50 Shades and humor

[PennLady]

This is Gene Weingarten's latest column, in which he addresses the '50 Shades of Grey' phenomenon. He's a humor columnist at the Washington Post, although he also writes some more serious stories, including one called "Pearls Before Breakfast" that won a Pulitzer.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...ades-of-gray/2012/06/14/gJQAXFalqV_story.html

 

[estragon]

SA Penn Lady, We may laugh, but the author and the publisher are raking in the loot.

 

[PennLady]

SA Penn Lady, We may laugh, but the author and the publisher are raking in the loot.

Not from me.

 

[bashfullyshameless]

http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4307

 

[Stella_Omega]

...I hear it from my female students. Women feel used and ignored, and if you read “Fifty Shades” with this in mind, what you see, beyond the adolescent-level sex scenes, is a man lavishing an astonishing amount of attention on a woman. That’s what women are responding to, that little crumb of hope for respect and control, packaged for us by the male-geek-dominated tech world in the Kindles and the felicitously named “Nook” machines that helpfully confer anonymity in public, no book jacket visible, to better hide our shame.

Gene: Not sure I buy that.

Gina: You’re not the target audience, dude.

How many more times does all of this need to be said?

How many more times does all of this need to be said?

How many more times does all of this need to be said?

How many more times does all of this need to be said?

How many more times does all of this need to be said?

How many more times does all of this need to be said?
How many more times does all of this need to be said?
How many more times does all of this need to be said?
How many more times does all of this need to be said?
How many more times does all of this need to be said?








How many more times does all of this need to be said?

 

[Handley_Page]

This is Gene Weingarten's latest column, in which he addresses the '50 Shades of Grey' phenomenon. He's a humor columnist at the Washington Post, although he also writes some more serious stories, including one called "Pearls Before Breakfast" that won a Pulitzer.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...ades-of-gray/2012/06/14/gJQAXFalqV_story.html

A magic bit of writing, too

 

[PennLady]

How many more times does all of this need to be said?

At least this time it was said with some humor.

A magic bit of writing, too

I love Weingarten's columns (weekly in the Sunday Post magazine) and his longer cover stories for the magazine are good as well.

 

[lovecraft68]

That’s what women are responding to, that little crumb of hope for respect and control,

If this is what the "average" woman is really hoping for, a crumb then the average woman needs to sign up for self-esteem classes.

The average woman is no where this pathetic. This seems as if its aimed at women in the fifties. It should be handed out with the "house wife's handbook"

If I were a woman I would be highly insulted with that asinine statement.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

That’s what women are responding to, that little crumb of hope for respect and control,

If this is what the "average" woman is really hoping for, a crumb then the average woman needs to sign up for self-esteem classes.

The average woman is no where this pathetic. This seems as if its aimed at women in the fifties. It should be handed out with the "house wife's handbook"

If I were a woman I would be highly insulted with that asinine statement.

Maybe you overestimate the average woman.

How many women do you really know? Through what context? How well do they represent the age-group and demographic that buys this asinine book? And the hundreds of others like it?

I like the lit forums because of the people. With the exception of a few trolls, they tend to be very open minded and sexually free. You are openminded and sexually free, therefore, you probably hang out with openminded and sexually free people.

I can guarantee the the bulk of people who spend money on that overhyped piece of shit do not read stories on this website. And I can make a guess that you don't personally know anyone who loved this trilogy.

You have to recognize that you and everyone you know are the deviant ones here, the minority.

 

[bashfullyshameless]

That’s what women are responding to, that little crumb of hope for respect and control,

If this is what the "average" woman is really hoping for, a crumb then the average woman needs to sign up for self-esteem classes.

No chance that "little crumb" comment was just the writer you quoted using hyperbole, though?

 

[desertslave]

Maybe you overestimate the average woman.

How many women do you really know? Through what context? How well do they represent the age-group and demographic that buys this asinine book? And the hundreds of others like it?

I like the lit forums because of the people. With the exception of a few trolls, they tend to be very open minded and sexually free. You are openminded and sexually free, therefore, you probably hang out with openminded and sexually free people.

I can guarantee the the bulk of people who spend money on that overhyped piece of shit do not read stories on this website. And I can make a guess that you don't personally know anyone who loved this trilogy.

You have to recognize that you and everyone you know are the deviant ones here, the minority.

You make a good point, to a point. I learned about these books on another forum where fellow artists hang out, of all places. There's a general chatter board (soooo very unlike the GB here, it's a fun place to talk about anything but our arts), and 50 Shades was the hot topic for several weeks. Now, maybe it's because we're artists (another subculture LOL) but the books weren't reviled, nor were they particularly embraced. It was a friend, there, who pointed out the resemblance to Twilight before I saw it mentioned here. We're a mixed bag, there, from very conservative to wildly liberal, and the feelings about 50 were equally varied, but nobody was as aghast and offended as I might have expected.

I'm just dreading my semiannual pilgrimage back home, and finding the damned things on my Mom's bedside table.

 

[PennLady]

No chance that "little crumb" comment was just the writer you quoted using hyperbole, though?

Actually, IIRC, that comment was a quote from the woman the columnist was speaking to. Weingarten often collaborates with Gina Barreca.

Maybe you overestimate the average woman.

How many women do you really know? Through what context? How well do they represent the age-group and demographic that buys this asinine book? And the hundreds of others like it?

These are good points. I was at my one of my son's baseball games this year, and I'd guess the moms are in the 30-45 age range, so probably in the 50SOG demographic. One of the moms was going on about this and couldn't believe how explicit it was and said she felt like she couldn't leave it lying around, etc. I was just sitting there thinking, "I've likely read way more explicit stuff than that." But I didn't say much. I did say that I'd heard/read about it and read the sample and couldn't get into it.

I cannot imagine that any of those women -- given their reaction to 50 Shades -- read sites like this. Of course, they probably think that about me.

There is obviously a group of adult, going on middle-aged women that respond to this book and that responded to Twilight as well. It gave them something they liked.

Just because the women you know are more open or experienced or knowledgeable or whatever about sex doesn't mean that every woman is.

 

[3113]

[The average woman is no where this pathetic.

Sorry, Dude, you're wrong--your wife and daughter(s?) are just more awesome than you thought

Average women AND men are this pathetic. Trust me, they are. It is the desire of every average person to feel special, unique and in the spotlight. THIS is the reason there's so many talent contests on (Idol and the rest), so many bachelor/bachelorette reality tv shows that are popular, so many embarrassing videos people take of themselves and post on the web when common sense would tell them they shouldn't. Because average people are desperate for attention. They want to feel, if only for a moment, that they are special and seen and adored.

Most especially, they want this from at least one member of the opposite sex--hopefully a good looking one who will validate them even more by picking them over all others (see: Trophy wife/husband). The male fantasy is for the beautiful woman (or many women) to concentrate sexual attention on him and him alone, and the female fantasy is for the handsome man to dote on her and her alone. This may be pathetic, but are you really so unaware of this? So surprised?

(Twilight was the same, by the way. Two handsome guys fixate on this girl and she is all they think about. She is continually told by them that she is unique and special.)

AND we'll add to this the other pathetic thing about the average person--they want to be lucky and get everything gratis. Win the lottery or have a fairy godmother reward them for being so good, or find a lamp with a genie in it to grant their wishes. Which is why such stories are so enormously popular--have ALWAYS been so popular with the average man/woman (re-read your fairytales!). Because they combine both the pathetic desire for attention and being made to feel special with winning the lottery.

So, yes. The average person is that pathetic. And gullible, since many don't realize this is a fantasy.

 

[Stella_Omega]

That’s what women are responding to, that little crumb of hope for respect and control,

If this is what the "average" woman is really hoping for, a crumb then the average woman needs to sign up for self-esteem classes.

The average woman is no where this pathetic. This seems as if its aimed at women in the fifties. It should be handed out with the "house wife's handbook"

If I were a woman I would be highly insulted with that asinine statement.

If you were a woman you would be nodding in agreement. And you would be listening to men say they think you should be insulted by the statement.

The statement isn't insulting-- the situation it describes is insulting. And if you want proof, just look at all the mainstream hoorah being made over these women's reading choice.

 

[mynameisben]

If I were a woman, I'd never once wonder what I'd do if I were a man.

 

[Stella_Omega]

If I were a woman, I'd never once wonder what I'd do if I were a man.

I thought about that a lot, and I know the first thing I'd do;

Scratch my balls.

 

[lovecraft68]

If you were a woman you would be nodding in agreement. And you would be listening to men say they think you should be insulted by the statement.

The statement isn't insulting-- the situation it describes is insulting. And if you want proof, just look at all the mainstream hoorah being made over these women's reading choice.

Then I guess I raised my girls right then

That will be the day they're looking for a crumb from a man. Maybe I know a different caliber of woman or maybe east coast women are just a bit stronger willed(or more obnoxious) but I don't know too many June Cleaver types.

 

[lovecraft68]

Maybe you overestimate the average woman.

How many women do you really know? Through what context? How well do they represent the age-group and demographic that buys this asinine book? And the hundreds of others like it?

I like the lit forums because of the people. With the exception of a few trolls, they tend to be very open minded and sexually free. You are openminded and sexually free, therefore, you probably hang out with openminded and sexually free people.

I can guarantee the the bulk of people who spend money on that overhyped piece of shit do not read stories on this website. And I can make a guess that you don't personally know anyone who loved this trilogy.

You have to recognize that you and everyone you know are the deviant ones here, the minority.

You got me Cruel! I know no women. None at all. except for my kids and my wife and my older sister I have never had contact with females.

Nice point about the shades crowd not being the lit crowd. That's why its getting praised everywhere and kind of beat up a bit around here.

People here are hardcore and want the real deal.

If the two clowns in shades really existed and strolled on over to the BDSM forum they would both be in the fetal position.

The portrayal of the naive inexperienced girl I can handle it gives the premise potential, but when you have a dom that lame the story goes down hill for true BDSM fans.

But I guess to Carol Brady who these people seem to think every woman between 30-45 is, I guess he would be exciting.

I really am starting to be offended for women that they are being portrayed as this gullible and vanilla. never mind stupid as the book is all but crying out

Bored introverted housewife this is for you!

lemmings.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Then I guess I raised my girls right then

That will be the day they're looking for a crumb from a man. Maybe I know a different caliber of woman or maybe east coast women are just a bit stronger willed(or more obnoxious) but I don't know too many June Cleaver types.

Or maybe the women you know aren't talking about that shit in front of you. After all, who wants to be called a June Cleaver type by some dude?

Just a suggestion.

Also, it strikes me that something that doesn't get much attention is the demographic of "women who enjoy reading porn that is written to their tastes." Maybe its a shit book, but it's a book that is available.

 

[lovecraft68]

Or maybe the women you know aren't talking about that shit in front of you. After all, who wants to be called a June Cleaver type by some dude?

Just a suggestion.

Also, it strikes me that something that doesn't get much attention is the demographic of "women who enjoy reading porn that is written to their tastes." Maybe its a shit book, but it's a book that is available.

You could be right, but I find it hard to believe there is not more "porn for women" out there. Might just not be on the book shelf at Stop and Shop.

And many of the women I'm friends with I've known for a long time. They are not these women.

I would think you would want to believe the average woman is not the cud chewing cattle the promoters of this book think they are.

Then again the fact they are not seeing it and going "yay 50 shades!" may prove your point more than mine.

 

[Stella_Omega]

If the two clowns in shades really existed and strolled on over to the BDSM forum they would both be in the fetal position.

The BDSM forum is not a competition in Domliness.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You could be right, but I find it hard to believe there is not more "porn for women" out there. Might just not be on the book shelf at Stop and Shop.

Find some of that porn for women, then.

And many of the women I'm friends with I've known for a long time. They are not these women.

I would think you would want to believe the average woman is not the cud chewing cattle the promoters of this book think they are.

Who is promoting this book? The women who read it. It's been word of motherfucking mouth, until it got sales enough to notice. At which point everyone else started talking about "mommy porn," and the publishers decided it was worth some promotion.

Also, it's not a matter of belief, it's a matter of empirical fact. I know for a fact that my porn needs are not met in conventional publishing, because I've always had to write my own porn. I know for a fact that women are not represented in mainstream entertainment, because there's this kind of a ghetto of a genre known as "chick flicks." Everything else is dude flicks.

Then again the fact they are not seeing it and going "yay 50 shades!" may prove your point more than mine.

Quite so.

 

[sr71plt]

I thought about that a lot, and I know the first thing I'd do;

Scratch my balls.

Probably quite true--because that would be the first inkling you'd have gotten that they itch--that all of the experience in the world isn't just what you've experienced.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Probably quite true--because that would be the first inkling you'd have gotten that they itch--that all of the experience in the world isn't just what you've experienced.

Yes indeed, I'd scratch them because I had them, thank you Captain Obvious.

 

[mynameisben]

I thought about that a lot, and I know the first thing I'd do;

Scratch my balls.

I send my balls out to a local cat breeder to have them professionally scratched.