There are many brutal pastimes born to satisfy the entertainment needs and curiosity of people.
Do you know what the ancients used to do in their spare time, when the Internet had not yet appeared? You will probably think of things like drinking tea to enjoy the scenery, walking the dog in the park or hanging out with family…
Indeed, in previous centuries, a lot of more “cool” pastimes were born, but with it came human cruelty to make them more attractive.
Hundreds of years ago, during the Renaissance in England, people didn’t like going to the zoo. Just seeing the ferocious animals in the cage is not enough to satisfy the curiosity of the people here. They want to see firsthand how they tear their prey in the wild.
So the bear prank was held at the “bear garden” . There, the hounds were released so that they could attack the chained bears. Spectators who come to see will cheer together and cheer for this bloody scene.
It was inhumane, but this was a hobby for all classes of British society at that time.
When the bears are dead, the cows will be replaced. And when they got bored, they got more creative by tying the monkey to the back of the pony so that the dog could fly in and bite both innocent creatures.
It was inhumane, but this was a hobby for all classes of British society at that time, from beggars to noble aristocrats.
The British government considers this a suitable pastime to entertain “peace-loving people”. They also ordered the closure of theaters every Thursday and Sunday so that people could go to the movies to tease the bears more.
After many years of delay, a ban on this cruel game was finally enacted by the British Parliament in 1835.
Another hobby originating from London, England: paying for tickets to see strange animals with cats and dogs.
In the 17th century, the royal families here often collected exotic animals to offer to the king. So after only many years on the throne, the monarchs have owned a huge collection of strange animals, not inferior to modern zoos.
Elephants, monkeys and even lions are all allowed to roam the grounds.
When the king is away, these animals will be put on display for people everywhere to admire. Elephants, monkeys and even lions are all allowed to roam the grounds. Visitors will be able to… play with them comfortably.
However, not everyone has the money to buy tickets. So the manager of a zoo of this type in the Tower of London has made it a rule that visitors can pay for tickets with a dog or a cat. These pets will become food for the strange animals running around inside.
Because they are used to being treated to dogs and cats, the strange animals often roar for more food even on days when the royal zoo is closed.
Step back in time to the 18th century, you will have the opportunity to visit Bedlam mental hospital in England and witness firsthand the daily life of patients here.
Bedlam is open to the public for free with the original purpose of allowing the patient’s family and friends to conveniently bring them food or essential items.
The hospital accidentally turned into an entertainment center for the curious.
However, some people think that this is just a trick of the managers. Because they always actively invite people from prestigious families to visit, in the hope that the hospital funds will be generously contributed.
The hospital also accidentally turned into an entertainment center for curious people from everywhere.
More people come to visit to point, laugh or tease patients than their relatives visit. Even Bedlam is on the list of destinations for tours across London.
Until 1770, those who wanted to visit were required to have a passport issued by the foreman himself. The abuse of the patient then began to recur.
Compared with fleas in England in the early 19th century, the animals in the circus today are many times luckier.
By that time, posters for flea circuses began to be posted everywhere. The owners of these circuses promise to let the audience enjoy the flea races, balancing on the ropes or the skillful fencing of fleas. In fact, this is just an act of torturing animals for fun, nothing more, nothing less.
A flea circus advertisement.
Caught fleas with good walking ability will be required to wear a metal wire around their necks. This string is attached with tiny props. When moving, fleas will accidentally use their leg strength to pull these props along.
The iron rings below them were sometimes heated up, causing them to run wild and pull faster.
By the end of the 20th century, people began to realize that they had laughed at the writhing pain of so many small creatures for so long and these circuses gradually disappeared.
Initially, golf was a sport that was thought to be only for men. Later, mini golf designed specifically for women was born, but it became a scandalous sport.
In the 1930s, when the United States began to enter the Great Depression, golf became a fashionable pastime of the rich and famous.
Mini golf designed for women was born, but became a scandalous sport.
Obstacles on the golf course such as sand pits, small huts, lakes or ponds… began to be built to make the game more interesting.
The story only started to change when golf course owner Bearl Sprott from California came up with the idea of using bears as obstacles for mini golf.
Specifically, a cub will be put in a cage. Players must dip the golf ball in honey or syrup and then hit it through the bear’s cage. If the bear catches the ball or the ball… hits the bear, the player loses.
Later, the poor bears were released and roamed freely on the grass.