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Tip? (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago by theangriestbird@beehaw.org to c/humor@beehaw.org

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[–] player2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Interesting, but the article does say that it happened with the guillotine.

When the guillotine was first introduced, some condemned criminals would pay executioners to sharpen the blade, ensuring a quick and relatively merciful end. Prisoners sentenced to beheading in certain eras in England would also pay their executioners, requesting execution in a single blow. In both of these senses, the payment was more like a bribe than a specific fee for services rendered, as it were.

[–] Gaywallet@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Right, to be clear I wasn't saying it didn't happen, just that it wasn't customary. I don't think it's fair to say that the practice was as widespread as the comment implies.

[–] theangriestbird@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

Idk, your source doesn't seem to indicate that the practice was rare, either. Seems like, among the criminals that could afford it, it was a pretty regular occurrence. I guess "customary" has a cultural connotation to it, but i wouldn't go so far as to call it a "myth" given how close @SpiderShoeCult@sopuli.xyz's comment was to reality.