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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not know what a glory hole is at age 40???

230 replies

justcurious40 · 09/03/2017 22:39

My DH brought this clip to my attention earlier:

(about 3 minutes in)

And was shocked that, at 40 years old, I had no idea what a "glory hole" is. I thought he was BU, but everyone else in the programme had hysterics and all knew what it was, so am I just stupidly naive/ignorant?

OP posts:
HemanOrSheRa · 10/03/2017 00:20

I have just asked DP, The Font Of All Useless Knowledge, and he says that Glory Hole goes back to the Old Gold Rush Days where the gold miners hit a seam of gold. I still say they had the equivalent in Roman Times Grin.

Twofurrycats · 10/03/2017 00:21

Slightly worried that I've described the understairs cupboard as a glory hole to various prospective tenants now...... But I did know what a fluffer was!

HenniePennie · 10/03/2017 00:21

Divided by a common language then. In Scottish houses a glory hole is cupboard. It's a common term.

fullofhope03 · 10/03/2017 00:32

Is that a euphamism Wigglesrock? :-)

HateSummer · 10/03/2017 00:35

What's a glory hole? I can't watch the clip I'm at work. Someone write down what it is please! Is it a toilet?

AlrightBabby · 10/03/2017 00:37

Am I the only one who's family call a stuffed cupboard a 'bogey hole'?

SparklyUnicornPoo · 10/03/2017 00:38

HemanOrSheRa Glory holes originated in ancient Greece. I don't know they used the term but priestesses would be hidden and provide 'relief' to travellers arriving at the temple through a hole in the wall.

HemanOrSheRa · 10/03/2017 00:39

I have Summer. Up there ^^ Grin

LizzieArcher · 10/03/2017 00:46

Quite clearly my education is incomplete- I did go back to my student house one day and asked if there was something funny about the word prick.
I had only spent all afternoon telling patients in the anaesthetic room 'just a little prick coming up' with senior staff giggling.
So my fellow students after collapsing in hysterics set about eagerly compiling a list of words I needed to know!! Blush

morningconstitutional2017 · 10/03/2017 00:52

I think there was (and still may be) a junk shop in Exmouth called 'The Glory Hole'. Many a bargain to be had.

HemanOrSheRa · 10/03/2017 00:53

Thank you Sparkly. Did they not have the equivalent in Roman Baths? Where only men were allowed?

ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap · 10/03/2017 01:00

With reference to 1980s early teenage reading of Jackie Collins/ Judith Krantz/ Shirley Conran & co., who else has never been able to think of GOLDFISH in quite the same way again??? Shock

IIRC, it was pivotal scene in "Lace"?

(Mid-40s here, and, pre-internet, am pretty sure (like PPs) I discovered most sexual slang references thanks to them. Definitely was aware of "Glory Hole" and "Fluffer" since that era. Your literary tastes were probably more refined than ours, OP!).

ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap · 10/03/2017 01:16

This was an interesting take on the phrase (completely non-sexual link, don't worry!).

"Whole Glory" (geddit?) project.
Famous tattoo artist worked his magic on anonymous volunteers, for free, but on condition he had full control of design, no words were exchanged and all he saw was their blank canvas arm through "Glory Hole" in wall...

EyeStye · 10/03/2017 01:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CrossCountryRunner · 10/03/2017 01:28

There is a wonderful website about cottaging in the days when homosexuality was illegal. One of the stories was about a gay council workman drilling glory holes in a partition wall in a men's toilet in Wandsworth during his working day.

He got frustrated at the comings and goings and people getting in his way. He sighed theatrically and said 'I am doing this for all of our benefit'!

I will try and link it.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 10/03/2017 01:33

I'm pretty sure it's still an offence to fuck in a public karzi

sibys1 · 10/03/2017 01:35

80sMum - I'm British but only knew the explicit definition of glory hole. The cupboard stuff is new to me!

HateSummer · 10/03/2017 01:37

well I just googled it. 😕. Sick.

ReturnofSaturn · 10/03/2017 01:42

I cant believe people dont know these terms! Does nobody watch porn? Confused

HateSummer · 10/03/2017 01:49

I cant believe people dont know these terms! Does nobody watch porn

Well, it's not like your daily dose of Neighbours is it? Many people don't watch porn, why is that hard to believe Confused

PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus · 10/03/2017 01:51

Oh Zuzu that poor goldfish! I've just involuntarily crossed my legs at the memory. IIRC it was the prince who was into piscine shenanigans?

HemanOrSheRa · 10/03/2017 02:15

well I just googled it. 😕. Sick.
Don't be silly HateSummer

graciestocksfield · 10/03/2017 02:20

Up until this thread I didn't know the specific meaning and probably thought it was slang for a vagina, if I'd have given it any thought.

80sMum · 10/03/2017 02:24

"Does nobody watch porn?"

You see, I take the opposite view. Why on earth would any normal, well adjusted person want to watch porn?! I don't understand why people would want to taint themselves with it.

I can't speak for anyone else of course, but I most certainly don't watch porn! I never have and never will. I think it sounds horrible, sordid, sleazy, cheap and exploitative.

TeslasDeathRay · 10/03/2017 02:30

I had no idea it can also mean cupboard under stairs. I guess you really do learn something new every day. Confused

It took me longer than I care to admit to twig that "cottaging" doesn't involve actual cottages. Blush