h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

He's a man, you wont have to

I resemble that remark.

Sexist wenches!

See if I ever defend you again!

Actually, I find adolts (which is not my coinage, by the way. I forgot who I stole it from, but I'll look) most irritating when they do silly things in a serious way and tell me to behave when I do serious things in a silly way.

Of course I would like to have a wish: that all those who humiliated me over the years could wake up with clown makeup tattooed to their faces... for a month. I like to be fair.

Hoi! I have the meat and two veg - I just realise that I am a member of an inferior species!

Traitor!

Actually, females be the species. We be the walking turkey basters for that species...

There is a considerable difference between 'childlike' and 'childish'. Childish is simply selfishness dressed up as something else and children and adults suffer from it in pretty much equal quantities.

Being cgildlike is a bit like Piccaso's old adage about having to unlearn how to paint in order to be able to paint properly. If we could asl learn to be a little less cynical about life (very few children are cynical) then the world would be a better place.

And 'walking turkey baster' is very cynical indeed. Why, we may even allow you to buy us s, ,stiffdrinks> and other disposable commodities as well if you're reaslly lucky.

You spend fourteen years married to a female who believes that giving birth confers some sort of status that no primary caregiver male can even approach and see how cynical you get.

One of the stupidest questions in the world is,"How do you like babysitting your own child?"

Parenting is strange and unusual enough without insensitive louts and loutesses looking askance at a tall bearded male wandering about with an active six month old and treating him like a suspected child molester.

I've gone to Band Parent events where I was the only male there. "Oh, are you unemployed?" "No, I'm a parent." "But why isn't your wife here?"
"She's a working parent."
"Well, so am I. I managed to make time."

What's wrong with this picture?

"There is a considerable difference between 'childlike' and 'childish'. Childish is simply selfishness dressed up as something else and children and adults suffer from it in pretty much equal quantities"

Since there is no transition between kneepants and trousers anymore, and reality has this way of finding somewhere else to be, I think that childish behavior comes from being separated from the consequences of everyone's actions. It may take a village to raise a child, but if that village is Chelm, then watch out!

"Childlike" is usually used as a kind insult, as with Lenny in "Of Mice and Men".

As Loudon Wainwright once said 'It's me and all the other mothers'.

I do see your point though.

I'd say childishness is more self-centredness.

It's nice to be child-like sometimes, open, innocent, and full of wonder at what is all around us. Every now and then to be able to look at old things in a new light and see new charms that you never saw before. Walking down a canal and actively watching the bank on the opposite side, noticing what's growing under your feet and what's floating in the water (not always so pleasent, but still, just have a look and see!).

Cynicism is necessary to live, I think (otherwise you'll just get disappointed or messed around) but it's nice sometimes to view the world without it.

I'm always complimenting people on their shoes (if I really like them, the shoes, that is) and my wife keeps telling me not to do that, 'cause it's embarrassing. To her.
Of course, she also finds it embarrassing when I sotto voce comment on people's horrible shoes (I don't think the ignorant would appreciate any education).

I've spent a lifetime being told to "behave" by people whom I consider to be ill-qualified to use the word.
On the other hand, it's taken me half a lifetime to learn to pretend to "behave", so I really shouldn't be talking...

Talking about childish, I just posted a letter to prince charles written in red pencil crayon with my left hand so it would look like a 5 year old wrote it... I figured he'd be more likely to respond to a 5 year old than a 20 year old asking whether he supports england or wales in the footie...

Hey! I remember you!
Didn't you once submit a job application that was written with your foot?

Rockingham, I think people use the terms childlike or childish according to whether or not they approve of the behaviour displayed. I don't think it's anything to do with being self-centred - more to do with lack of inhibitions.

tonsil, I think that's lovely, noticing shoes. My feet & ankles are about my best features!

Oooh!
In that case, forget the shoes!

Urm... no...

A shoe never forgets!
Remember that.


~jwf~

You know, Teasswill, I do believe you're right.

I have my own crayons.

When Shnooks was younger, I had trouble keeping Uvula from assuming that any toys in my area were for the child.
It took a long time for her to realize that some adolts like to play, too. Or at least have some fun things to look at.

It's hard for me to just get Uvula to play. She plays at things, like organizing her stuff, and pretending to be responsible, but she just doesn't seem to anything with idiotic glee, except shopping...

I suppose if children like to play in different ways, why not adults?