Saturday, April 29, 2006
sweetened into shame
Phil tells me of an interaction with a friend. Crowded around the toilet are Phil, Vince, Theo & Monty. Phil is snaking out the toilet, Vince is supporting Phil's back, Theo and Monty are leaning in close to see what's going on.
In a sweet voice Vince asks Theo to step away from the toilet. With a loud, scolding tone Vince commands Monty to back off. Neither Theo nor Monty pay any attention. After a few rounds of this Phil gets annoyed and asks why Vince should speak so kindly to his son and so meanly to his dog. Because, explains Vince, it's the only the way he can get Monty to do anything or listen. But he's not listening to you, Phil protests.
Some period of time later as the project is ending, Vince, as he's leaving the bathroom, in a politely sugar-sweetly mocking voice asks Monty to please leave the room. Monty quickly and simply complies. Vince is quickly and simply embarrassed.
This is of course nothing new. Humans, towards pets, often alternate in acting the part of vicious keepers of idiot chattel and drooling adorers of sickeningly precious attachment disorder inspiring infants.
Maybe a little bit new is that apparently Vince let his shame show.
In a sweet voice Vince asks Theo to step away from the toilet. With a loud, scolding tone Vince commands Monty to back off. Neither Theo nor Monty pay any attention. After a few rounds of this Phil gets annoyed and asks why Vince should speak so kindly to his son and so meanly to his dog. Because, explains Vince, it's the only the way he can get Monty to do anything or listen. But he's not listening to you, Phil protests.
Some period of time later as the project is ending, Vince, as he's leaving the bathroom, in a politely sugar-sweetly mocking voice asks Monty to please leave the room. Monty quickly and simply complies. Vince is quickly and simply embarrassed.
This is of course nothing new. Humans, towards pets, often alternate in acting the part of vicious keepers of idiot chattel and drooling adorers of sickeningly precious attachment disorder inspiring infants.
Maybe a little bit new is that apparently Vince let his shame show.
# posted by drgnfleye @ 3:03 PM 
