This town throws pennies at people. They hurt.
youtu.be
The Honiton Hot Pennies ceremony is the result of 800 years of tradition: from when rich people would entertain themselves by throwing scalding-hot pennies o...

You don't need to watch the video. Tom Scott/None of the interview subjects ever point out how fucked this is, but basically the story is rich sadists would put coins in boiling water and then throw them at poor children to watch them endure injury for small amounts of money as a form of entertainment.

    • jossbo@lemmy.ml
      ·
      11 months ago

      We have a long tradition of doing silly and dangerous things. Particularly in small towns. Some have formed out of old oagan (pre-Christian traditions), some for more questionable or objectionable reasons like this one. They keep going because a lot of people have good memories of them and it becomes part of a local identity.

      I watched this video, and lots of people make mention of how the tradition started, and how the pennies used to be actually hot. And why. Its referred to multiple times. Your post implies this was glossed over, but you clearly got the info from the video, so it's not exactly hidden. Maybe that's why OP says, "no need to watch it", bevause they know they're telling fibs for outrage bait?

      Look up The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake. People get really hurt doing that.

        • jossbo@lemmy.ml
          ·
          11 months ago

          Yeah it's quite dangerous, there is moderate risk of mild injury and very mild risk of serious injury. But everyone participating knows that.

      • Aria@lemmygrad.ml
        ·
        11 months ago

        I summarised the video and didn't do outside research. The point is that they're celebrating something that should be shameful. They explain the mechanics of how it's horrible but not that it is or that it shouldn't be celebrated. The closest they get to a condemnation is saying they've adjusted the tradition to be safer.

        • jossbo@lemmy.ml
          ·
          11 months ago

          They didn't say "and that is wrong". But I think that's because it's obvious. There were a few raised eyebrows or a change to the tone of voice, so it was certainly implied.

          Like if there was a documentary on the slave they might not actually say, "and this was a bad thing", bevause obviously it was a horribly bad thing.

          • Aria@lemmygrad.ml
            ·
            10 months ago

            And so obviously they stopped celebrating it, right? The last line in the video is

            We're about making certain that these wonderful old quaint customs continue.

            Backed by the sound and visual of Tom clapping.

            If you think I've misunderstood this documentary designed to bring awareness of a social ill, then fair enough. In that case my criticism is that Tom didn't make a video that communicated that well enough, and my criticism of the town remains unchanged.