Traditional initiation is a rite of passage into manhood for young males that is practiced by various ethnic groups in Africa, including parts of South Africa. Among them are the Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho and Venda communities.
That seems like it falls into the same category as ‘protecting your children from all the scary shit on the internet’.
Like, sure, but your action seems awfully severe and like it wouldn’t do that. Like the action and proclaimed goal have never been in the same room.
Plus modern western conceptions of pain are bullshit and I kind of think it exists purely as an excuse to abusive authority that can only be justified by the fact pain-fear is the dumbest easiest and therefore most-popular-among-authorities method of control, so physical cowardice has become a kind of synonym for loyalty/virtue. But that’s besides the point, I’m sure these infections you’re talking about are real and dangerous and not mostly made up hyperbolizing.
That seems like it falls into the same category as ‘protecting your children from all the scary shit on the internet’.
Like, sure, but your action seems awfully severe and like it wouldn’t do that. Like the action and proclaimed goal have never been in the same room.
Plus modern western conceptions of pain are bullshit and I kind of think it exists purely as an excuse to abusive authority that can only be justified by the fact pain-fear is the dumbest easiest and therefore most-popular-among-authorities method of control, so physical cowardice has become a kind of synonym for loyalty/virtue. But that’s besides the point, I’m sure these infections you’re talking about are real and dangerous and not mostly made up hyperbolizing.