Use of "syphilitic" as an character insult

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Anonymous
Use of "syphilitic" as an character insult 2016-02-21 18:35:45 Post No. 7725413
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Use of "syphilitic" as an character insult Anonymous 2016-02-21 18:35:45 Post No. 7725413 [Report]

Came across the term "syphilitic" used as an insult, both in early 1900s literature and some colloquial conversations. In all instances it implied that the person being insulted was a weakling or incompetent but the "romantic" idea of siphilis is linked with destructive madness and mania as that are the symptoms most associated with that disease.

Any idea why it was used in the context of being weak?

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Anonymous 2016-02-21 19:31:54 Post No.7725620
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Anonymous 2016-02-21 19:31:54 Post No.7725620 [Report]

Hopefully bait does have potential.

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Anonymous 2016-02-21 19:34:37 Post No.7725635
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Anonymous 2016-02-21 19:34:37 Post No.7725635 [Report]

>>7725413
>Any idea why it was used in the context of being weak?
Look up the symptoms mate.

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Anonymous 2016-02-21 19:38:22 Post No.7725657
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Anonymous 2016-02-21 19:38:22 Post No.7725657 [Report]

>>7725413

Well, OP, you get a sexually-transmitted disease by being weak morally. This might not really be on the radar today, but sexual purity, discipline, etc. used to valued very highly and impurity was seen as a failure of character.