Collective Bargaining
Years ago, when I was in my 20's, I had a walk-up railroad flat in the part of New York City that used to be called Hell's Kitchen. One day a besotted wretch sidled up to me on the street and asked for some change. Feeling particularly magnanimous at that moment I reached into my pocket and gave him all I had, which was a considerable amount, several dollars worth. The fellow couldn't believe his good luck. He continued to thank me profusely as he accompanied me to the next corner. I was headed east, toward Columbus Circle. He pointed north, up Ninth Avenue, to the Shandon Star, and slurred, "C'mon, lemme buy you a drink." "No thanks," I said, "but you go enjoy yourself." Overwhelmed with emotion that was beyond his ability to express, he could barely contain himself. "Ooooh," he squealed, beaming toothlessly, his eyes brimming with tears, "I jes' wanna bite your nose."
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:33 AM
6 Comments:
The desire to bite someone’s nose is an unusual but by no means unknown form of expressing gratitude or affection. In the mountains of Sicilia where I have done extensive research for the Don Corleone Institute of Social Science, displeasure at one’s enemy is often shown by biting off an ear. In more repressed societies, Great Britain and the more anglicized parts of Australia and New Zealand, children are often taught to bite their tongue, whereas in Eskimo society a young woman may bring your face to hers, hold the side of her nose against yours in order to express the same affection as the panhandler you encountered. However, should the young woman in question press her nose and rub it slowly back and forth she is culturally expressing sexual passion, on occasion leading to deep nasal biting. In retrospect I regret that you did not permit the panhandler to bite your nose, John, or even rub it. It would’ve told us a great deal about his culture. My guess is that he was half Tunit and half Irish, probably born in an igloo across a glacier from a saloon.
Il Prof >>In more repressed societies, Great Britain and the more anglicized parts of Australia and New Zealand, children are often taught to bite their tongue<<
Yeah right... that worked a treat then didn't it! (says she "tongue in cheek") (((chuckles)))
il professore, once again your comment is brilliant.
Great cartoon, John C. Wished that I had been there to see someone who wants to bite one's nose. Now that is what I call thanking one profusely.
Jean, it’s been my experience that in most cultures children quickly learn to distinguish between biting their tongue and putting it in their cheek. Forcing a young person to suppress his or her innate sense of observation can be traumatic in the natural development of a healthy personality. I am happy to report that I have never observed any evidence of the usual damaging after-effects of infantile repression displayed on this blog.
As I recall, I was often told as a child to hold my tongue, which can be very unpleasant if done for too long.
John... I'll take your word for it! (((LOL)))
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