remarks in one part how the dormitories were used as cut
    throughs by masters late and night and mentions that it was only years
    later that he realised why they were regularly and covertly patrolled...

    Of course there was sexual activity, then and now, Gay boys don't get to
    be gay from nowhere. They learn by example.

    And the 'hazing' was not 'hazing' - it was full on torture of a horrific
    kind. A large part of that book is about what it took to withstand it,
    and indeed the discipline of the Army life which so many would end up
    living.

    Intelligence, physical fortitude, cunning, psychology, leadership - all
    these were necessary adjuncts to running an Empire and keeping the
    tribes in order in India etc.

    And the schools were there to shape character and attitude as much as to impart academic knowledge.

    Harry Potters Hogwarts is a sort of dim echo of the British Public School...
    --
    WOKE is an acronym... Without Originality, Knowledge or Education.

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 10:45:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 03/04/2026 06:16, Steve Hayes wrote:
    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >>> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I know of people who suffered the same in European schools.

    I was a 'pretty' boy too, and had to constantly fend off advances.





    --
    "A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight
    and understanding".

    Marshall McLuhan


    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From liz@liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 11:10:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    On 02/04/2026 20:33, rbowman wrote:
    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out.
    'bestiality' (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.
    --
    ~ Liz Tuddenham ~
    (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
    www.poppyrecords.co.uk
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Peter Moylan@peter@pmoylan.org to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 21:29:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 03/04/26 21:10, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    On 02/04/2026 20:33, rbowman wrote:

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the
    older ones. In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was
    a sexual element.

    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out. 'bestiality'
    (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

    That's the current meaning, but it had a broader meaning within living
    memory.

    "Buggery" has had a similar shifting meaning. Originally a bugger was a heretic. (Unless you believe the theory that it was a variant of Bulgar,
    from the supposed habits of Bultarians.) Then it came to mean unnatural intercourse with man or beast, where "unnatural" was open to wide interpretation. By now it has settled down to a more restricted meaning.
    --
    Peter Moylan peter@pmoylan.org http://www.pmoylan.org
    Newcastle, NSW
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Steve Hayes@hayesstw@telkomsa.net to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 14:16:52 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 21:29:51 +1100, Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org>
    wrote:

    On 03/04/26 21:10, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    On 02/04/2026 20:33, rbowman wrote:

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the
    older ones. In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was
    a sexual element.

    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out. 'bestiality'
    (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

    That's the current meaning, but it had a broader meaning within living >memory.

    I doubt that bestiality ever meant "masturbation".

    In Kipling & Lewis's time the teachers would probably have called it
    "self abuse", the pupils no doubt had their own slang terms.
    Bestiality probably would have led to expulsion, but solitary
    masturbation, probably not.


    "Buggery" has had a similar shifting meaning. Originally a bugger was a >heretic. (Unless you believe the theory that it was a variant of Bulgar,
    from the supposed habits of Bultarians.) Then it came to mean unnatural >intercourse with man or beast, where "unnatural" was open to wide >interpretation. By now it has settled down to a more restricted meaning.

    The heresy was probably that of the Bogomils, who were found in
    Bulgaria and spread to other places.
    --
    Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
    Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
    Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
    E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Janet@nobody@home.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 18:00:06 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    Janet
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From athel.cb@gmail.com@user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 18:58:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books


    Janet <nobody@home.com> posted:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>, hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I agree. The British term for hazing was ragging. It didn't happen at Oxford
    in my time (1961rCo1967), not at Wadham, anyway; at least, I never heard that it did. My sister never reported anything of that sort at St. Andrews. However, it did occur in some other universities.
    --
    athel

    Living in Marseilles for 39 years; mainly in England before that,
    with long periods in Singapore, California, Chile and Canada
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Tony Cooper@tonycooper214@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 15:59:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:58:20 GMT, athel.cb@gmail.com <user12588@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:


    Janet <nobody@home.com> posted:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver
    Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual
    exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I agree. The British term for hazing was ragging. It didn't happen at Oxford >in my time (1961u1967), not at Wadham, anyway; at least, I never heard that >it did. My sister never reported anything of that sort at St. Andrews. However,
    it did occur in some other universities.

    One major differences is that in American universities the hazing is
    in fraternities and sororities where the "actives" haze the "pledges".
    There's no hazing in the general student body.

    I was in a fraternity (1956-1960) as both a pledge and an active.
    ("Active" is the term used to describe a fraternity member who has
    been initiated into the group. Prior to initiation, the person is a
    pledge.

    My hazing included swallowing live goldfish, being paddled, and
    suffering various other indignities including an "ice cube race".

    An ice cube race was where the pledges raced across the floor with an
    ice cube wedged in the buttocks. We had to do it several times until
    we finally figured out the objective was for all to finish at the same
    time rather than one person winning. Teamwork exercise.

    My son was in a fraternity at University of Alabama, but the hazing by
    that time was just having to do errands or tasks for the actives.

    My daughter was in a university sorority, but there was no hazing of
    any kind.

    I don't think hazing beneficially contributed to my life experience,
    but - then - I don't think it contribitued non-beneficially, either.
    It was just the way things were at the time.

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ross Clark@benlizro@ihug.co.nz to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 12:03:36 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 4/04/2026 1:16 a.m., Steve Hayes wrote:
    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 21:29:51 +1100, Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org>
    wrote:

    On 03/04/26 21:10, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
    The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    On 02/04/2026 20:33, rbowman wrote:

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the
    older ones. In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was
    a sexual element.

    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out. 'bestiality'
    (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

    That's the current meaning, but it had a broader meaning within living
    memory.

    I doubt that bestiality ever meant "masturbation".

    In Kipling & Lewis's time the teachers would probably have called it
    "self abuse", the pupils no doubt had their own slang terms.
    Bestiality probably would have led to expulsion, but solitary
    masturbation, probably not.


    "Buggery" has had a similar shifting meaning. Originally a bugger was a
    heretic. (Unless you believe the theory that it was a variant of Bulgar, >>from the supposed habits of Bultarians.) Then it came to mean unnatural
    intercourse with man or beast, where "unnatural" was open to wide
    interpretation. By now it has settled down to a more restricted meaning.

    The heresy was probably that of the Bogomils, who were found in
    Bulgaria and spread to other places.

    OED agrees: "post-classical Latin Bulgarus Bulgarian (also Bugarus,
    Bugaris, Bugerus), a name given to a sect of heretics thought to have
    come from Bulgaria in the 11th cent. (probably ultimately referring to
    the Bogomils), and afterwards extended to other heretics (to whom
    various deprecated sexual practices were attributed)"



    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From rbowman@bowman@montana.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 00:35:24 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:59:47 -0400, Tony Cooper wrote:

    I don't think hazing beneficially contributed to my life experience, but
    -
    then - I don't think it contribitued non-beneficially, either. It was
    just the way things were at the time.

    I was in Gamma Delta Iota aka God Damn Independent. Sigma Alpha Epsilon
    held car rallys I participated in and I went to one of the parties
    afterwards but that is as close as I got. I don't think they were all that
    big at that school.
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From snipeco.2@snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 01:52:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
    [...]
    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out.
    'bestiality' (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

    Our school headmaster called it "beastliness".
    --
    ^-^. Sn!pe, bird-brain. My pet rock Gordon just is.
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Steve Hayes@hayesstw@telkomsa.net to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 03:22:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>, >hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >> >> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >> >In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual
    exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.
    --
    Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
    Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
    Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
    E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Steve Hayes@hayesstw@telkomsa.net to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 03:48:13 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Sat, 4 Apr 2026 01:52:47 +0100, snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) wrote:

    Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
    [...]
    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >> >
    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out.
    'bestiality' (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

    Our school headmaster called it "beastliness".

    If my memory is correct, in those other school stories, by "Frank
    Richards" (pseudonym for an anonymous team of writers, like "Franklin
    W, Dixon"), "beastliness" was how his friends treated the fat owl of
    the Remove" (I never did discover what the "Remove" was).
    --
    Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
    Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
    Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
    E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Titus G@noone@nowhere.com to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 15:01:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 04/04/2026 14:48, Steve Hayes wrote:
    On Sat, 4 Apr 2026 01:52:47 +0100, snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) wrote:

    Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
    [...]
    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >>>>> In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >>>>
    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out.
    'bestiality' (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

    Our school headmaster called it "beastliness".

    If my memory is correct, in those other school stories, by "Frank
    Richards" (pseudonym for an anonymous team of writers, like "Franklin
    W, Dixon"), "beastliness" was how his friends treated the fat owl of
    the Remove" (I never did discover what the "Remove" was).

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remove_(education)

    P.S. (Further to this thread, I have found an ebook of Stalky and Co to download and am looking forward to rereading it many decades later.)


    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Tony Cooper@tonycooper214@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Fri Apr 3 23:46:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:22:38 +0200, Steve Hayes
    <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>, >>hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >>> >> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >>> >In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual
    exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.


    Happy to add to your knowledge of Americanisms: the phrase here is
    "lower than whale shit on the bottom of the ocean".

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Nuno Silva@nunojsilva@invalid.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 08:52:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    (Maybe this one needs to be narrowed to less groups, or sent to alt.unix.geeks?)

    On 2026-04-04, Steve Hayes wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>, >>hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >>> >> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >>> >In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual
    exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.

    It's sad that some people do think such orientation has to come with
    "hazing". It's perfectly possible to have a community and activities for orientation and integration purposes without harassment or
    humiliation. Yet some, seeing it with milder harassment, will assume
    it's good because it can be less strong...
    --
    Nuno Silva
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From nospam@nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 11:07:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> wrote:
    [Fto alt.books]
    On 04/04/2026 14:48, Steve Hayes wrote:
    On Sat, 4 Apr 2026 01:52:47 +0100, snipeco.2@gmail.com (Sn!pe) wrote:

    Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
    [...]
    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older >>>>> ones. In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual >>>>> element.

    It was punishable by expulsion if it was found out.
    'bestiality' (masturbation) was an expulsion event.

    I thought "bestiality" was specifically having sex with animals.

    Our school headmaster called it "beastliness".

    If my memory is correct, in those other school stories, by "Frank
    Richards" (pseudonym for an anonymous team of writers, like "Franklin
    W, Dixon"), "beastliness" was how his friends treated the fat owl of
    the Remove" (I never did discover what the "Remove" was).

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remove_(education)

    P.S. (Further to this thread, I have found an ebook of Stalky and Co to download and am looking forward to rereading it many decades later.)

    Links ending with a ) must be enclosed in < > to be clickable.
    (in most browsers)

    <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remove_(education)>

    Always obey Saint Tim!

    Jan

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From richard@richard@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Richard Tobin) to alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 10:20:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    In article <o7r0tktj0ct5v1l5jhc4alc5ncdqegtobu@4ax.com>,
    Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:

    If my memory is correct, in those other school stories, by "Frank
    Richards" (pseudonym for an anonymous team of writers, like "Franklin
    W, Dixon")

    Frank Richards was the pseudonym of Charles Hamilton, not of a team
    of writers. On the contrary, he was the single writer behind a team
    of pseudonyms.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hamilton_(writer)

    -- Richard
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@robin_listas@es.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 13:50:58 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 2026-04-04 09:52, Nuno Silva wrote:
    (Maybe this one needs to be narrowed to less groups, or sent to alt.unix.geeks?)

    On 2026-04-04, Steve Hayes wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools. >>>>>>
    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >>>>>> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a >>>>>> libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >>>>> In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >>>>
    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual >>>> exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.

    It's sad that some people do think such orientation has to come with "hazing". It's perfectly possible to have a community and activities for orientation and integration purposes without harassment or
    humiliation. Yet some, seeing it with milder harassment, will assume
    it's good because it can be less strong...

    When I was at Uni in Madrid, at the Uni itself there was none. The
    studies were terrifying, no need to add more pain.

    However, at the halls of residence (DeepL says that is the translation
    for "Colegio Mayor") it was a different story. At mine it was very mild.
    At others it was much worse.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ESEfc-Efc+, EUEfc-Efc|;
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 13:26:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 03/04/2026 19:58, athel.cb@gmail.com wrote:

    Janet <nobody@home.com> posted:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools. >>>>>
    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >>>>> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a >>>>> libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >>>> In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual
    exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I agree. The British term for hazing was ragging. It didn't happen at Oxford in my time (1961rCo1967), not at Wadham, anyway; at least, I never heard that it did. My sister never reported anything of that sort at St. Andrews. However,
    it did occur in some other universities.

    Well fagging was a distinctly boarding school system: in day school one
    was merely bullied by other bots and caned by the head master :-)
    --
    For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and
    wrong.

    H.L.Mencken

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Rich@rich@example.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 14:24:04 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    In comp.os.linux.misc Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    (Maybe this one needs to be narrowed to less groups, or sent to alt.unix.geeks?)

    On 2026-04-04, Steve Hayes wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>, >>>hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >>>>
    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual >>>> exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring >>>to that American activity. He was probably talking about the >>>different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.

    It's sad that some people do think such orientation has to come with "hazing". It's perfectly possible to have a community and activities for orientation and integration purposes without harassment or
    humiliation. Yet some, seeing it with milder harassment, will assume
    it's good because it can be less strong...

    It is likely the "social clique" version of the "five monkeys
    experiment" <https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/games-primates-play/201203/what-monkeys-can-teach-us-about-human-behavior-facts-fiction>
    from business/government that is often used to explain how some long
    outdated process continues to remain "the policy". Because "that is
    the way it has always been done", even though no one doing the process,
    nor no one mandating the process as policy, remembers why the process
    was done in the way it is done.

    The current "social clique" members had to undergo the torture to gain
    their status as "in" members of the clique, so therefore all new
    entrants have to also undergo the same torture the current "in" members underwent in order for the new entrants to prove their worthiness for inclusion in the clique. I.e., "because we have always done it that
    way".

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Janet@nobody@home.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 18:56:46 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    In article <1775242700-12588@newsgrouper.org>, athel.cb@gmail.com
    says...

    Janet <nobody@home.com> posted:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>, hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools. >>
    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver
    Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a >> libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring
    to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I agree. The British term for hazing was ragging. It didn't happen at Oxford in my time (1961?1967), not at Wadham, anyway; at least, I never heard that it did. My sister never reported anything of that sort at St. Andrews. However,
    it did occur in some other universities. =

    We had Rag Week, nothing to do with US hazing.

    Kipling was writing abour English Public schools; not universities.

    Janet


    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bobbie Sellers@bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 13:19:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books



    On 4/4/26 10:56, Janet wrote:
    In article <1775242700-12588@newsgrouper.org>, athel.cb@gmail.com
    says...

    Janet <nobody@home.com> posted:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools. >>>>>>
    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver >>>>>> Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a >>>>>> libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones. >>>>> In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >>>>
    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual >>>> exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring >>> to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I agree. The British term for hazing was ragging. It didn't happen at Oxford >> in my time (1961?1967), not at Wadham, anyway; at least, I never heard that >> it did. My sister never reported anything of that sort at St. Andrews. However,
    it did occur in some other universities. =

    We had Rag Week, nothing to do with US hazing.

    Kipling was writing abour English Public schools; not universities.

    And remember what you call a Public School in the UK we call a
    Private School in the USA and I even went to a Private but Parochial
    HS. Principal form of Hazing was playing dodgeball on handball
    courts. I am not athletic so escaped this nonsense by simple refusal.

    bliss

    Janet



    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bobbie Sellers@bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 13:28:36 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books



    On 4/4/26 04:50, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2026-04-04 09:52, Nuno Silva wrote:
    (Maybe this one needs to be narrowed to less groups, or sent to
    alt.unix.geeks?)

    On 2026-04-04, Steve Hayes wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools. >>>>>>>
    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The >>>>>>> Silver
    Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a >>>>>>> libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the
    older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual
    element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual >>>>> exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    -a-a I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing,-a or was referring >>>> to that American activity.-a He was probably talking about-a the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.

    It's sad that some people do think such orientation has to come with
    "hazing". It's perfectly possible to have a community and activities for
    orientation and integration purposes without harassment or
    humiliation. Yet some, seeing it with milder harassment, will assume
    it's good because it can be less strong...

    When I was at Uni in Madrid, at the Uni itself there was none. The
    studies were terrifying, no need to add more pain.

    However, at the halls of residence (DeepL says that is the translation
    for "Colegio Mayor") it was a different story. At mine it was very mild.
    At others it was much worse.


    Generally hazing is done to test the Mettle of the new parties and group hazing build bonds between those who share misery.
    More exclusive hazing for the Franternities and Sororities of which
    I have no personal experience builds intensity loyalty supposedly to
    te Greek Letter clubs. In some of the USA's great universities like
    Yale and Harvard it builds bonds that are sustained for life as the
    members promise to support one another in their business and
    political lives. A very exclusive society, Skull and Bones, has
    contributed several presidents and other high officials to the
    USA. Not the worst either since Trump became president.
    If he had lost this present term, George Bush of the Iraq War
    would hold the title.

    bliss - HS graduate who has been reading a lot since 1955

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bobbie Sellers@bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sat Apr 4 13:32:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books



    On 4/4/26 07:24, Rich wrote:
    In comp.os.linux.misc Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    (Maybe this one needs to be narrowed to less groups, or sent to alt.unix.geeks?)

    On 2026-04-04, Steve Hayes wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >>>>>
    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual >>>>> exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring >>>> to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.

    It's sad that some people do think such orientation has to come with
    "hazing". It's perfectly possible to have a community and activities for
    orientation and integration purposes without harassment or
    humiliation. Yet some, seeing it with milder harassment, will assume
    it's good because it can be less strong...

    It is likely the "social clique" version of the "five monkeys
    experiment" <https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/games-primates-play/201203/what-monkeys-can-teach-us-about-human-behavior-facts-fiction>
    from business/government that is often used to explain how some long
    outdated process continues to remain "the policy". Because "that is
    the way it has always been done", even though no one doing the process,
    nor no one mandating the process as policy, remembers why the process
    was done in the way it is done.

    The current "social clique" members had to undergo the torture to gain
    their status as "in" members of the clique, so therefore all new
    entrants have to also undergo the same torture the current "in" members underwent in order for the new entrants to prove their worthiness for inclusion in the clique. I.e., "because we have always done it that
    way".


    Yes and that was a problem for the people at Antarctic Bases where
    the building crew suffered a lot and did not see why the working crew
    should have it any easier. I hope the Moon Base builders have better
    Morale.

    bliss
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Carlos E.R.@robin_listas@es.invalid to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sun Apr 5 04:07:35 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 2026-04-04 22:28, Bobbie Sellers wrote:


    On 4/4/26 04:50, Carlos E.R. wrote:
    On 2026-04-04 09:52, Nuno Silva wrote:
    (Maybe this one needs to be narrowed to less groups, or sent to
    alt.unix.geeks?)

    On 2026-04-04, Steve Hayes wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public
    schools.

    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in
    "The Silver
    Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was
    ostensibly a
    libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the
    older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual
    element.

    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was
    sexual
    exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    -a-a I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing,-a or was
    referring
    to that American activity.-a He was probably talking about-a the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.

    It's sad that some people do think such orientation has to come with
    "hazing". It's perfectly possible to have a community and activities for >>> orientation and integration purposes without harassment or
    humiliation. Yet some, seeing it with milder harassment, will assume
    it's good because it can be less strong...

    When I was at Uni in Madrid, at the Uni itself there was none. The
    studies were terrifying, no need to add more pain.

    However, at the halls of residence (DeepL says that is the translation
    for "Colegio Mayor") it was a different story. At mine it was very
    mild. At others it was much worse.


    -a-a-a-aGenerally hazing is done to test the Mettle of the new parties and group hazing build bonds between those who share misery.
    -a-a-a-aMore exclusive hazing for the Franternities and Sororities of which I have no personal experience builds intensity loyalty supposedly to
    te Greek Letter clubs.-a In some of the USA's great universities like
    Yale and Harvard it builds bonds that are sustained for life as the
    members promise to support one another in their business and
    political lives.-a A very exclusive society, Skull and Bones, has
    contributed several presidents and other high officials to the
    USA.-a Not the worst either since Trump became president.
    If he had lost this present term, George Bush of the Iraq War
    would hold the title.

    -a-a-a-abliss - HS graduate who has been reading a lot since 1955

    The "uni halls of residence" where I lived broke this simply by
    expelling 120 of 200 students the next year. Hard to keep traditions alive.
    --
    Cheers, Carlos.
    ESEfc-Efc+, EUEfc-Efc|;
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Steve Hayes@hayesstw@telkomsa.net to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Sun Apr 5 05:27:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:46:32 -0400, Tony Cooper
    <tonycooper214@gmail.com> wrote:

    On Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:22:38 +0200, Steve Hayes
    <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>, >>>hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    On Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:33:56 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

    Both Kipling and Lewis wrote about Edwardian English public schools. >>>> >>
    Lewis also mentioned schools in his fiction, most notably in "The Silver
    Chair", where he describes authoritarianism in what was ostensibly a >>>> >> libertarian school.

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >>>>
    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual >>>> exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring >>>to that American activity. He was probably talking about the >>>different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant >>something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were >>humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.


    Happy to add to your knowledge of Americanisms: the phrase here is
    "lower than whale shit on the bottom of the ocean".

    Similar sentiment.

    Students round the world have much in common, whether they go to uni,
    varsity or college.

    But Kipling & Lewis were talking about secondary, & not tertiary
    educational institutions.
    --
    Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
    Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
    Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
    E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From John Ames@commodorejohn@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Mon Apr 6 07:45:57 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Sat, 4 Apr 2026 13:28:36 -0700
    Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:

    Generally hazing is done to test the Mettle of the new parties and
    group hazing build bonds between those who share misery. [...] In
    some of the USA's great universities like Yale and Harvard it builds
    bonds that are sustained for life

    That's certainly the public line whenever a pledge gets killed in a
    dumb stunt and the traditionalists have to scramble to explain to the
    cops and the media how this is Fine, Actually. Sounds a lot more high-
    minded than "institutionalized abuse of newbies is the means by which sociopaths who get off on tormenting people find a socially-acceptable
    outlet for their disease."

    It's no friggin' wonder these people end up in politics and Management.

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Steve Hayes@hayesstw@telkomsa.net to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Tue Apr 7 05:44:18 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On Mon, 6 Apr 2026 07:45:57 -0700, John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com>
    wrote:

    On Sat, 4 Apr 2026 13:28:36 -0700
    Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:

    Generally hazing is done to test the Mettle of the new parties and
    group hazing build bonds between those who share misery. [...] In
    some of the USA's great universities like Yale and Harvard it builds
    bonds that are sustained for life

    That's certainly the public line whenever a pledge gets killed in a
    dumb stunt and the traditionalists have to scramble to explain to the
    cops and the media how this is Fine, Actually. Sounds a lot more high-
    minded than "institutionalized abuse of newbies is the means by which >sociopaths who get off on tormenting people find a socially-acceptable
    outlet for their disease."

    It's no friggin' wonder these people end up in politics and Management.

    From a US dictionary:



    haze
    3 of 3
    verb (2)
    hazed; hazing

    transitive verb
    1
    a
    : to harass by exacting unnecessary or disagreeable work
    b
    : to harass by banter, ridicule, or criticism
    2
    : to play tricks on or force to do unpleasant or unsafe things as initiation haze the fraternity pledges
    3
    Western US : to drive (animals, such as cattle or horses) from
    horseback
    hazer noun

    From Wikipedia:

    Ragging
    Ragging is the term used for the so-called "initiation ritual"
    practiced in higher education institutions in India, Pakistan,
    Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The practice is similar to hazing in
    North America, fagging in the UK, bizutage in France, praxe in
    Portugal, and other similar practices in educational institutions
    across the world. Ragging involves abuse, humiliation, or harassment
    of new entrants or junior students by the senior students Continued in Wikipedia

    I understood "ragging" to be a synonym for "teasing" generally, and
    not as specifically applied to initiation rituals.
    --
    Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
    Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
    Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
    E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Bobbie Sellers@bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Mon Apr 6 21:01:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books



    On 4/6/26 20:44, Steve Hayes wrote:
    On Mon, 6 Apr 2026 07:45:57 -0700, John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com>
    wrote:

    On Sat, 4 Apr 2026 13:28:36 -0700
    Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:

    Generally hazing is done to test the Mettle of the new parties and
    group hazing build bonds between those who share misery. [...] In
    some of the USA's great universities like Yale and Harvard it builds
    bonds that are sustained for life

    That's certainly the public line whenever a pledge gets killed in a
    dumb stunt and the traditionalists have to scramble to explain to the
    cops and the media how this is Fine, Actually. Sounds a lot more high-
    minded than "institutionalized abuse of newbies is the means by which
    sociopaths who get off on tormenting people find a socially-acceptable
    outlet for their disease."

    It's no friggin' wonder these people end up in politics and Management.

    From a US dictionary:



    haze
    3 of 3
    verb (2)
    hazed; hazing

    transitive verb
    1
    a
    : to harass by exacting unnecessary or disagreeable work
    b
    : to harass by banter, ridicule, or criticism
    2
    : to play tricks on or force to do unpleasant or unsafe things as initiation haze the fraternity pledges
    3
    Western US : to drive (animals, such as cattle or horses) from
    horseback
    hazer noun

    From Wikipedia:

    Ragging
    Ragging is the term used for the so-called "initiation ritual"
    practiced in higher education institutions in India, Pakistan,
    Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The practice is similar to hazing in
    North America, fagging in the UK, bizutage in France, praxe in
    Portugal, and other similar practices in educational institutions
    across the world. Ragging involves abuse, humiliation, or harassment
    of new entrants or junior students by the senior students Continued in Wikipedia

    I understood "ragging" to be a synonym for "teasing" generally, and
    not as specifically applied to initiation rituals.


    I do not think you would be wrong but that is where a lot of it is found in
    schools following traditions passed down within 'in groups'.

    bliss
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Pluted Pup@plutedpup@outlook.com to comp.os.linux.misc,alt.usage.english,alt.books,rec.arts.books,alt.books.reviews on Thu Apr 16 23:05:07 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.books

    On 4/4/26 7:24 AM, Rich wrote:
    In comp.os.linux.misc Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> wrote:
    (Maybe this one needs to be narrowed to less groups, or sent to alt.unix.geeks?)

    On 2026-04-04, Steve Hayes wrote:

    On Fri, 3 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0100, Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

    In article <71jusk9gmgrk5b9rccv1tq7h6ec0rs2ua9@4ax.com>,
    hayesstw@telkomsa.net says...

    On 2 Apr 2026 19:33:18 GMT, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

    Kipling wrote about the hazing of the younger students by the older ones.
    In 'Surprised by Joy' Lewis strongly hints there was a sexual element. >>>>>
    Lewis doesn't merely hint. He says quite clearly that there was sexual >>>>> exploitation at the school he attended. There were not merely
    adolescent crushes, but there was systemic exploitation as well.


    I'd be surprised if Kilpling used the term hazing, or was referring >>>> to that American activity. He was probably talking about the
    different British custom fagging

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagging

    I have only a vague idea of what "hazing" is, and assumed it meant
    something like what was euphemistically called "fresher orientation"
    at one of the universities I attended, in which new students were
    humiliated in various ways to make them understand that they were
    lower than shark shit.

    It's sad that some people do think such orientation has to come with
    "hazing". It's perfectly possible to have a community and activities for
    orientation and integration purposes without harassment or
    humiliation. Yet some, seeing it with milder harassment, will assume
    it's good because it can be less strong...

    It is likely the "social clique" version of the "five monkeys
    experiment" <https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/games-primates-play/201203/what-monkeys-can-teach-us-about-human-behavior-facts-fiction>
    from business/government that is often used to explain how some long
    outdated process continues to remain "the policy". Because "that is
    the way it has always been done", even though no one doing the process,
    nor no one mandating the process as policy, remembers why the process
    was done in the way it is done.

    The current "social clique" members had to undergo the torture to gain
    their status as "in" members of the clique, so therefore all new
    entrants have to also undergo the same torture the current "in" members underwent in order for the new entrants to prove their worthiness for inclusion in the clique. I.e., "because we have always done it that
    way".

    And this criminality can be broken by treating it
    seriously. According to recent news, a homicide
    caused by hazing in the Philippines was prosecuted
    as a murder, not manslaughter. What could the
    defendant say in the case 'I was strong and the
    victim was a weak and defenseless newbie'? That's
    the very definition of criminality, sadists should
    have no hope for sympathy.




    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2