# Rocky Horror - standardized 'virgin test'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633 "2004-05-29T03:27:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633/21 "2004-05-30T17:10:09Z")
Yes, yes, yes, **Cisco** , everybody knows that “humiliating some poor fool” and “having a bit of fun” never ever coincide. :rolleyes: It certainly wouldn’t be fun for me if this were the standard behavior. And I’m sure you can quote the part of my statement where I said I _hate_ to have fun … right? The point of my post, **Otto** , is that on many occasions I have been encouraged to attend and assured that there _is_ no ritual for virgins, no test to see who looks “too square” to be a veteran, that nobody cares—and in this thread I am learning yes, there are such rituals in certain performance venues. It sounds as if the subset of people who enjoy RHPS antics _do_ enjoy being the center of attention, so I’m sure _they_ have no problems with being pointed out in some way. Someone like me who would just want to see what the fuss is about, who would want to dispel my own ignorance—any finger-pointing behavior or putting me on the spot would _not_ serve to make me feel welcome. Silly me, I thought that RHPS veterans would somehow care that virgin rituals scare off potential participants. I guess the consensus is that I don’t like having “fun” and that, if a “virgin questionnaire” posed in the OP truly exists, there’s no option to attend and keep quiet about it. I was actually told by one veteran that in order to go and not be picked on, I’d have to memorize the movie on video beforehand and wear fishnet stockings on the night. That doesn’t sound like _my_ idea of fun, so I felt I would quietly mention the idea that testing RHPS “virgins” was not apt to make me feel welcome. If you interpret my original post as being a slam on the movie or the cult phenomenon, so be it—I already said I’ve nothing against the movie or its devotees, just that behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633/22 "2004-05-30T17:27:48Z")
Jesus, **Fish** , if it bothers you that much, don’t go. But for fuck’s sake, take the hint that a thread asking about such a ritual is probably not the best venue for shitting out a post about how the possible existence of such a ritual is the reason you won’t go. You don’t have to tell anyone you’re a virgin. You don’t have to memorize the movie beforehand and you don’t have to wear fishnets. If you decide to go, try calling the theatre and asking if there’s a cast with a ritual. Or if there’s a ritual, go to the fucking lobby while it’s going on. Good Christ, what do you think happens, armed militia in high heels roam the aisles demanding your non-virgin credentials? ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633/23 "2004-05-30T23:33:00Z")
I’d have to agree with Otto. You’re missing out on a good time. I was a little nervous, too – maybe try going with a friend? I am very shy and withdrawn when it comes to things like RHPS. I don’t like being brought in front of a group and pressured to do things. I never had to. There is a word “no” – it comes in handy. Sure, there are people out there who like to have fun with RHPS virgins, but sit in the back with a friend and let them know you’re just here to spectate. Most people are not bastards enough to try to drag people in who politely refuse. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633/24 "2004-05-31T00:11:03Z")
At the theater I went to (Franklin, TN) they also did the bit with the lighters during Brad and Janet’s musical number as they walk to Frankenfurter’s castle. “There’s a light… li-i-ight, in the darkness-” “DARKNESS, VIRGINS!” “…of everybody’s life.” That was usually the extent of it. Occassionally they’d do something more involved, depending on the size and personality of the crowd that has shown up, and the virgins that had volunteered or been turned in by their friends. A frind of mine got spanked with a 18" fleshtone piece of rubberized plastic (yes, with one of those), but it was her birthday… so I don’t know if that would have happened otherwise. More often they’d just line 'em up, put a “V” on their foreheads in lipstick, and then sing some lame song I’ve forgotten… nothing terribly embarassing. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633/25 "2004-05-31T02:35:37Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Yes, **Otto** , I know what it means in the context of RHPS—but to humiliate people simply because they haven’t yet attended? That does not sound like an inclusive crowd to me, it sounds insular. It’s not my only reason not to go: in particular, men in fishnet stockings and high camp in a bad movie doesn’t, on its own, sound like an entertaining motion picture experience for me, coupled with seeing the movie in a crowd out to embarass me, and not knowing a damned thing about what “audience participation” I’m supposed to participate in—no thanks, that’s three strikes. I’ve nothing against anyone who likes the film or the experience, but the more I hear about taunting the new fish, the more resistant I become to trying it. > > But never mind my hijack, back to the thread. It’s all done in good fun. The virgins volunteer. RHPS was the most inclusive crowd I’ve ever ran with in my life. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633/26 "2004-05-31T06:47:22Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > When I was the MC for RHPS we had the virgins come down front. I’d ask them some embarrassing questions. If they were older I had them fake an orgasm. When I was a virgin a couple of years ago at a showing in downtown Manhattan (sorry, I can’t remember the name of the theater), they made us go up to the front of the auditorium and fake orgasms, too. One of the virgins was very young (12, I think, although I could be mistaken). That struck me as a little odd. There was no “virgin test”, though. I went with a friend who’d been before and after we’d taken our seats and were waiting for the show to begin, he said he had to go to the bathroom, got up, left the auditorium, and came back a few minutes later. When the festivities began, they called the names of all of the virgins and – of course – mine was one of them. **Fish** , I know exactly how you feel. I’m not crazy about going up in front of a crowd and was even less thrilled when I found out I was expected to fake an orgasm up there. But it wasn’t that bad. I’m pretty socially awkward and tend to be shy in front of people, but once I was up there with about ten other people, it was actually kind of fun. Besides, **Otto** ’s right: If you really don’t want to participate in the ritual (assuming there even _is_ one), then don’t. If I’d just declined to go up front when they called my name, I seriously doubt they would have pressed the issue. Especially since – considering the low attendance that Friday night – they can’t afford to be driving away potential regulars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-standardized-virgin-test/247633.md?page=1)