March 1, 2007
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THE EVOLUTION OF POST-MODERN MAN
Men are often the victims of gender stereotyping. We are perceived as being over-sexed, insensitive, sophomoric frat boys despite our ages or our stations in life. When referring to our cognitive abilities it’s often said that our minds are perpetually in the gutter and that we think mostly with our “little heads.”
Is this stereotyping justified, or has post-modern man risen above this terminal state of pubescent angst? I propose an in-depth, double-blind scientific study. However, until that study is finished, an exchange that happened a few moments ago at my place of business may shed some light on this controversial subject.
I was sitting in one of our conference rooms near the front of our building with all of the other salesmen in our office. We were pretending to be deep into developing sales strategies but as I’m sure you can guess, the only thing we were actually deep into was bullshit.
Our new FedEx delivery person came into the building and everyone immediately noticed that it happened to be a very attractive young woman; probably in her late twenties. With sly grins, the following comments were made just out of earshot of Miss FedEx:
Salesman #1 – Hey baby, I got your package right here.
Salesman #2 – And it’s marked for “special delivery.”
Salesman #3 – And it’s is definitely going out “overnight.”
Salesman #4 – But you’d better be careful, because it’s probably over your size limit.
Salesman #5 – Maybe you need some help getting my package into your trunk…I’m mean truck.
So, do men deserve to be labeled as crass Neanderthals, and sexist pigs?
Yeah…pretty much.
Comments (35)
Which salesman # were you?
Kathi
Um YEAH
without question… yeah (shaking head)
Sexy pigs?
really? I knew it was about this girl who gets really depressed–i didnt think it could be THAT bad, heh i guess i’ll have to be careful
you seem cool, imna subscribe to you ^_^
That makes me want to be a lesbian.
“I’ve got a 2-day delivery for you…”
Oink.
hmmm – let me think about that…!!!! LOL
Yes, but women are every bit as bad. Trust me.
Those lines are so cheesy I’m actually more embarrassed for them than anything else!
I would try to look surprised, but it’s late and I’m tired
The woman was thinking:
Salesman #1 one hasn’t been laid since the Reagan Administration
Salesman #2 couldn’t find his pecker with both hands under that beer gut
Salesman #3 looks like Austin Powers before his dental makeover
Salesman #4′s wife HAS to wear the pants in that household
Salesman #5 reminds her of a Christmas elf, though she’s not sure why…….
Only two labels apply: NORMAL and MALE.
Those who don’t like it should blame the Creator, not us.
None of it was said to humiliate her and it was said out of earshot. No harm done. If you all said it to her, that would be sophmoric and rude.
The difference between men and women in that regard…. Women would have probably said similar things but only when they were with a group they trusted and knew well. They wouldn’t say such things around mere coworkers they’ve only talked a bit of business with. Never.
I concur with Toots10!
There is nothing new under the sun! I thought the comments were pretty typical and even clever. I agree with polymergoddess – no harm was done – it was all said out of earshot. The comments were probably partly for the entertainment of one another. Also, if any of you had been in the room alone with her, none of those comments would have been made. Instead, (I am eternally an optimist) the gentlemen would have come out in all of you, and you would have treated her like a ray of sunlight in solitary confinement. =)
Give Toots10 2 eProps Exactly!
Haha… All the guys in my office drool over the DHL lady…the same comments follow.
Toots is a very wise woman.
Don’t trip over your knuckles.
xoxoxo
Kevin Federline is a girl?
I think I can name them. Sad.
Men, oversexed? They want it all the time? Nah….
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Wait…do you teach at my school? Because I work with these guys.
I would’ve been more subtle than that you know, maybe an exaggeratedly strained attempt at inconspicuously checking her out accompanied by a drawn out “niiiice” under my breath.
It all depends on the group. Guys, in my opinion, tend to conform to the stereotype when in groups. If one or two males make a lewd comment, then more will probably follow. When it’s just one guy does, then not much will follow. Monkey see, monkey do I reckon.
Then again it could be a bunch of bored with their life/significant other men…
So funny and true…..made me smile….
Candy
*makes note of lines used*
I’m guessing you were salesman #4……..LOL
Yeah, after a half century of being told that men’s mind are “perpetually in the gutter,” I’d say this pretty well confimed it!
I like toots10 s reply. Reminds me of when I had to escort a very good looking woman through our shop. The guys would step from their machines staring and turn their heads as we walked by. That made me uncomfortable so I can imagine what she felt.
Okay, so I haven’t left you a comment in a while, so I think I’m overdue. In the spirit of workplace sexual harrassment, two of my female coworkers and I are wearing our black knee-high boots and black skirts to work one designated day, just for the heck of it. I think we’re just trying to drive all of our male coworkers insane. Sad, no?
Things haven’t changed internally that much, I don’t think… we have just lost our inhibitions. There is no shame anymore… and that’s a shame!
it’s nice to know there’s always something that will command a man’s attention, a sort of leash, if you will, to lead them around by. Sorry for dangling my participle.
Yep that about sums it up at my office for sure!
I just dropped in to see what condition your condition was in.