Fox Tossing?? - TTLG Forums

LarryG on 24/4/2012 at 17:56

I just ran across (http://marie-antoinettequeenoffrance.blogspot.com/2010/06/sport-fox-tossing.html) fox tossing, looking for something else. After picking up my jaw and putting it back in, I "confirmed" its reality by finding more sites about it ((http://boingboing.net/2010/04/29/fox-tossing-lessons.html) Fox-Tossing: Lessons in horrific/ridiculous history and (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_tossing) Fox tossing and (http://longstreet.typepad.com/thesciencebookstore/2010/04/a-history-of-blank-empty-things-70-thought-and-foxtossing.html) A History of Blank & Empty Things #70: Thought and Fox-Tossing]

Alright, I am looking for excuses not to do some deadly dull and mindlessly boring work, but Fox Tossing! Really?? Anyone ever hear of it before? One commenter, Weinglasarien, said...

Quote:

Wow, I just cross-checked that in a German dictionary of the time (to see if we had that same sport) and found it in "Zedler's Conversationslexikon" under the name of "Fuchs-Prellen".

Well that settles it for me. If the sport has a hyphenated name in German, it must be real! I'm going to have to work this into my next mission somehow, maybe a painting, or maybe a conversation similar to the "bear baiting" one in T1.

Queue on 24/4/2012 at 18:07

I prefer the lesser known hobbies of cat tossing, and possum flinging.

But the former is more fun-- one can get a really good arc goin' on the cat, and watch it wiggle.

... possums just aren't that flexible.

LarryG on 24/4/2012 at 19:04

Supposedly, cat tossing was tried, and the dang things just clung to the sling or ropes with their claws, and didn't toss at all well. A spectator remarked that they "do not give a pleasing kind of sport, for if they cannot bury their claws and teeth in the faces or legs of the tossers, they cling to the tossing-slings for dear life, and it is next to impossible to give one of these animals a skilful toss."

From the descriptions, they seem to have tried all manner of varmints, and foxes were the most satisfying, both aesthetically and aerodynamically.

Garr!

Then there is (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_pulling) Goose Pulling. From wikipedia:

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Goose pulling (also called gander pulling, goose riding or pulling the goose) was a blood sport practiced in parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, England and North America from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The sport involved fastening a live goose with a well-greased head to a rope or pole that was stretched across a road. A man riding on horseback at a full gallop would attempt to grab the bird by the neck in order to pull the head off.[1] Sometimes a live hare was substituted.[2] It is still practised [sic.] today, using a dead goose, in parts of Belgium and in Grevenbicht in the Netherlands[3] as part of Shrove Tuesday and in some towns in Germany as part of the Shrove Monday celebrations.

june gloom on 24/4/2012 at 19:35

You dang Europeans and your bloodsport.

SlyFoxx on 24/4/2012 at 20:27

Don't even fucking try it.

LarryG on 24/4/2012 at 21:28

What? Not feeling particular aesthetic or aerodynamic lately? Don't you want to be confirmed as aesthetically and aerodynamically superior? Content to recline on your laurels? You never know, in the past few centuries you might have been bypassed in the lists by ferrets. Imagine: they might soon start calling it Ferret Tossing! Now, no true fox would let such a thing go unchallenged, would he? I think WE should all meet round the virtual pub, toss back a few, and discuss the relative virtues of each little furry animal species as it relates to tossing them up in the air unexpectedly. (Unexpectedly, that is to say, as far as the little furry animal is concerned. WE are, of course, anticipating each event with glass in hand, the better to appreciate the aesthetics and aerodynamics thereto.) Surely the Burrick's Head Tavern would open its back lawn to conducting the experiment (and setting the odd side bet)?

Now, maybe torturing birds is more fun. After all we are still doing it. Doesn't (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP9CHUcwlLs) this look like a good time for all but the goose?

demagogue on 25/4/2012 at 01:22

Goose pulling sounds a lot more like a euphemism for jacking off than a sport.
Now if you ladies will excuse me, I'm off to a hardy round of marmot flapping.

PeeperStorm on 25/4/2012 at 04:33

Quote Posted by Queue

Possum Flinging sounds like (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136047) something I could really get into. I expect that one needs gloves, or some other sort of handling equipment.

And then there's always (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cock_throwing) Cock Throwing.

Tocky on 26/4/2012 at 02:48

Yeah I remember the time I was cock throwing and lost my grip on the stick. Nearly took an eye out.

I have the scene in a Monty Python where an old lady is beating a cat against a wall for no apparent reason stuck in my head now. Really, if they had just let the foxes go after the flinging then I could sort of go along with a varmit tossing or two but no, they simply must stomp thier dazed little brains out and laugh ever so gayly. Oh ho my dear I believe you have an eye dangling from your nose. Tee hee twill match the intestine dripping feces on your chin good sir. Jolly fun.

Perhaps it would have been more sporting with porcupines and skunks. Or bears.

PeeperStorm on 26/4/2012 at 07:38

I tried my hand at bear baiting once, but I found out that I was spelling it wrong. Now I've got a mostly unused 55 gallon drum of Vaseline® sitting out next to the trampoline and the bear keeps bringing me flowers.

Quote Posted by Tocky

... but no, they simply must stomp thier dazed little brains out and laugh ever so gayly. Oh ho my dear I believe you have an eye dangling from your nose. Tee hee twill match the intestine dripping feces on your chin good sir. Jolly fun.

Put on your work-boots and (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k76IGLi6jWI) let the festivities commence!