St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof


by Newswire    
November 16, 2011 at 8:38 pm

Over the last few days and weeks you may have seen this notice going around on Twitter and Facebook.

You may have even chuckled at the antics of the boys from St Andrews. Apparently it was posted to the boy’s toilets.

Alas! It turns out to be a fake.

An FOI request to the university asked whether the notice was genuine.

This was their brilliant response:

Thank you for your FoI Request re “Masturbation Notice”.

The notice to which you refer is not an official university notice. It was a student prank, and regrettably not even an original prank. The notice appears to be a copycat issue of a similar text hich appeared recently at Durham and Lancaster universities and a number of universities in the States. A quick check on Google should give you more information about these incidents should you require it.

A strong clue that the notice is fake is the line “Please go home and masturbate if you are bored.” As a matter of policy, the University would never encourage students to go home during term time.

I understand that two copies of the notice were attached, with chewing gum, to doors of the male toilets in the University of St Andrews Main Library on or about the afternoon of Sunday November 3^th 2011. The notices were removed by Library staff shortly afterwards.

Far from having a policy on masturbation or outlawing the practice, as the bogus notice alleged, the University encourages the study of it, academically at least. Among the titles in the University ibrary is “Solitary Sex : A Cultural History of Masturbation” by Thomas Walter Laqueur, pub Zone Books, New York, 2003.

Well, at least we know they have a healthy attitude to masturbation.


---------------------------
      


About the author

· Other posts by
Filed under
News


51 Comments || Add yours below

  • We have a tight comments policy aimed at fostering constructive debate.
  • We believe in free speech but not your right to abuse our space.
  • Abusive, sarcastic or silly comments may be deleted.
  • Misogynist, racist, homophobic and xenophobic comments will be deleted.
  • Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy.


Reader comments


1. We are

“Liberal Conspiracy is the UK’s most popular left-of-centre politics blog. On slow news days we also regurgitate apolitical, inane crap.”

What next, copying Daily Mash articles?

2. Christopher Heward

“Over the last few days and weeks” – it was dated 6 days prior to this article – unlikely to have seen it weeks ago, although the FOI says 3rd November – maybe it had a fake date too, which would have made it a tad obvious!!

3. Chris Brooke

The opening paragraphs of Stephen Greenblatt’s review of Thomas Laqueur’s Solitary Sex are great fun.

4. Chaise Guevara

@ 1

True dat, but on the good side, this is the first decent article title I’ve seen on LC in a month of Sundays,

5. Sunny Hundal

God, I didn’t realise some of our readers were such po-faced whiners. Once you take out a subscription to pay for this site then I might pay some attention.
AFAIK – the FOI was posted today

6. Richard

1 – Nothing wrong with Daily Mash articles. They rip it out of everyone.

7. mrsB

I think some of you commenters need to lighten up a little on this one & mebbe pay attention to some of the advice contained in that health & safety notice.

8. cxpli

Yeah these notices are nothing new. Something similar was posted in my halls of residence in Hull back in 2006(ish) about people masturbating in the showers, and even then I’d heard of it being done at other universities. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s been going even longer than that – students always love a good wanking joke.

9. Left Outside

*Fuck me* 600 years of St Andr…ah, maybe an inappropriate reaction.

10. Dr Paul

Some of my pals were tempted to take the notice at face value; after all, as they explained, not a few of St Andrews’ students are wa… [yes, we get the picture -- ed].


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Jason

    Dryly amusing response fm St Andrew's to "masturbation notice" inquiries http://t.co/zB7A2m93 (h/t @sunny_hundal)

  2. Lorraine Ash

    Dryly amusing response fm St Andrew's to "masturbation notice" inquiries http://t.co/zB7A2m93 (h/t @sunny_hundal)

  3. Spir.Sotiropoulou

    St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/Fn8n2HA3 via @libcon

  4. Steve Parks

    Dryly amusing response fm St Andrew's to "masturbation notice" inquiries http://t.co/zB7A2m93 (h/t @sunny_hundal)

  5. ahxcjb

    Gutted that the St. Andrews student notice on masturbation was a spoof. Funny FOI response tho http://t.co/cMPeAvDH

  6. D. Steven White

    Gartner Says Sales of Mobile Devices Grew 5.6 Percent in Third Quarter of 2011; Smartphone Sales Increased 42 Percent – http://t.co/jf7EGQaq

  7. EroticToyWarehouse

    St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/AU3n8qzl

  8. Saskia Bosch van Ros

    Geestig “@tobyharnden: Dryly amusing response fm St Andrew's to "masturbation notice" inquiries http://t.co/89glmiRC (h/t @sunny_hundal)”

  9. Graham Pointer

    Dryly amusing response fm St Andrew's to "masturbation notice" inquiries http://t.co/zB7A2m93 (h/t @sunny_hundal)

  10. The Small Places

    MT @sunny_hundal "….Funny FOI response tho http://t.co/TdFCkWkZ " … @TheSmallPlaces

  11. John Park

    Exactly what kind of books do they have in their library ? St. Andrews masturbation notice shooting blanks http://t.co/dSANqtqv via @zite

  12. Stephen Newton

    Gutted that the St. Andrews student notice on masturbation was a spoof. Funny FOI response tho http://t.co/cMPeAvDH

  13. Rachael

    St Andrews response to the spoof masturbation notice is brilliant: http://t.co/vVaC2bKT via @libcon

  14. Neutron Decay

    St Andrews response to the spoof masturbation notice is brilliant: http://t.co/vVaC2bKT via @libcon

  15. James

    @BetaRayBill_Eyo oh come on now Eyo… http://t.co/F2r17X6c

  16. Rustydunce

    St. Andrews masturbation notice was shooting blanks http://t.co/NRV7b741

  17. Donald Edwards

    @jaxies http://t.co/hfVG9StG very amusing response..

  18. Stephen Carter

    Go home and Study then St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof http://t.co/bbwO4HvW

  19. Heidi Blanton

    St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof http://t.co/o7DkXLoK <- seems it was a prank… but still think not beyond the realms of truth.

  20. Tonmoy Chowdhury

    @tarunno @NSakib_ http://t.co/a2jAxNOW

  21. Zoe Stephenson

    http://t.co/KbyunSur hahaha

  22. Robert David Knight

    Fine! Have a wank if you like! http://t.co/eaCBPvxh

  23. turbyfurby

    Fine! Have a wank if you like! http://t.co/eaCBPvxh

  24. Phil Oddy

    reading this: St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof http://t.co/GO5gqEgf

  25. "Prohibido Masturbarse" era falso [ING]

    [...] "CRITEO-300×250", 300, 250); 1 meneos "Prohibido Masturbarse" era falso [ING]   liberalconspiracy.org/2011/11/16/st-andrews-masturbation-…  por Kobalsky hace [...]

  26. A. Spallanzani

    St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/incrakyu via @libcon

  27. Anna Rzepczynski

    @cwbearman @DingosBrother @officialHaswell @MarkTeasdale9 @NufcRyton @officialpapers Seen it all before http://t.co/vTwlY4Qz

  28. Anna Rzepczynski

    @Jonisageek Seen it all before http://t.co/iBFd9LoF…

  29. ?????? ????

    ??? ?? ??????????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? Masturbation ????? http://t.co/i7tRwUWv

  30. Elizabeth Speller

    St. Andrews masturbation notice was shooting blanks http://t.co/NRV7b741

  31. Lloyd Shepherd

    St. Andrews masturbation notice was shooting blanks http://t.co/NRV7b741

  32. Iman Hammad

    St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/J5sFdVZr via @libcon

  33. Dave Naylor

    @CarrieFFisher My deepest thoughts are that it's a fake: http://t.co/KtM20vHb

  34. Alex Chase

    @awhitelie @hotdogsladies except it was. And the library's official response was almost the funniest thing about it. http://t.co/629oyugI

  35. mickey

    @arichatt @bobdealer http://t.co/28dMiqpQ

  36. ?????/????

    St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/k6O8LAsd ??

  37. L

    @nealio82 take it you've seen this? http://t.co/Fj2uPT1P :P

  38. Gaz Steven

    @mrgarethbrooks. : St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/qfA1NcFJ The Uni's reply is awesome

  39. Gareth Brooks

    “@iamgazs @mrgarethbrooks St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/dQO4KuxR The Uni's reply is awesome”

  40. darren adams

    “@iamgazs @mrgarethbrooks St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/dQO4KuxR The Uni's reply is awesome”

  41. wesley powell

    “@iamgazs @mrgarethbrooks St. Andrews notice on masturbation a spoof | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/dQO4KuxR The Uni's reply is awesome”





  • We have a tight comments policy aimed at fostering constructive debate.
  • We believe in free speech but not your right to abuse our space.
  • Abusive, sarcastic or silly comments may be deleted.
  • Misogynist, racist, homophobic and xenophobic comments will be deleted.
  • Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy.

 
Liberal Conspiracy is the UK's most popular left-of-centre politics blog. Our aim is to re-vitalise the liberal-left through discussion and action. More about us here.

You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or RSS feed. You can also get them by email and through our Facebook group.
RECENT OPINION ARTICLES




How useful is Tesco’s u-turn on Workfare?
62 Comments



Watch: Obama sings the blues at White House
15 Comments



Why is YouGov’s Kellner endorsing the NHS bill?
23 Comments



‘Move Your Money’ planned against RBS
10 Comments



Rupert Murdoch cheers Rick Santorum to win
24 Comments



Labour: public pay won’t be frozen entirely
19 Comments



Revealed: That ‘dossier’ on Progress
17 Comments



Is Guardian as bad as Tesco on experience?
83 Comments



Bigots launch coalition against gay marriage
204 Comments



Revealed: other companies benefit from ‘work experience’
85 Comments



 LATEST COMMENTS
» Dave posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» Sally posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» the a&e charge nurse posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» cjcjc posted on Ten weeks to London's election: where Ken needs to improve

» TimJ posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» Paul posted on Ten weeks to London's election: where Ken needs to improve

» Watchman posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» Spike1138 posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» pjt posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» Cylux posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» Spike1138 posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» Watchman posted on Ten weeks to London's election: where Ken needs to improve

» Bob B posted on Workfare - what does the evidence show?

» Spike1138 posted on The real agenda behind Telegraph's abortion investigation

» supermarketsweep posted on Job snob? No, I've got the T-shirt