Was Weimar Germany sexually depraved and degenerate?

[repoman]

I have been hearing inklings of this from the Alt-Right sphere. Are they on to something?

 

[Juma]

What do you think they are "on to"? There was some burlesque theaters and sexual film but why are you using the the words depraved and degrnerate?

This description is often used a way to justify the holocaust. (Because the "depravation" etc was supposed somehow to be solely caused by the jews)

So what exactly do you think they are "on to"?

 

[BH]

So what exactly do you think they are "on to"

We are talking about sex. What do you think they were "on to"!

 

[bilby]

There is no consensual sexual act that qualifies for either of the the descriptions 'depraved' or 'degenerate', so no.

'Degenerate' implies that there is some kind of improvement in sexual behaviour over time, and that this improvement might somehow be reversed. To apply it to the consensual sexual behaviour that is exhibited by a particular culture, or in a particular place or time, is nonsensical.

'Depraved' implies immorality. The only immoral sexual behaviour is that which entails the absence of consent for one or more participants. There is no evidence that such behaviour was more common in Weimar Germany than in any other period of German history; or in any other contemporary developed world nation.

You should stop paying attention to the neo-fascist sphere; Despite their attempt to be politically correct by calling themselves 'alt-right', they remain bigoted, stupid and immoral, and giving them unwarranted publicity is in itself an immoral act. If you can't bear to stop paying them attention, then the very least you could do (if you don't want to be considered a neo-fascist arsehole yourself) is to stop publicizing their bullshit. Perhaps you could start by not bringing it to this discussion board?

 

[Bronzeage]

I have been hearing inklings of this from the Alt-Right sphere. Are they on to something?

Definitely.

Adolf Hitler was gay as a goose stepper. The Joel Gray character from "Cabaret" was actually based on Adolf.

The German Empire, under the Kaisers was a prudish place, but what would you expect from a nation of German Lutherans. Pornography was illegal and nudity on stage was forbidden. This is kind of strange in light of the German appreciation of naturalism, which is to say, running around naked, out of doors.

When the Empire ceased to exist and the survivors had to come up with some kind of government, things like public morality, were low on the list. As with any time of public upheaval, sin is profitable, and suppression of vice is neglected. There's nothing strange about burlesque shows that seem to have no moral limits, prostitution, and all the other deadly sins, appearing.

The period of the Wiemar Republic was a time when German people were still trying to figure out what the hell happened.

Look at it from their point of view. Germany was never invaded by a foreign army. There was no great battle lost. Through out the war, the Germans did fairly well. How did they end up the losers?

When looking for reasons for failure, moral turpitude is always a good one. Who is going to defend it? If the alt-right is interested in the moral degeneration of Wiemar, they've probably been reading old Nazi pamphlets, telling how the Jews have destroyed the moral fiber of Germany, and that's why they lost.

 

[repoman]

Taking a fairly censorious tone, Bilby...

 

[bilby]

Taking a fairly censorious tone, Bilby...

Indeed. But one that is fully justified.