Recently I went to a protest because a spokesperson of the IDF was invited by a Jewish parish. Turns out said spokesperson was a petty criminal here in Germany before he embraced his Jewish heritage to move to Israel. We always send our best to new places.
Was it really, though? You'd think that would curb prostitution a lot. Yet, history is littered with notorious "bohemian bachelors" that lived long lives in the company of prostitutes before acquiring the disease.
Edit: never mind that. In looking up what I thought were examples, it seems I grossly overestimated their lifespans.
To my understanding, a lot of earlier French attempts at colonies in North America had fallen apart or seen a significant percentage of colonists killed off by disease and such, so there'd have been a significant risk that you wouldn't survive.
I wouldn't assume that, because they were in the same offer-you-can't-refuse type of situation as the prisoners. Just like the man's choice was this vs. prison and no future prospects, the woman's choice was also this vs. prison and no future prospects. No reason not to pose it as an offer since 99% will say yes
I would guess no one wanted to give up their entire life just to settle in some new land that might as well have been on mars.
And even back then many people knew that if someone had a reasonable place in society then that person would want to continue having a good place in society, because most people only turn to crime when they aren't able to have a decent life otherwise.
While John Law’s bargain to French prisoners might have seemed like a good deal at the time, it is unclear whether or not the prisoners would have preferred to just stay in prison after their ordeal on the Mississippi coast. As far as John Law went he tried desperately to prove that his Louisiana territory was profitable. The bank forged paperwork and printed off paper notes to investors. However, it was eventually discovered that the paper notes being printed and handed to investors exceeded the amount of metal coinage that was held by the bank. Investors rushed to cash in their paper notes in 1720 but the bank was forced to stop payment on paper notes when it became clear they did not have the funds to pay off everyone.
John Law was relieved of his position and forced to flee to Brussels. He later moved to Venice and made a living off of gambling until his death.
28 Comments
teft@piefed.social · 80 pts · 326d
Wowsers. I thought this was gonna be a bullshit meme but it appears to be true. And pretty fucked up.
https://historycollection.com/parisian-prisoners-offered-freedom-agreed-marry-prostitutes-move-mississippi-coast/
Slight correction though, they went to modern day Biloxi, Mississippi which back then was part of the Louisiana territory.
swemg@sh.itjust.works · 48 pts · 326d
We're not sending the best
Rhaedas@fedia.io · 29 pts · 326d
Did we ever send the best to new places?
lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 21 pts · 326d
Recently I went to a protest because a spokesperson of the IDF was invited by a Jewish parish. Turns out said spokesperson was a petty criminal here in Germany before he embraced his Jewish heritage to move to Israel. We always send our best to new places.
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 326d
Australians:
aeronmelon@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 326d
“We are, how you say, not zending ze best!”
DarkCloud@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 326d
So what's the catch?
Godric@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 326d
You have to move to Louisiana 🤢
TallonMetroid@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 326d
Increased risk of syphilis?
acockworkorange@mander.xyz · 14 pts · 326d
Increased by how much? 🤔
EightLeggedFreak@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 326d
Well, if you're shacking up with an illegal prostitute pre-modern-medicine... By my math, a lot.
acockworkorange@mander.xyz · 9 pts · 326d
Was it really, though? You'd think that would curb prostitution a lot. Yet, history is littered with notorious "bohemian bachelors" that lived long lives in the company of prostitutes before acquiring the disease.
Edit: never mind that. In looking up what I thought were examples, it seems I grossly overestimated their lifespans.
EightLeggedFreak@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 326d
They were here for a good time, not a long time.
CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social · 18 pts · 326d
To my understanding, a lot of earlier French attempts at colonies in North America had fallen apart or seen a significant percentage of colonists killed off by disease and such, so there'd have been a significant risk that you wouldn't survive.
jaybone@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 326d
“We’ve got a problem over there with disease. How about we send over a bunch of prostitutes.”
Grimy@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 326d
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 31 pts · 326d
I’m guessing nobody asked the prostitutes how they felt about being married to a convicted criminal and sent into exile
Beacon@fedia.io · 29 pts · 326d
I wouldn't assume that, because they were in the same offer-you-can't-refuse type of situation as the prisoners. Just like the man's choice was this vs. prison and no future prospects, the woman's choice was also this vs. prison and no future prospects. No reason not to pose it as an offer since 99% will say yes
jaybone@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 326d
I assume the idea is to 1. Get rid of criminals and 2. Populate the new territory.
But wouldn’t you just end up with a new territory populated by criminals? And then have the same problem you originally had?
TheOneAndOnly@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 326d
You should ask Australia.
Beacon@fedia.io · 5 pts · 326d
I would guess no one wanted to give up their entire life just to settle in some new land that might as well have been on mars.
And even back then many people knew that if someone had a reasonable place in society then that person would want to continue having a good place in society, because most people only turn to crime when they aren't able to have a decent life otherwise.
fibojoly@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 326d
They were probably given a similar deal "marry a prisoner and elope to the new world, or go to jail"
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 326d
Presidential Timber!
Aralakh@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 326d
Huh, now that's a different kind of arranged marriage.
sober_monk@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 326d
Cajun pride!
SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world · 5 pts · 326d
Damn I did that for free.
fibojoly@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 326d
Not that Louisiana.
This Louisiana.
iAvicenna@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 326d
surely nothing can go wrong with that
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 326d
I mean . . There’s some . . very attractive people there. That could be a factor.