Have been thinking about the mainstream alternative for a long time - pre board days. A recent thread - Ottawa persecution.......... brought things in focus so I will outline what I see as the mainstream alternative.
Members are welcome to define other alternatives such a legalization, de-criminalization, etc as they wish. Such definitions will not change what I see as the mainstream alternative. For this thread I will limit consideration to North America.
The mainstream alternative. In North America a number of common everyday activities or professions were historically considered folly or viewed as wasteful. Professional or amateur athletics fit this description into the 1920's.Athletes were viewed as grown-up children, indulging themselves before getting on with their life's work. Likewise the theater or acting. In general activities that did not produce a tangible product were frowned upon
Another example would be Playboy. Prior to 1954 you had various "wink , nod" girlie magazines. Playboy showed that an interest in sex was a normal and healthy activity that had a commonality with all stratas of society.
Today, less than a century later, professional athletes are highly regarded, generating billions for themselves and related businesses and partners.
Lindalee Tracey - http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2006/10/20/lindalee-tracey-obit.html
and to an extent Xaviera Hollander showed that becoming part of the mainstream of North American society was possible.
Were they the exceptions or were they trailblazers?
Members are welcome to define other alternatives such a legalization, de-criminalization, etc as they wish. Such definitions will not change what I see as the mainstream alternative. For this thread I will limit consideration to North America.
The mainstream alternative. In North America a number of common everyday activities or professions were historically considered folly or viewed as wasteful. Professional or amateur athletics fit this description into the 1920's.Athletes were viewed as grown-up children, indulging themselves before getting on with their life's work. Likewise the theater or acting. In general activities that did not produce a tangible product were frowned upon
Another example would be Playboy. Prior to 1954 you had various "wink , nod" girlie magazines. Playboy showed that an interest in sex was a normal and healthy activity that had a commonality with all stratas of society.
Today, less than a century later, professional athletes are highly regarded, generating billions for themselves and related businesses and partners.
Lindalee Tracey - http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2006/10/20/lindalee-tracey-obit.html
and to an extent Xaviera Hollander showed that becoming part of the mainstream of North American society was possible.
Were they the exceptions or were they trailblazers?
