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
Professor
January 26th, 2010
2:59 pm
My money is on Voice I’m-married-and-you’re-not-fire-tongue Reason
Melo is that cootie or jessie? I need to get the code words right
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:00 pm
DK i am Tues and Wednesday and he said every week but after he gets a hold to that homework it will be everyother week the 4 yr old is a handful…..one day we will meet for drinks but not today I am going to my spot and let my hair down and eat! LOL
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
3:00 pm
Ok Lady J my son goes to school in that area and he is 4.. Ummmm and they have an awful lot of homework for 4 yr olds..
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:00 pm
Congrats Lurker~
Sassy Me....Soldier of Love :-)
January 26th, 2010
3:01 pm
Congrats on the promotion Lurker….mo money..mo money!
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
3:03 pm
Lady J – Do they wear Uniforms at this school?
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:03 pm
great blog day….funny to the T!!!1 Raqi I get ya but tthat’s the opening to the other stuff kids are always an opener….DK when I call you on your invite don’t get ghost oract brand new…I like during the week free days vs weekend…lol
Mo (aka Moeisha)
January 26th, 2010
3:03 pm
Lady J/Infamous – okay my co-parenting days are mon & tues, every other wknd. Ya’ll call me when ya’ll have a parent outing!
DreamsMaterialize
January 26th, 2010
3:03 pm
Lurker that’s the business right there. “She…could…go…all…the…WAY!” So, where’s the celebration? Haven’t worn my “good” shoes in a while. lol
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
YES DO I SEE YA EVERY MORNING!!!!!!! OMG
Mo (aka Moeisha)
January 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
Lukrer – Congrats!!!
Sassy Me....Soldier of Love :-)
January 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
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.
Well sah…I’m on a romantic call..talking to mi baby down a mi yard…
Y’all throwin’ down haaard…
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:04 pm
DKDKDKDKDKDKDKDKDK!!!!!! LMAO
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
3:05 pm
Mo/Lady J – Awww Man The Leapin Lizards in Downtown Decatur is my spot.
VoiceOf Reason
January 26th, 2010
3:06 pm
@ M. (pronouced M dot)
Patra braids?? That’s it! That is IT!!! Those there are fightin words!
Now you climb yo’ self into that Hoveround scooter, but in your best set of teeth and speed (at 3mph) down here to the Bowden Senior Citizen center in East Point and say that directly to my ribcage area!!
(Notice how he digs into his bag of pop culture tricks for things like ‘Patra’ and modern slang, but then follows it up with ‘talkin slick’ and ’sassy’ that just reminds us of how truly old and out of touch he is?)
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
3:06 pm
LAdy J – What color are the Uniforms..
Sassy Me....Soldier of Love :-)
January 26th, 2010
3:06 pm
Off topic: Has anyone ever taken a step class(Chicago step). I’m asking b/c it looks like fun but I’d like some opinions about it..if there are any to share.
THE INFAMOUS DK aka THE KING
January 26th, 2010
3:06 pm
Raqi – Yes.. Yes He does.. Thats why Im trying to see if Lady J and I see each other for real in the morning..
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:07 pm
Infamous, does your son attend private school?
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:08 pm
u tell me dk email me and we can go from there ladyj817@sprint.blackberry.net
Professor
January 26th, 2010
3:08 pm
@Sassy that made me laugh! Question: Are patra braids the same as dookie braids?
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:08 pm
me daughter does raqi…
Lady J
January 26th, 2010
3:09 pm
sh*t meant my ok i am gone
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:09 pm
Infamous, how did your answer get before my question?
WiseDiva is there an omen in this place? Spoo-kee.
Professor
January 26th, 2010
3:10 pm
Patra braids?? That’s it! That is IT!!! Those there are fightin words!
Now you climb yo’ self into that Hoveround scooter, but in your best set of teeth and speed (at 3mph) down here to the Bowden Senior Citizen center in East Point and say that directly to my ribcage area!!
(Notice how he digs into his bag of pop culture tricks for things like ‘Patra’ and modern slang, but then follows it up with ‘talkin slick’ and ’sassy’ that just reminds us of how truly old and out of touch he is?)
If y’all are going to fight at the center give me a second I will be there in five minutes. I know where Bowden is they have a good lunch. too!
Dan - moving away from gray and back to black
January 26th, 2010
3:11 pm
@Sassy
No class, but we had to learn when you visited the Chi.
But go for it, it’s hella fun!!
Melo
January 26th, 2010
3:12 pm
My Days are Mondays, Wednesdays and every other weekend
@ DK
glad u broght that up coz thats how our zulu polygamists back home allocate time tween their wives..
Queen mother = 1x a week(her libido is kinda low coz of old age
mama(2) Lady J = 2x a week,her 2nd allocation comes after church sundays
mama Angie = 3x a week..she newer so she gets more of the zuluness
mama Luvbug= 1x a month.. she in training so lobola has not been paid yet,so she aint official but Queen mother(her trainer) says she making good progress….
Everything works well with planning,respect and deference!
(I am advertising this Polygamy program ladies!)
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:13 pm
LadyJ, my sons has attended private school since pre-school. Sometimes he wants so bad to go to public school but I am against it. He only has three years left. He father wants him to go to West Point in two years but I don’t think so.
Bibay
January 26th, 2010
3:15 pm
Y’all have just made my day- Patra braids, Hoverrounds (sp), fights at the Sr. Citizens center and Polygamy Programs. LOL!
DreamsMaterialize
January 26th, 2010
3:17 pm
Dot dug in the crates to counter strong with a forceful “Patra braids” blow.
Ohhhhh VOR connects with a 5 combo flury of “Hoveround Scooter”, “Bowen Senior Citizen Center”, “ribcage area”, and “pop culture tricks”.
In other news: DK and Lady J are just finding out that they’ve known each other all along.
Leggs
January 26th, 2010
3:19 pm
Congratulations on your promotion, lurker!
VOR has a great moniker and is living up to it.
Sassy Me....Soldier of Love :-)
January 26th, 2010
3:19 pm
Question: Are patra braids the same as dookie braids?
Yes Professor they are.
Thanks Dan. I’ve already looked into some classes and I think I am going to do it….looks like alot of fun. I’ve been comtemplating doing this but I saw this vidoe recently that piqued my interest.(KJon “On the Ocean”)
Professor
January 26th, 2010
3:20 pm
http://www.junathehairstylist.4t.com/photo.html
Patra braids
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:21 pm
Did Mary J Blige really punch her husband in the nose because she thought he was flirting with a waitress? Please say it isn’t so.
Professor
January 26th, 2010
3:21 pm
http://hoveround.com/
Shall we assume this is dot in the chair…heading to Bowden?
M. (pronouced M dot)
January 26th, 2010
3:22 pm
@Sassy
LOL thanks for the musical reference.
@Voice of Reason
“Now you climb yo’ self into that Hoveround scooter, but in your best set of teeth and speed (at 3mph) down here to the Bowden Senior Citizen center in East Point and say that directly to my ribcage area!!
(Notice how he digs into his bag of pop culture tricks for things like ‘Patra’ and modern slang, but then follows it up with ‘talkin slick’ and ’sassy’ that just reminds us of how truly old and out of touch he is?)”
LOL Voice you are funny. I havent roasted anybody in a minute but change is good.
Ladies, it’s funny how when that one girl out the crew get’s married and her ego goes through the roof.
Voice must didnt know that him marrying her was part of his work release program. Soon as his house arrest and Voice of REASON Arrest is over he will bounce!!
Also Voice, you said you were early 30’s, then what’s up with that Chaka Khan prom dress you wore out for your date last week?
That perm you got been thru the FIRE!
Willie Dynamite
January 26th, 2010
3:22 pm
DreamsM – bruh make sure you mention the concessions, this Popcone getting stale and I can’t take a Loss. Tell em 2 for 5, 2 for 5.
kimmie
January 26th, 2010
3:23 pm
Sassy, I took an hour long Chicago step class at a dance workshop years ago and loved it! Looked for classes but could not find any. Can you post some info on where the classes you found are?
Sassy Me....Soldier of Love :-)
January 26th, 2010
3:27 pm
No problem M dot…when I saw the reference I started singing the song and well you read wha had happened.
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:30 pm
kimmie, I bought a titan peeler and used it for the first time last evening. I thought about you when I opened the pack. Have you tried one yet?
Melo
January 26th, 2010
3:30 pm
LadyJ, my sons has attended private school since pre-school
Raqi??
all things considered,whitebread wasnt that bad after all if he can pay that much money for his seed..
If only the circumstances cld have been diff and u?, a lil understanding and less angry!
Mo (aka Moeisha)
January 26th, 2010
3:31 pm
Ya’ll are too funny!
okay Im out! Off to the gym, ya’ll be easy!!
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:31 pm
Melo, whitebread did not pay nor make that initial decision. My dad did.
VoiceOf Reason
January 26th, 2010
3:34 pm
@ M. (pronouced M dot)
Seriously man, Chaka Khan references? My jokes are practically writing themselves….
but seriously, I don’t want to hold you up anymore. We all know that the fiiiiiine phillies down at Picadilly are expecting you the Early Bird special starting at 4pm and that Hoverround, once again, only goes 3mph. Get to gettin!
Melo
January 26th, 2010
3:36 pm
My dad did
who is paying NOW…
give that man a break Raqi plz!
kimmie
January 26th, 2010
3:36 pm
Raqi, I was so close to buying one at CVS Friday! How is it, does it work?
Sassy Me....Soldier of Love :-)
January 26th, 2010
3:36 pm
Kimmie the ones that I’ve seen so far that I like are takingitstepbystep.com and TruePassionSteppers.com. What I did was google “stepping classes atlanta georgia”(without the carrots) and a slew of things came up.
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:36 pm
I am along with my husband.
M. (pronouced M dot)
January 26th, 2010
3:37 pm
Attention All:
We need to take up a collection for Voice of Reason to get a pedicure. Her feet look like hooves…She need to get them toes done, all that chipped polish….It looks like she spent her lunch break doing tae bo on a tree…fix that first them come back.
Also you bragging about your husband…that dude probably look like a fat and fake version of Alexander O’Neal…or since she is so young…he look like a broke Easy E.
Let’s get on you, how do you look? How tall and and how do you measure your measurements, in inches or nautical miles? Just asking…
Raqi
January 26th, 2010
3:38 pm
Yeah, kimmie it works pretty good but you have to get the hang of the two way peel. If you don’t do it right the blade will try to flip too far. I recommend it.