Comments on Tales from the Coast: The Last Gasp of the Tighty Whities

Otepoti: Apology accepted and, based on intention...

2009-06-28T18:07:46.095-07:00

Otepoti:

Apology accepted and, based on intentions, not necessary. But emoticons are always appreciated. I am often overly literal, in part because I used to work with words in a precise and technical sense. When I see a sign for a "Giant Truck Sale," I look for the giant trucks.

Thanks,

Boomer

Oh, I am very sorry. Far from me to make a gent...

2009-06-28T15:42:51.298-07:00

Oh, I am very sorry.

Far from me to make a gentleman uncomfortable.

From now on, I will make full use of emoticons to make it clear when I'm not serious.

Yes, I see well-intended legislation going toxic, here, too, as well as accusations that cause grief simply by existing.

Inasmuch as I've contributed to that cultural miasma by my frivolity, I apologize sincerely.

I just have a desperate sense that, in the next few years, we're going to need all the laughs we can get. The idea of having to mail order good, plain underwear, as if it were a questionable item, seemed funny to me.

And I do rejoice for you in your new-found accommodation.

Cheers

Otepoti

"No offence meant - or not much, anyway. I just wa...

2009-06-28T13:21:49.859-07:00

"No offence meant - or not much, anyway. I just wanted to see if I could provoke you into denying a taste for unusual underwear. Apparently, I can."

If you knew what the political climate was like where I live -- well, if you'd expressed that you were somehow oppressed mentally by the very act of a man talking about accomodation of his private parts in public -- yes, you could have provoked me into defense on that, too.

Because around here, that kind of accusation on the job, or even in public life, is enough to get you in serious trouble -- even though it can be proved that you meant nothing by it. By American law, it wouldn't _matter_ that I meant nothing by it. All it takes is for a woman to say that the things I do _do_ oppress her sexually. And that's enough to set all sorts of nasty crap in motion.

So yes -- I'm a pushover in these things. Feel free to take advantage. For me to be otherwise would potentially get me a bad rep and even lose me my job around here.

Sometimes enlightened policies, rigidly enforced, can turn into Victorianism. I see a lot of that.

No offence meant - or not much, anyway. I just wa...

2009-06-28T11:56:41.755-07:00

No offence meant - or not much, anyway. I just wanted to see if I could provoke you into denying a taste for unusual underwear. Apparently, I can.

I buy boxers for the family. My problem is to find any that aren't made of faux-satin and printed with unsuitable designs. It's a mission to find any, and this is a much larger town than yours. We have lots of come 'n go retailing, too.

It's a shame that globalization brought us so much flimflam, and, now, so much harm.

I'm watching our economy spiralling downwards, while my countrymen remain oblivious to what's happening. In the face of that, I have to take my cheer where I can.

Best,

OtepoTi

Otepoi: Ahem. There is nothing experimental about...

2009-06-27T18:15:09.537-07:00

Otepoi:

Ahem. There is nothing experimental about boxers. They're what gentlemen wear underneath -- and, these days, all that some testosterone-charged college boys wear at all.

As for retail: we had a quake here in '89 that knocked down two or three old-school department stores here that would sell you underwear, luggage, pajamas, tuxedos (in one case) or any other durned thing. But those that rebuilt, rebuilt at the mall the next town over. Then our Woolworth's closed (the entire American chain, actually).

I could walk downtown and show you an entire store dedicated to Hawaaian-themes knicknacks. A whole store for nothing but athletic shoes, a restaurant that served nothing but boxed breakfast cereal (gone now), a store full of nothing but brass Buddhas and other faux-Asian decor for the discriminating dorm-resident. A store full of nothing but indigenous percussion instruments from around the world.

But just try to buy underwear...

Yikes. The image of your privates swinging fine a...

2009-06-27T13:40:02.088-07:00

Yikes. The image of your privates swinging fine and free is one that can never never leave me.

Pass the Lethe water.

Seriously, aren't you being a bit unrealistic, expecting full-service retailing in a town of 55,000? Especially in the current downturn.

Do your local retailer a favour, and buy stuff that isn't really right and that you don't really want.

Otherwise, surely the Internet was born to bring together the purveyors and purchasers of, er-hem, specialist underwear?

Cheers

Otepoti