If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist — all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes;
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise;
I love my fellow creatures — I do all the good I can —
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
To compliments inflated I've a withering reply;
And vanity I always do my best to mortify;
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect;
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect;
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns;
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns;
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be;
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee,
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two;
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute — and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!
Chorus.
He can't think why!
Gama & Chorus.
I/He can't think why!
--"Princess Ida," Gilbert & Sullivan
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8 comments:
So who plays Ida?
Ida No
I'm sure I know that man!
there's a gilbert and sullivan quote for every situation, I bet.
Uh ... is this related to a certain somewhat tedious 'controversy' over word choice at FDL? Sometimes I'm a little Interdense.
that, i can safely say no, since i don't read FDL.
should i ask?
as antip notes, it's good for many occasions, really...
should i ask?
Well, someone at FDL selected some Ill Chosen words for a floridly descriptive critique of a politician, and said words were the subject of Stern Denunciads from Feministe and Pandagon and even Shakespeare's Sister, while the crew at FDL (which I also don't read often but generally hold in high regard based on those times I have) apparently chose Not To Back Down, leading to Charges of Great Sexist Heresy and it all seemed wildly overblown … so to speak … and had me thinking, "OK, let's see, the Dems have had Congress now for how long? Oh, that's right, they haven't even taken their seats … and we're already back to the business of eating our own?"
So I was wondering if this post was your subtle way of rolling your eyes at the whole affair.
But, to answer your question, no, it probably really isn't something you should waste your time on.
this is not new, for FDL; there was also the blackface crap, and a couple of other incidents besides. my gut instinct is to side with feministe, SS et al (why do i suspect that i may find Pandagon's or rather Amanda's position on this richly ironic? well, maybe i;ll be pleasantly surprised), as frankly, Hamsher's an ass. as is whosis, T-Rex. and that "not backing down" thing is really not the virtue they seem to think it is.
some people are apparently of the opinion that all we have to do to be different from the old guard is not be so -wimpy.- which is what they apparently mean by "progressive," a bunch of people anyway, as opposed to "liberal;" bigger! tougher! -butcher!- grrr!
policies? what policies?
-crickets crickets-
i am really getting tired of the whole "politics as football match" thing, i have to say, in general. it isn't a fucking game; i mean, well yes it is one, it can't help it, but at least MAYBE a good oh i don't know FIFTEEN PERCENT could be devoted to the not-a-game part? i know it's a -really ambitious goal,- but...
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