Redefining misanthropy for a fresh generation. Standard posts begin with a definition from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary followed by a modern adjustment. Miscellany on Wednesday and storytelling on Saturday.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Refinement
Refinement, n. Drinking whiskey out of a champagne glass.
It is the same as with Eccentric and Crazy, one for the rich, the other for the rest of us. Refinement is to the Queen Of England what snobbery is to me. Thanx Doug for wishing me a Happy Birthday.
Absolutely, Aral, but you don't want to go by my standards.
Monika, happy birthday again, snob. And here's your present: On her birthday, Monika claimed that 1977 was 26 years ago only to find that her picture made it seem more recent.
Okay, let me give this a go: Refinement- Eating the mashed potatoes at KFC with a spork and not spilling gravy on your shirt? Man, I suck at this game.
refinement: warm white wine out of the bottle in the jeep after you pushed the cork in and wine spurted all over your white jacket and still going into the restaurant for dinner reaking of wine on your breath and clothes.
Actonbell, the pinkie extended may be too refined. You folks are just fancy.
Karma, I assume they are the refined ones. Pretty sure it ain't us.
Jamie Dawn, we offer a wide selection.
Sar, is the horror from the whiskey or the champagne glass?
Rio, that would be exactly the 20-year-old version. At that age I was mostly spilling Wild Turkey from a plastic bottle and taking my date to Denny's. If she was cute.
Huh? Refinement? Like that platonic orgy? Buying a Playboy just to read the articles. Or going to the outhouse just to order something from the catalog. Or like when Jimmy Swaggerd went with a prostitute just to save her soul. Or buying a cow when you get the milk free. No, maybe barking up an empty tree just to impress the master. Prancing around with a dog biscuit stuck behind my ear.
Indie, welcome back and great definition. Of course, my knuckles drag.
Tom & Icy, yes, yes, all of those and, maybe, sniffing someone's backside to measure their class. Don't underestimate the soul-saving aspect of the oldest profession. By which I mean blogging.
Monika, it was meant as a compliment based on your definition but I'll remind you that I never gave you a DDR ID. Given that you taught me English last week, I'll be skeptical about language barriers.
I agree wit a4g - Typing, cutting and pasting, backspacing, asking opinions of friends and neighbors, praying others will get it and then hittin' the enter key!
... champagne out of a lady's slipper?
ReplyDeleteWhite house spokesman giving a straight answer
ReplyDeleteBarbie, fully clothed?
ReplyDeleteKarma, it depends if she's wearing it at the time.
ReplyDeleteHa, Pia, that's a little more than a refinement. Maybe remodeling>
Weirsdo, clothed, captist and chaste.
Having to pay a traffic ticket twice 'cause the money you minted bounced on accounta bein' homemade.
ReplyDeleteFunny, TLP. Nice pun.
ReplyDeletea4g, please just hit the button. A few typos on your part would make me feel a lot better about myself.
Does drinking beer out of a champagne glass count?
ReplyDeleteIt is the same as with Eccentric and Crazy, one for the rich, the other for the rest of us. Refinement is to the Queen Of England what snobbery is to me.
ReplyDeleteThanx Doug for wishing me a Happy Birthday.
Absolutely, Aral, but you don't want to go by my standards.
ReplyDeleteMonika, happy birthday again, snob. And here's your present: On her birthday, Monika claimed that 1977 was 26 years ago only to find that her picture made it seem more recent.
Okay, let me give this a go:
ReplyDeleteRefinement- Eating the mashed potatoes at KFC with a spork and not spilling gravy on your shirt?
Man, I suck at this game.
I love it. You're grand at this game. Same time tomorrow, third base?
ReplyDeleteok, the difference between them and us.
ReplyDeletehappy birthday Monika!
No whiskey for me, thanks. But I will take a Mike's Hard Lemonade in any container.
ReplyDeleteHappy b-day Monika. :)
ReplyDelete*shudder* "whiskey in a champagne glass" - oh the horror! ;
refinement: warm white wine out of the bottle in the jeep after you pushed the cork in and wine spurted all over your white jacket and still going into the restaurant for dinner reaking of wine on your breath and clothes.
ReplyDeletesticking a sticker over a sticker.
ReplyDeleteActonbell, the pinkie extended may be too refined. You folks are just fancy.
ReplyDeleteKarma, I assume they are the refined ones. Pretty sure it ain't us.
Jamie Dawn, we offer a wide selection.
Sar, is the horror from the whiskey or the champagne glass?
Rio, that would be exactly the 20-year-old version. At that age I was mostly spilling Wild Turkey from a plastic bottle and taking my date to Denny's. If she was cute.
Sreekesh, a bandage on a crown of thorns?
refinement;
ReplyDeletePaying for your nyc apartment with money from your old rich drunk nyc city boyfriend Billy Joel.
No I'm not drunk just tired.
That's pretty damned refined, Alice.
ReplyDeleteRefinement: The dismantlement of the considerate sensibilities into the golden ideal of boorishness.
ReplyDeleteHuh? Refinement? Like that platonic orgy? Buying a Playboy just to read the articles. Or going to the outhouse just to order something from the catalog. Or like when Jimmy Swaggerd went with a prostitute just to save her soul. Or buying a cow when you get the milk free. No, maybe barking up an empty tree just to impress the master. Prancing around with a dog biscuit stuck behind my ear.
ReplyDeleteIndie, welcome back and great definition. Of course, my knuckles drag.
ReplyDeleteTom & Icy, yes, yes, all of those and, maybe, sniffing someone's backside to measure their class. Don't underestimate the soul-saving aspect of the oldest profession. By which I mean blogging.
Karma and Sar, thank you for wishing me a Happy Birthday. Doug, I think that was a compliment, but I can´t be sure...i blame language barriers!
ReplyDeleteMonika, it was meant as a compliment based on your definition but I'll remind you that I never gave you a DDR ID. Given that you taught me English last week, I'll be skeptical about language barriers.
ReplyDeleteI agree wit a4g - Typing, cutting and pasting, backspacing, asking opinions of friends and neighbors, praying others will get it and then hittin' the enter key!
ReplyDeleteOh, come on y'all! Neither of you should hesitate. I still use your definition of Eucharist. Besides, it's not like you're on payroll.
ReplyDeleteA kind of denaturing that purports to enhance but often vitiates.
ReplyDeleteComfort Addict, denaturing is one of my favorite words recently. Such a refined way of referring to that process.
ReplyDelete