this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2024
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Today I Learned

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[–] [email protected] 110 points 2 months ago (3 children)

I thought it was to cover up syphilitic lesions and just kinda stuck around.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 2 months ago

That might be wigs in general, probably not specifically their use in the British legal system.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That's pretty much what the article says

[–] [email protected] 44 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Wigs began to catch on in the late 16th century when an increasing number of people in Europe were contracting the STI. Without widespread treatment with antibiotics (Sir Alexander Fleming didn't discover penicillin, the treatment for syphilis until 1928), people with syphilis were plagued by rashes, blindness, dementia, open sores and hair loss. The hair loss was particularly problematic in social circles.

This fucking culture, man. People getting dimensia and going blind, but if they loose their hair then their friends abandon them.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

To be fair it might have been the fear of catching the disease plus the stigma (it was associated with prostitution and bohemian lifestyle).

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

It was also a thing of class since white powdered wigs where taxed more if remember right. Cant have the poor people looking pimp in white wigs!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That typo made me chuckle.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Ah me to corrected.

[–] [email protected] 63 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Just looks dumb to me but what do I know

[–] [email protected] 35 points 2 months ago

If you've ever been inside a British courtroom, you'll discover that they regularly act dumb, too. Lots of pomp and circumstance, but its still the same clueless, vulgar assholes under the hood.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I think that's intentional. It proves their dominance. I mean you have to go to them and they are wearing something very silly and you have to pretend it's not silly, and if you don't they will harm you somehow.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

Laugh at a lawyer wearing a wig, and they will come to your house at night and cut you!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Just some good ol' oppression of the prol's through class.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

You know they look dumb as hell, so you have what going for you at least

[–] [email protected] 46 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Welp. Considering it does none of those three things, maybe it's time for them to go the way of the buggy whip

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Not from Britain but trying to get new slang every day what is a buggy whip.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago (3 children)

The whip used to whip the horse(s) pulling your horse-drawn buggy.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Thank you for educating me... i do appreciate it....no sarcasm.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I did pause for a bit, pondering if it was actually some new slang...

Then decided if I'm wrong then it's only on the internet.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

There's no stopping the start of its rebirth in modern slang. Someone just needs to give it a new meaning.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Ah shit, they be 100% buggy whipping in their whip.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Just an example of something outdated that's not needed anymore

[–] [email protected] 38 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

I know people are here going like "it makes them look silly." Good. Lawyers need to feel like they look silly. This is a group of people that needs to be taken down a peg every single day. If judges and lawyers can be made humble just a little bit we all benefit in society.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

They need to be pegged two or three times a day.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

They think they look good tho

[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Wigs are so much a part of British criminal courts that if a barrister doesn't wear one, it's seen as an insult to the court.
...
Most are handmade from 100 percent horsehair, though there are synthetic versions available today, too. Horsehair wigs aren't cheap, either, especially when they're handmade and combine an ages-old craft of styling, sewing and gluing. A judge's full-length wig can cost more than $3,000
...
Those who couldn't afford the best garb but wanted to look the part wore wigs made of hair from goats, spooled cotton or from the hair of human corpses

This is the stupidest and most disgusting thing I've read today, thanks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (8 children)

Hair is already dead and animal hair (can't remember which animal) is also used for the best brushes used for painting. IMO as long as the hair is washed which it obviously is, it's not really disgusting.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

are they aware that their attempt at solemnity makes me giggle

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

I had a lot of trouble taking the courtroom scenes of Broadchurch seriously

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We need to stop treating courts and judges like they are sone mythical magical place and judges are mini little emperors in their mini little kingdom. It's just a fucking place people need to go to handle their business. Why the fuck should everyone stand because the guy showed up for his job. All this shit is too much and judges are increasingly out of their minds

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago

That's stupid, they're stupid.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago

to bring formality, solemnity, and anonymity

That's exactly why Rip Taylor wore a wig, too.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago

Time to ditch the Guy Fawkes mask for a powdered wig instead

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What it brings nowadays is a bit of yassss, queen!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Serving court

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

Barristers in Australia wear these also.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Amazing cause it does all of those things so damn poorly. You're thinking of Diamond encrusted ivory full head masks instead

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

"May I approach the bitch?"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

And just a bit of fun!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Looks just as silly to me as pantaloons or suits or fedoras

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