21 Comments
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Mike Walker's avatar

Glengarry Glenross. A symphony of profanity. Rhythmic epithets to rival Sexy beast.

Presentists are just male?

Thanks for a great read.

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Filk's avatar

Excellent

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painedumonde's avatar

I didn't like the characters of Glengarry because of their coatings but because of their fillings – the confidence game they played, the cutthroat nature, the thievery, the cancer that they were.

But nothing's changed, as you say, since 1492, we all would stand on a toddler to get to the cookie jar.

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Christopher Gage's avatar

Moss is likeable. He sees the game for what it is.

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painedumonde's avatar

Yet he labors on.

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snek's avatar

Excellent. Hope I get to see it

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MXTM (a.k.a.: vjtsu)'s avatar

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Nigel Bowen's avatar

Preach!

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erniet's avatar

I laughed out loud at this piece more than once! "Glenngarry Glen Ross" is a marvelous work (I've only seen the film)...it's underlying truth of how men will do the shittiest jobs and put up with horrific abuse to earn a living, and still find a way to glorify that job amongst their peers, is timeless. And obviously completely lost on the Presentist (I like that term) critic!

Men are crude. Men make crass jokes. We also insult each other as a matter of course, and to take offense at these insults (to get "butt hurt" as my friend Jack puts it) is a sign that you are lacking in essential manliness. Obviously the Presentist critic is lacking in this regard. While he might protest such an attack is ad hominem, I would argue he is undeserving of being regarded as a hominem...😁

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Christopher Gage's avatar

This is exactly my point. Me and my friends say ridiculous and offensive things for a laugh. I've no idea what I actually believe and what I say merely to provoke a laugh. It's fun. The bores should try it.

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Toffeepud's avatar

Hubs and his mate often insult each other in front of us (me and his partner) and we join in 😂 We have a group WhatsApp and the bants are hilarious 😂

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Christopher Gage's avatar

My military uncle and his friends say utterly grotesque — and hilarious— things. I turned out all right.

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Toffeepud's avatar

Indeed, of all the stacks I subscribe to yours is one of those I look forward to reading the most.

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Christopher Gage's avatar

Thank you. And I'm happy to get back to publishing. (I severely underestimated just how much work a non-literature masters would be!)

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Toffeepud's avatar

I wondered where you'd gone! 😆 Good luck!

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Toffeepud's avatar

Glorious! That critic should count himself lucky he wasn't sat with us at The Minack Theatre last August - he would have had to "endure" not only Young Frankenstein, but me and my cornish mate laughing uproariously swigging prosecco and having a hoot. One song must have included the word "tits" about ooh 100 times 🤣😂 It was glorious

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Brad Goverman's avatar

I am grateful that we are past the age of "wokeness" of which Presentists seem to be a sub-category, but I also worry that we may be throwing the proverbial baby out with the grimy bathwater. Are you guilty of riding the pendulum back toward a rational norm? Perhaps. Nevertheless, still enjoyed the essay.

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Victoria Fabling's avatar

I liked the boldness of the article which you sent me for free. I replied, and did my best to pay $20, yet my VISA's security won't permit me to pay on-line like this.

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Christopher Gage's avatar

It's the thought that counts. Thank you for reading.

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Mateus Talles's avatar

Well on the other hand what those indigenous ppl did to you?! they never asked for your approval, or condemned your lack of canibalism as morally derogatory. Yet you are bashing on a totally external culture for their practices as a form of critique on the anacronisms of the so called Presentists, and doing so makes u miss twice, imho, and makes the otherside arguments even more valuable.

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Christopher Gage's avatar

I never asked for their approval. And, to be honest, old chap, a 'lack of cannibalism' is probably a good thing, if not for one's gut health, amongst other ethical considerations.

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