Were men allowed to faint in the Golden Era?

[avedwards]

Strange thread, so I understand if bartenders remove it for being too strange for the lounger.

I blacked out yesterday for the first time in my life after a blood test for jaundice. At first I was a little embarassed (until I accepted that it's a perfectly normal thing when on an empty stomach and having a comparatively large amount of blood taken out and having anaemic symptoms), but then I wondered what people would have thought back then.

In Victorian times fainting was the done thing for women, but obviously not for men as that wasn't manly enough. How were men who fainted viewed in the Golden Era?

 

[Foofoogal]

http://books.google.com/books?id=d8...X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#PPA148,M1

not sure if the link will work. type in Victorian men fainting and you may find it if not.

 

[Viola]

My reading of '40s pulps assures me that men:

Pass out.
Black out.
Have the world spin and fall into darkness.
Slump unconscious.
Get knocked out.
Drop like a felled ox.
See stars.
Strength finally gives out.
Bleed out.

But the hero of the story does not faint particularly often, no. But heroes in bad action stories often do one of the above, its the favourite cut-scene of a particular kind of Men's Adventure Tale of Daring.

 

[Paisley]

Victorian Era Fainting

Watson fainted when he suddenly saw his best friend, Sherlock Holmes, standing before him after Holmes had been presumed dead.

 

[reetpleat]

I think it would be viewed about the same as today. Not a big deal, but might get some razzing from friends, some macho guys might look down on it, but most men woulod probably not worry too much if some other guy fainted.

In the movies, i think non heroes sometimes faint, such as butlers, uptight business men, wealthy men, and guys getting an army physical.

Of course, if someone slips you a micky, that is different.

 

[Sefton]

Only if their corset is too tight. The golden era that you are refering to is in the 17th Century, right?

 

[Paisley]

In 2004, a man I worked with not only fainted, but threw up after he gave blood. This was shortly after I merely fainted on the sidewalk after giving blood. It was a competitive office.

 

[Barrelhouse]

Whether it was "acceptable" or not for a gentleman to faint away in the Belle Epoch is a helluva lot less important to us here than that you get good news from your blood tests and are OK. Stay well, stay happy, stay stylish, but for Pete sake eat some red meat!!!

:cheers1:

 

[avedwards]

Whether it was "acceptable" or not for a gentleman to faint away in the Belle Epoch is a helluva lot less important to us here than that you get good news from your blood tests and are OK. Stay well, stay happy, stay stylish, but for Pete sake eat some red meat!!!

:cheers1:

Thanks, I have yet two days to wait. I think more importantly I should also give up alcohol, even though I never really had more than an occaisional beer.


As for Watson's fainting, I remember that now as well. Watson is given brandy, but I'm glad I wasn't as that would hardly have helped.

 

[Paisley]

Yes, as I'm sure we all know, an unconscious person shouldn't be given anything to drink--there's a danger of choking.

 

[avedwards]

Yes, as I'm sure we all know, an unconscious person shouldn't be given anything to drink--there's a danger of choking.

I was also referring to the fact that jaundice can be caused by alcohol, and that it wouldn't be a good idea to give alcohol to someone with jaundice symptoms, even if it wouldn't be alcohol related if I do have it.

 

[LordBest]

I was under the impression brandy was administered after the person regained conscsiousness in order to fortify them.

 

[DeaconKC]

Fainting after loss of blood? Perfectly acceptable!

 

[Paisley]

I was under the impression brandy was administered after the person regained conscsiousness in order to fortify them.

Could be. It just seems to make as much sense as throwing water on a drowning person. [huh]

 

[Miss Neecerie]

No....they were not allowed to faint.

There were even special Lightheaded Police who issued citations to those who violated this most important societal rule.

 

[Lefty]

unacceptable then, unacceptable now

 

[LizzieMaine]

Effete young wastrels were allowed -- and expected -- to faint when shown the body of the murdered stockbroker by Inspector Queen, at which time they were dashed into consciousness by the contents of Sgt. Velie's hip flask, and immediately became the prime suspect in the crime, of which they happened to be innocent.

 

[Mike K.]

Oh, oh, I've got the vapors!! Somebody pass the smelling salts!! lol

 

[Fletch]

Judging by the fact that long pointless standing at attention on parade grounds in century-plus heat was considered an indispensible part of manhood for any American born before 1900 or after 1904, I would say that yes, there was some understanding of the need to pass out.

Tolerance, however, was a different story. Most likely the passer-outer had his canteen emptied - all on the face, none down the gullet - and earned healthy verbal abuse. (Verbal abuse from one's betters was considered healthy at the time.)

 

[Paisley]

Oh, oh, I've got the vapors!! Somebody pass the smelling salts!! lol

If you have the vapors, someone should pass you the Gas-X. lol