Who is BlackShanglan and why is he here?

[sophieloves]

loud, wet, sucking air
(edit: to laugh like a drain, not a self-portrait in words)

 

[Cade Is Here]

Meaning

To laugh coarsely or loudly, especially at the discomfort of others.

Origin

This is a UK phrase, from around the time of WWII. It is first recorded by Eric Partridge in A dictionary of forces' slang 1939–45, 1948. He describes it as 'Ward-room and also Army officers’ slang'.

The reason why drain was picked for this simile isn't clear. Most similes include items that especially display the property being described, e.g. as white as as snow. Drains don't immediately make one think of laughter, although the gurgling sound might have been thought of as being similar to chuckling

Eric was in the Partridge family?

 

[sophieloves]

Eric was in the Partridge family?

what was the Partridge Family?

 

[BlackShanglan]

What does "laugh like a drain" mean, and where does it come from?

From my (British) dictionary of slang:

laugh like a drain: To chuckle heartily: orig. RAF/RN ward-rooms. Water gurgles down a drain-pipe: babies gurgle with pleasure and a similar noise. Circa 1950.

I always thought it a bit of an odd expression as well.

ETA: Apologies, Sophieloves. I think we were typing at the same time.

 

[Sean]

what was the Partridge Family?

We had the Partidge Family over here too, Poppy.

 

[sophieloves]

psst: post 226 - at least that's what i draw from it's sounds

 

[sophieloves]

well i've never heard of them. maybe it was before my time. and i'm not going googling since i'm busy. if you know what it was, divvy bollocks, spit it out

 

[Cade Is Here]

We had the Partidge Family over here too, Poppy.

faneros,mr.stingray..sean..damn I can't keep your new alts straight!!!

 

[sophieloves]

Cade, what was the Partridge Family, do you know?

 

[Cade Is Here]

Cade, what was the Partridge Family, do you know?

A show in the 70's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdclbSfngX4

 

[tortoise]

Seriously, Ish should be commended for doing his part to shine a spotlight on such a hilarious poster. It truly is a bravura performance by the thread starter. Sometimes the perfect comedic foil is a deadpan straight man. The paranoid self-importance almost seems real, doesn't it? Satire at its finest.

I strongly approve of this BlackShanglan, and look forward to reading more. Thank you, Ish!

 

[sophieloves]

A show in the 70's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdclbSfngX4

thanks, Cade, well before my time. no wonder i didn't recognise it.

 

[Saint Peter]

From my (British) dictionary of slang:

laugh like a drain: To chuckle heartily: orig. RAF/RN ward-rooms. Water gurgles down a drain-pipe: babies gurgle with pleasure and a similar noise. Circa 1950.

I always thought it a bit of an odd expression as well.

ETA: Apologies, Sophieloves. I think we were typing at the same time.

Thanks!

 

[Paendragon]

Wait . . . you have over 12,000 posts? I thought you must be a newb and an alt of some kind. I don't claim to be the brightest bulb in the chandelier . . . but this thread confuses the hell out of me.

 

[Recidiva]

Wait . . . you have over 12,000 posts? I thought you must be a newb and an alt of some kind. I don't claim to be the brightest bulb in the chandelier . . . but this thread confuses the hell out of me.

BlackShanglan came to visit the General board after being very happily adored in the Author's Hangout for years.

The idea of a horse of their stature being accused of being an alt for all the purposes, to "get" Ishmael...is SO...VERY...Ishmaely.

 

[Paendragon]

BlackShanglan came to visit the General board after being very happily adored in the Author's Hangout for years.

The idea of a horse of their stature being accused of being an alt for all the purposes, to "get" Ishmael...is SO...VERY...Ishmaely.

There has to be more to it than that . . .

 

[Recidiva]

There has to be more to it than that . . .

No, sorry.

Just that BlackShanglan spanked Ishmael and continues to do so. But that's not unusual for either of them.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Wait . . . you have over 12,000 posts? I thought you must be a newb and an alt of some kind. I don't claim to be the brightest bulb in the chandelier . . . but this thread confuses the hell out of me.

(sotto voce)

Ssshh. It's part of my cunning plan.

You see, about three years ago, I realized what a fascinating, erudite, and insightful person Ishmael is. Of course, I was so intimidated by his intellect that I didn't have the courage to approach him openly, so I created this alt instead. I spent two and three quarters years carefully constructing its identity, writing stories, posting bulletin board messages, and feigning social interaction all while shyly concealing my admiration from Ishmael. I'm bashful that way. Then finally, a few months ago, I brought my masterpiece to perfection and pretended to notice for the first time that such a person as Ishmael existed.

 

[tortoise]

...Ishmaely.

Such an evocative adjective. Altogether too evocative. Brings to mind apples that have gone off. That sandy, soft texture...

*grimace*

 

[Recidiva]

Such an evocative adjective. Altogether too evocative. Brings to mind apples that have gone off. That sandy, soft texture...

*grimace*

Durian?

 

[BlackShanglan]

No, sorry.

Just that BlackShanglan spanked Ishmael and continues to do so. But that's not unusual for either of them.

Don't make me spank you as well. I'll put some hoof into it.

 

[Recidiva]

Don't make me spank you as well. I'll put some hoof into it.

I'd get a tattoo on my ass in the shape of a horseshoe to commemorate the occasion.

 

[sophieloves]

just reading. mulling. smiling ....

 

[tortoise]

sotto voce

Ssshh. It's part of my cunning plan.

You see, about three years ago, I realized what a fascinating, erudite, and insightful person Ishmael is. Of course, I was so intimidated by his intellect that I didn't have the courage to approach him openly, so I created this alt instead. I spent two and three quarters years carefully constructing its identity, writing stories, posting bulletin board messages, and feigning social interaction all while shyly concealing my admiration from Ishmael. I'm bashful that way. Then finally, a few months ago, I brought my masterpiece to perfection and pretended to notice for the first time that such a person as Ishmael existed.

Somewhere, Machiavelli is weeping with envy. Or spinning in his grave. Or both, creating sort of a centrifugal spray of tears that...

But I digress.

Diabolical. Calculating. Nuanced. Dare I say... dastardly? Good thing he sussed you out just in the nick of time! Who knows what havoc you could have wreaked had your sinister plan come to full fruition? I shudder to think.

 

[sophieloves]

ah, the other writer dude