Notice that some things don't work the way they're supposed to, the way they used to?
No? Well, in time you'll notice it more and more. It's called, Death of a Penis.
Think about it. Many things don't work they way they're supposed to, the way they used to. Here are a few examples:
Click Start to turn off the computer. That is, if it's Microsoft.
If you buy a faster computer, it will take longer to set it up.
Death of a Penis.
You return something at a store you hate, vowing never to come back. You want cash , they give you a store credit. Damn, you've got to return to the store.
Death of a Penis.
On Jay Leno, The Tonight Show tonight was a segment, Dealing with the Public. Anyone who's worked with the public, anytime, anywhere can relate.
That means all of Gather, since Gather is also the public.
Here is a paraphrase (from memory) of the Leno segment:
911 - What's your emergency?
There's some people playing horses. What do you call them?
Horseshoes?
Yeah. Horseshoes.
Do you know these people, sir?
Yeah.
Who are they, sir?
Hookers.
Hookers? How many, sir?
Half a dozen.
And they're playing horseshoes?
Yeah. In my backyard.
Thank you. 10-4.
9-51, here. Got a call from a man said 6 prostitutes were playing horseshoes in his backyard.
We?ll send men to look at the situation.
10-4.
9-47 here. Got a call from a man requesting officers for the prostitutes in his backyard.
10-4.
9-36 here. Mr. Hooker's neighbor called to complain that the Hooker family is playing horseshoes in his backyard.
Death of a Penis.
Consider this: You think it's simple to ask a straightforward question and get a straightforward response.
Do you have sleep bras?
Sleep bras ?
Bras you can sleep in.
You can sleep in any bra, ma,am.
These are special.
We don't have special bras.
No specials?
No. just the kind you take off before bed.
That sounds dirty.
It's not.
But we don't have any anyway.
Click.
Death of a Penis.
Only the mighty oak works the way it's supposed to: It stands tall and proud.
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Comments: 50
I am still laughing. I had to read it aloud to my girlfriend. But I wish you hadn't published to "slices" of life--Ouch! Chris
Do you see know, Loretta? It is subtle, but it is there....
It is, after all, supposedly to be funny.
So sorry if it did not seem clear, but I do think the point is in the article...
I liked the snappy sketch humor in the 9/11 sequence, and the overall way you chose to organize the piece themewise. If people want to nitpick you about your symbol, well, that just means they don't "get" this kind of subtle humor. That's somewhat understandable, since there's all kind of folks on the enneagram of awareness. But I get you, Kathryn.
The people that care about your concise and skilful writing full of self-imposed interesting challenges will always "get" you.
Big smile from Spain.
Kathryn, I had to read through this a couple of times to really understand where the word penis fits into this article. There are many analogies that could fit more appropriately here, so why penis? How does the word penis fit into the context of your work, when there is no apparent relevance?
Thus, this gives the appearance that the word penis was used for the purpose of garnering attention, and not for any literary value.
WHAT? THE? HELL?
It's curious that you'd make comments such as "it was hung on a penis. should I unflag it?" but you get all out of sorts when someone wants a loving flexible caress.
I swear I need to learn more from you. I need to wrap my mind around this concept.
Anyway, Tiger isn't dead, he's just resting.
Has the recent OZA fiasco made you so desperate to appear not uptight and prudish that you felt the need to type the word penis repeatedly?
Do you personally have a penis? When was the last time you had one or two? Are you a penis expert?
Maybe if there had been some mouth to gather member resuscitation it would not have died.
I fear you are in even greater need of a vibrator now than ever before. Maybe you can trade in your Gather points for one.
.............
..P.P.S or is it P.S.S.........good write Kathryn.....
It is interesting that people who did not understand your metaphor could not rest with just not knowing what your article was about. In an absence of an answer to a puzzling issue, our brains feel compelled to make a story up just to have an answer. Unfortunately, the default story is usually negative whether the issue is around our own value as human beings or about someone else's value or work. So, the people who didn't get the article assumed they were being tricked into reading it or that you had some other nefarious reason for the penis metaphor. Personally, I think it is a terrific metaphor. I can also see it as a metaphor for the waning power of men as rulers, inherent experts, masters of "the race" (in the broadest sense), etc. Of course, it is also a truth related to male aging which can be an uncomfortable reminder for some of us, including me. Still, it surprises me how some have gotten so bent out of shape (if you will pardon the intended pun) about your article. I wonder whether the reaction would have been different had the article been penned by a different author. Thanks for sharing it and taking the inevitable flak. Chris
That is what it really is about...
I'm going to have to tale a closer look at your new icon...to see what it is.