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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!hounx!kort
From: kort@hounx.UUCP (B.KORT)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Truth is stranger than doctrine
Message-ID: <633@hounx.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 10:22:06 EST
Article-I.D.: hounx.633
Posted: Tue Feb 25 10:22:06 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 04:43:17 EST
References: <167@axiom.UUCP> <83@tekchips.UUCP>, <2249@phri.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 23

I was moved by the discussion of the drink-in-the-lap episode.
In particular, one poster noted that if the drink tosser had been
a male, he would have expected fisticuffs to ensue.

It is interesting to note the male reaction to provocative behavior.
Evidently it is easy to provoke anger and violence.  How we deal
with such provocation is a severe test of our humanity.  The female
often has the advantage in that societal norms preclude overt male
agression against women.  Nevertheless, human nature is such that
one must find an outlet for frustrations born of failed interpersonal
relationships.  In my experience, the retelling of the tale, in as
objective terms as possible, is one of the safest and most effective
ways of dealing with the hurt.

The act of retelling, over and over to the point of boredom, while
wearing on the listener, does have a purging effect, and to this
end the network serves a vital role in human affairs, leading us
closer to discovering our humanity, and leading us away from our
our more primitive animal nature.

"Do not attribute to Malice that which can be explained by Ignorance."

--Barry Kort   ...ihnp4!hounx!kort