Thread: "Who watches the watchmen?"

I am sure you've heard the phrase "who watches the watchmen". Or, in the original Latin: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

But do you know where that came from?

I didn't. I learned it today - from Wikipedia:

"The phrase, as it is normally quoted in Latin, comes from the Satires of Juvenal, the 1st–2nd century Roman satirist. Although in its modern usage the phrase has universal, timeless applications to concepts such as tyrannical governments, uncontrollably oppressive dictatorships, and police or judicial corruption and overreach, in context within Juvenal's poem it refers to the impossibility of enforcing moral behaviour on women..."

In the original text:

"audio quid ueteres olim moneatis amici,
"pone seram, cohibe." sed quis custodiet ipsos
custodes? cauta est et ab illis incipit uxor. "

...which translates to:

"I hear always the admonishment of my friends:
"Bolt her in, constrain her!" But who will guard the guardians?
The wife plans ahead and begins with them. "

QED, my MGTOW brethren.

Originally Posted by end_of_days

I am sure you've heard the phrase "who watches the watchmen". Or, in the original Latin: "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

But do you know where that came from?

I didn't. I learned it today - from Wikipedia:

"The phrase, as it is normally quoted in Latin, comes from the Satires of Juvenal, the 1st–2nd century Roman satirist. Although in its modern usage the phrase has universal, timeless applications to concepts such as tyrannical governments, uncontrollably oppressive dictatorships, and police or judicial corruption and overreach, in context within Juvenal's poem it refers to the impossibility of enforcing moral behaviour on women..."

In the original text:

"audio quid ueteres olim moneatis amici,
"pone seram, cohibe." sed quis custodiet ipsos
custodes? cauta est et ab illis incipit uxor. "

...which translates to:

"I hear always the admonishment of my friends:
"Bolt her in, constrain her!" But who will guard the guardians?
The wife plans ahead and begins with them. "

QED, my MGTOW brethren.

I ran this through a translator and it gave:

I hear what you once warned my friend "Put the lock, check." but who will guard them?
guards? he is careful and his wife starts from them.

But I suppose the premise is the same.

The solution:

Don't even try to tie them down. Let them run free right over whatever cliff they choose. Their bodies, their choice. I try not to get involved.

Look at arabic countries - they always had an ironfist policy regarding women.
In many, to this day, everything is restricted. Behaviour, dress code and interactions.
Unsurprisingly though this grip begins to loosen and those women are becoming "strong and empowered" too.

Who guards the guardians? Who should guard who?
If you want to defend yourself, you buy a weapon. It is foolish to depend on the police when seconds matter.
Likewise, when lives are on the line, one should not depend on some "moral police". Only you can guard yourself.

I have a peculiar colleague. Programming is strong with this one.
First encounter and first thought: he looks like a cuck - beard, bald head and this barely noticeable soylent grin.
I shrugged it off then. I was yet to be exposed to the RP and besides a slight resemblance to a meme, guy seemed normal.
Well - he is not. He will definitely get cucked hard in the future. Likely he also won't learn on his mistakes.
Why? Because he is not his own guard.

Let me take another spin on it - moral behaviur amongst women is a direct result of men having a spine.
It is a sad reality indeed but there are many Will Smiths out there.
Be your own guard fellas. Guard Your Own Wallets. No one else will.

Originally Posted by end_of_days

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

There are no guards anymore. Besides, not my woman, not my problem. So, who cares.

From the sixth satire, which is mostly about women. They haven't changed a bit. I have a penguin translation floating around somewhere.

Somewhat related: when I took Latin in high school, we once had an assignment to translate and read aloud quotes from famous Roman statesmen and writers. I noticed that my teacher skipped one, specific quote: "varium et mutabile semper femina" (roughly, "a woman is fickle and ever-changing") from Virgil. What's amusing is that someone in the class questioned why we'd skipped it.

And so, men with harem and vestal virgins struck upon the idea of eunuchs'.