Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
No, today’s post title is not related to my dating misadventures! Thankfully, the phase of dating hideous boys ended in my 20s. Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, written by David Foster Wallace (RIP), was a collection of short stories in which men were interviewed about their attitudes and behaviors with women.
The book was adapted into a film of the same name, directed by The Office actor, John Krasinski. I should have read the book first because I would be interested to see more of how David Foster Wallace drew conclusions about masculinity, what it means to be a man, and fatherhood.
A few of the interviews were meant to be humorous, but some were thought-provoking. The film explores the sometimes “dark” male interactions with women. What struck me most was the kind of emotions that actually drove their behavior. I know some men like to proclaim that they are simple in their wants and needs. I can’t argue that point much, but I would take it further and say that the things that shape a man’s desires, attitudes, and behavior can be quite complex. Would you agree?
Do you think women should put more effort in exploring the character of the men they date? We can figure out what he likes to eat, what makes him get turned on, or what his favorite sports teams are; but what about what drives him? How can a woman get closer to someone if he is emotionally guarded to the point that he doesn’t find it easy to let people in? Should she give up or be patient?
Guys, can you tell when a woman is looking to really get to know you? Are you generally guarded with women that you date in the beginning? Do you find ways to show her who you truly are? How would she know it?
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362 comments Add your comment
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:20 pm
Mo – Im riding wit ya Babe if theyre trippin… This is gonna be a good deal.. You just get the car and I will take care of the trippin.. Just open the door for me so I can dive in.. They got alot of guns in there..
DreamsMaterialize
January 26th, 2010
2:20 pm
Mo what’s good? still on Pepsi hiatus?
M. (pronouced M dot)
January 26th, 2010
2:22 pm
@VoiceOf Reason
Good. So tomorrow, report back with the honest answer.
Also I peeped how you said early 30’s..is that code for 45 years old?
“Now, do ME a favor. Turn to your wife…., oh, wait… (I welcome fellow bloggers to fill in your own punchline here. No reason for me to have all the fun!)”
No punchline there…Im to old to get married. Don’t talk slick though because you are married. Just be glad he did you a favor ok?
VoiceOf Reason
January 26th, 2010
2:24 pm
@ M. (pronouced M dot)
Oh, and did you just refer to me as ’sassy?’
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Give up now! You bout to run yo’ pressure up and you know the VA hospital only give out the watered down government issued meds…
M. (pronouced M dot)
January 26th, 2010
2:24 pm
@VoiceOf Reason
Good. So tomorrow, report back with the honest answer.
Also I peeped how you said early 30’s..is that code for 45 years old?
“Now, do ME a favor. Turn to your wife…., oh, wait… (I welcome fellow bloggers to fill in your own punchline here. No reason for me to have all the fun!)”
No punchline there…Im to young to get married. Don’t talk slick though because you are married. Just be glad he did you a favor ok?
Mo (aka Moeisha)
January 26th, 2010
2:25 pm
Hey Dreams! Still on the pepsi hiatus and doing pretty good! Since Im hittin the gym on a reg I must say I dont crave them as much. However I wouldnt mind having one still, but I have til the end of next month. SIGH!
Professor/Lady J – now I cant pass up no good gumbo, etc….but I can pass up rooting for the Saints! LOL!
Infamous – Oh I gotcha back, dont worry…..they wont see nothing but tail lights and smoke!
DreamsMaterialize
January 26th, 2010
2:26 pm
M ANTI-civil-rights-jedi-mind-trick Dot
VERSUS
Voice I’m-married-and-you’re-not-fire-tongue Reason
Place your bets ladies and gents. lol
VoiceOf Reason
January 26th, 2010
2:26 pm
@ M. (pronouced M dot)
Learn how to refresh the page old man!! I would tell you to ask you grandchildren to help, but apparently, the hip chicks from the 1930s were smart enough to know you weren’t worth breeding with.
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:28 pm
DreamsM it is the best show of the week!!!! and it is Tuesday! I don’t think no other show can top this one it sounds live!!!!! LOL
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:29 pm
Mo – Love you with all my Might..
Playing that Otis Redding Chained and Bound for you..
$Bill
January 26th, 2010
2:30 pm
@ Lady J: Yiou never know. It’s a small world after all.
Leggs
January 26th, 2010
2:30 pm
Loved the story about the proposal after 8-10 hours. Rare!
Whoever asked whether someone should learn the “character” of a person first will always get a resounding YES from me. Learn their character and all else will follow.
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
2:30 pm
LOL
Melo
January 26th, 2010
2:32 pm
Place your bets ladies and gents
Dreams?? civil-rights-jedi or cootie VOR
didnt VOR come in today or yesterday and M(DOT) few months back..
both bets are risky…
cootie or jesse jackson??
hmmmmm….since jesse steps outside too 4 cOOTIE,i will say split the bet 50-50!
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:32 pm
it is $Bill that is why i laughed out loud of the thought! LOL
Pookie Mae
January 26th, 2010
2:33 pm
My baby Ddady betta git me son chilsd suport kaw i cant mak it own this littll WIC. You no who you r sucka.
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:34 pm
mo we see eye to eye….mo a super bowl party will be held near you I will keep ya posted if you wanna swing by real talk my crew of course! you know how we do! lol
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
2:35 pm
Okay I was prepared to give my afternoon aggravation I just endured of a “Brief Interview with a Hideous Man” at my son’s doctor, but, uh, nevermind. LOL
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
2:36 pm
LadyJ, what day is the Superbowl this year?
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:36 pm
come on raqi…..spill it!
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:37 pm
feb 7th
DreamsMaterialize
January 26th, 2010
2:37 pm
and the “hip chicks” blow sends M reeling. He’ll need a good counter to keep him in the match…
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:40 pm
Lady J – Hey Im in the Hood and I always show up with the big bottle of Goose.. Why ya’ll playing..
Melo
January 26th, 2010
2:40 pm
what day is the Superbowl
Tuesday
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
LAdy J – Ya’ll Play too much all the time..
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
2:42 pm
LadyJ, my son had to have some test done today. While sitting out waiting there was this guy there with somebody. I didn’t even ask him, but he insisted on talking to me. I am not an unfriendly person but I had my notebook with me trying to get some work done while I waited.
The man just kept asking me questions and trying to talk to me. He reeked of whiskey or something on his breath. He was hideous because he got to be annoying. You can tell when someone it really not interested in talking and you should just shut up but he wouldn’t. I ended up getting asking the nurse how much longer my son would be and went and sat down in different chair.
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
2:43 pm
Thanks, Lady J.
Melo, Tuesday? The superbowl is always on Sunday. I think.
Mo (aka Moeisha)
January 26th, 2010
2:44 pm
Infamous – you got, you got, you got what I neeeed…… handle that Teddy P
Lady J – let me know! My inlaws are cooking so we may need to swing over there for some good ole N’awlins cuisine.
Willie Dynamite
January 26th, 2010
2:45 pm
Afternoon All,
Get ya hot fresh POPCONE right here. POPCONE everybody POPCONE.
Melo
January 26th, 2010
2:46 pm
what day is the Superbowl…. The superbowl is always on Sunday
sooooo,u were expecting what kinda answer Raqi,if u knew the day..did u mean date?
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:47 pm
DK don’t play this is my happy tues as the co arenting days have changed and I feel like I can’t control my self I wanna go out and play sooooooo bad!!!!! LOL GG and pineapple keeps me smiling…..
Melo you are a mess….
Raqi I hate those encounters and most times I get cussed out or told of bc they feel I think I am betta and they don’t mind using high yella!!! a hot mess that I don’t want to talk to you it is my fault!!! Folk these days! What could yall possibly talk about!!! LOL!!! Current events is not even an option when you don’t want to talk! LOL
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:47 pm
Mo – Ummm Hmmm.. And you know this Mannnnnn!!
Nonya
January 26th, 2010
2:47 pm
ROF-LMAO!
Mo (aka Moeisha)
January 26th, 2010
2:47 pm
Lady J – where is ya party at? We can make some rounds! LOL!
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:48 pm
meant co parenting i’m excited FREEDOM from the routine til thursday!!!!
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:48 pm
I will text you if I can pull myself from this keyboard!!!! LOL
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:50 pm
Awww yeah Lady J this is my free Co parenting Day too.. Aww shucky Ducky.. I can meet you at Ken and Chris..
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:50 pm
wht happened to the dispute really it was getting good!
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
2:51 pm
NOT lol stop the the madness!
lurker
January 26th, 2010
2:52 pm
I JUST GOT A PROMOOOOOTION….I JUST GOT A PROMOOOOTION. Actually I applied and as the recruiter said “BLEW THEM AWAY.”
I am whatever you say I am
January 26th, 2010
2:52 pm
enjoying pizza (nom…nom….nom…..)
and reading the blog
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
2:52 pm
LadyJ, I was fine with him asking me about my son and what test he was having, but after that I was done. But all the other stuff was too much. LOL
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:53 pm
LAdy J – My Days are Mondays, Wednesdays and every other weekend..
I am whatever you say I am
January 26th, 2010
2:54 pm
@ Lurker: Can I borrow a dollar?
Dan - moving away from gray and back to black
January 26th, 2010
2:54 pm
Congrats lurker!
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
2:55 pm
Congrats, lurker.
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
2:58 pm
Hey Lurker Congrats.. Now break yo self Fool!
Professor
January 26th, 2010
2:58 pm
@Lurker- CONGRATS!!
@MELO, now this was funnier than my keyboard joke…what day is the Superbowl…. The superbowl is always on Sunday…talking ’bout the superbowl on a Tuesday!
sooooo,u were expecting what kinda answer Raqi,if u knew the day..did u mean date?
Mr. Lurker ( B.K.A. 007)
January 26th, 2010
2:59 pm
Congrats Ms. lurker on your promotion (Jehovah is Good)…….
M. (pronouced M dot)
January 26th, 2010
2:59 pm
I see I am going to have to come out or roast-tirement….lol Challenge…lol
@DreamsMaterialize
Lol
@Melo
I been on the blog since 2005. Certified lol.
@ Voice of Reason
Hip Chicks and breeding? I know you not talking, lets get on them 1993 Patra braids that you probably still rocking in 2010…Get yo romantic call self out of here.
It’s funny when people try to talk slick through a computer.
What your step..I got a cannon ready….