Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sunday Morning Church Disservice: "Fools Are My Theme, Let Satire Be My Song"

Yesterday I wrote a piece that discussed the extra-marital affairs of Mark Sanford, Rick Pitino, John Ensign, and John Edwards.

I discussed how I was disappointed not in the actions of these men, but in their choice of the women with whom they cheated upon their wives.

I received several e-mails, from women specifically (on a Saturday no less).

I also received a couple of comments on the blog as to why I was defending these guys and saying that their infidelity would be okay if the women with whom they were cheating were prettier.

I have a Sunday word of wisdom for you all who felt this way…

Holy Jeebus, are you fucking crazy? No, seriously?

I don’t condone cheating on one’s spouse whether you are a man or woman. I’ve experienced that…been there; done that…It’s not all that great.

But hell, especially through emails did I catch some shit yesterday. I even caught shit from someone who wishes her husband would cheat on her so she would have an excuse to divorce him.

I am sorry that on a weekend day that I set off such a maelstrom. I was just making some jokes about some high profile guys as well as...


Giving a little pub to some women that I think are really cool…and smart…and yeah, hot.

As one of my faves, Jonathan Swift said,


“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.”

I think that is what happened yesterday…at least I hope it is, because if those of you who have read me for awhile still don’t “get” me, I mean wow…I’m not the problem.

Sure, my posts often contain a point on what’s happening socially, politically, or culturally but my expositions are typically full of hyperbole.

I am a satirist folks. I am not a joker who just says anything, but at the same time, I am not Albert Einstein or Albert Camus.

I am Matt-Man, and I author a cogent blog that is full of smart fun, great comments, and a whole lot of humorous bloviating.

It’s good to meet ya.

Amen, and Amen.


Off to work in the oppressive heat from 11-7...Have a lovely day.

Cheers!!

22 comments:

Andy said...

sat⋅ire  /ˈsætaɪər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [sat-ahyuhr] Show IPA
Use satire in a Sentence
–noun 1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
2. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule.
3. a literary genre comprising such compositions.


Matt - your satire is cutting and to the point. Satire is not for everyone. It may offend or provoke thought. What those three men did was vice and folly and wrong. To write a bog about that would be, well, dull and out of the current news cycle. Your perspective is something that many thought but no one dared to say. There are many blogs spouting current news and bland opinion but you keep it real.

Schmoop said...

Andy: Ha. I was going to use the definition of both satire and hyperbole in this post but it got too lengthy.

At the risk of sounding pretentious and patronizing, I appreciate your comment very much as I know your educational background and one who is my Axis and Aliies opponent.

Thanks for the kind words. That was very nice. Cheers Ang!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Matt-Man, you calls them as you sees them and jolly fine for you.

>>>“Satire is a sort of glass,

I prefer a chilled white wine glass or perhaps a double old-fashioned filled with a tasty vodka tonic.

Cheers

David said...

Oh damn. I hit some wrong key and became anonymous.

Schmoop said...

David: Either anonymous or out there, I still dig ya. Drink Up. Cheers David!!

Unknown said...

...Bloviate on, Brother!...

Jay said...

Dooooood. I know exactly where you're coming from here. Just last week I had to have a back and forth with someone who thought that I really did think that truck stop hookers where hot. I thought about putting a link at the bottom of some of my posts to a site titled "How to recognize satire." No matter how over the top a post is, there will still be people who think I'm being serious.

katherine. said...

I think the infidelity subject cuts deeper for women than for men. Even when we know its merely a satirical saturday in bagwine....it is not always funny.

I wonder how many of your women readers have been cheated on...as compared to how many have done the cheating.

Or how many have been the woman a man has cheated with...regardless of brains or beauty.

And yeah I know women cheat too.

I may not be the most moral person on God's Earth...but I do not play with things that belong to other women.

Scott Oglesby said...

*I’ve found satire to be one of the greatest measurements of IQ since pharmaceutical safety caps and childproof lighters. Do you know that a couple people thought that the Obamacare threat thing I did was real? Usually though, I think it’s a bit more of a case of people needing to lighten up. Then again the same people that think Colbert is a conservative are the ones who ask me how many days it takes to drive to Europe. –Not making that up!

*This comment in not directed at any of your fans or commenter’s; only on my own observations from producing and working with satire.

Dana said...

Look ... my comment was made purely in selfishness. If you sway all of the cheating guys to the pretty girls, I'll NEVER have a chance at divorce!

Michele said...

Way to go Matt!. You throw out a topic that goes a completely different direction for some. I'm impressed. Ahhhhh.....ya gotta love social discourse run a muck.

Schmoop said...

Phfrankie: I shall my friend; I shall. Cheers P-Man!!

Jay: I understand, and I feel your pain. I wasn't going to post this because on one hand I think, "Well if they didn't get it, they didn't get it." But then I think, "Maybe it's time for a little definition." Cheers Jay!!

Kat: I am surprised that you said that. I don't know why infidelity would cut deeper with a woman than a man. Hurt is hurt no matter the gender.

But I do appreciate that you said that you are not the most moral person in the world. I have never pretended to be a pillar of morality myself. Far from it.

I just wish more people would see that within themselves and acknowledge it. Cheers Kat!!

Schmoop said...

Scott: I wish I could be as humorous as you while being as brief as you. Succinct, well stated, and funny comment. And seriously, don't leave me hangin'...How long does it take to drive to Europe? Cheers Scott!!

Dana: Ha. That may be, but I never surprised by the things that I say that tick people off while some of the other topics that I bring up, don't. Cheers!!

Michele: Thanks...And you, my favorite librarian, made my day by using the phrase, "run amuck." I love that phrase. Cheers Michele!!

Ken said...

Blog Posts Gone Whack

You've had your share.
After reading every single frickin one of your posts for about a year and a half and a visit to you and Schmoop in Bagwine, there's still some of you that I'll never figure out. But that's good, I like that. That's the funnest part of reading your blog, where the fuck will he lead us today, and how many people will get pissed off?

YOU ARE......

The Matt-Man!

Andy said...

So, truck stop hookers aren't hot?

Schmoop said...

Micky: You know, I was thinking of something to say that would be sarcastic, but what you said was actually very sweet...and you are welcome here anytime Mick. Cheers!!

Andy: Ha. Damn right, they're hot. I was going to say the same thing...are we channeling each other?

Ken said...

That's good, because that's how I meant it, sweet as goomah pie.(thanks Jay for that one)

katherine. said...

I know it seems sexist...or whatever....but I'm gonna stay with my impression.

Maybe you should do a post about beautiful and powerful women who are with really fugly men?

desert rat said...

Y'know, I do love me some satire!

Schmoop said...

Micky: Right back atcha my good man. Cheers Mick!!

Kat: Schmoop is a prime example of that. Well, minus the powerful part. On second thought she can be VERY powerful at times. Cheers Kat!!

Desert Rat: You dirty satire lover, you. Cheers Rat!!

Lu' said...

Sometimes it is just hard to take a joke I guess. If what you wrote wasn't satire well then you'd be just another dick and I don't think, no I know you aren't one of those. Just passin' through...

Schmoop said...

Lu: Well thanks. And thanks for passing through, Lu. Cheers!!