BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Sam L
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 10:30 AM

I haven't been able to respond seriously because I don't really understand the question, but I'll try.

When I was young and full of ideas, my wife shocked me and impressed me by making no effort to impress me. She was an open book, intead of dressing up in intellectual positions or advertising allegiance to Deep-Sounding Things, she just told her personal stories. When she listened to one of my writer heros she said He gets on his little high horse doesn't he. When someone is trying to flirt with you, you don't have to respond in kind, just hold your ground, give a guy a chance to recognise you. Just because a guy wants to sound deep, doesn't mean he isn't.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: mg
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 10:07 PM

OK....I will give her even more advice...

Does the existentialist have a job?

Is he hard-working, sober, reliable?

So far so good. Does he gamble, do drugs, drink to excess, hurt people? Run like the wind.

mg

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 12:51 AM

I have an existential map. It has 'You are here' written all over it. - Steven Wright

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 11:16 PM

Brett:

I sympathize -- sometimes all you can do is raise your eyebrows and say "Don't make me c ome over there!!!"...." :>))

A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 09:19 PM

This must be a father's worst nightmare, seeing men come on to his daughter. Yes, Tenjiro is my daughter and here I am reading suggestions about flashing a prospective boyfriend and sharing passionate nights.

Sigh, what is a father to do. I am no longer Jung so I'm a Freud all I can say is,

"Kid, whatever you do, be safe!"

(I know, they aren't exactly philosophers but psychology is the next best thing to philosophy. At least both words start with "p".)

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 06:35 PM

I aint met none. They are rare around here. If I met one and she was good lookkn I would flirt with her anyway. I dont care much about religion eh? But I am not prejoodished either.

Be careful of the guy Tenjiro cos he might belong to some kind of wierd cult. We dont tolerate them kind in Blind River.

- BDiBR

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: M.Ted
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 06:00 PM

Here is the lecture I tried to post yesterday:

The Ethics of Absolute Freedom

Well worth reading--and of course, as with all lectures, it takes a lot less time to read it yourself than to have the professor read it out loud to you.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: lady penelope
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 05:10 AM

Ooh you guys are awful, but I like you......

I haven't laughed so hard in weeks.

I find that the only true existentialists are those who know someone else is taking care of the bills..........Other wise they tend to be known as Goths.......

Keep smiling Tenjiro, life really is too short to be weighed down by the worry of what might not be there.

TTFN Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 04:29 AM

Flirting was a capital offence in the town of Titipu. I agree with Nanki-poo when he says "Flirting is capital !".

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Jeanie
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 01:57 PM

I've thankfully forgotten all I ever had to learn about Existentialism, except that a character in one of Sartre's plays, "Huis Clos", says "L'enfer, c'est les autres" (Hell is other people)...which doesn't bode particularly well for Tenjiro, I have to say, if she's intent on this particular man.

However.... if it's *flirting* you want to know about, look no further than ,a href="http://www.flirtingacademy.com">http://www.flirtingacademy.com

The thing about flirting, though, is that people do it for the sheer fun of it, without latching on to any specific outcome. Once you are intent on a specific goal, it isn't going to work !
Have fun !

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: M.Ted
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 01:14 PM

Here is a lecture on Existentialism from a second year philosophy class at St. Anselm College--it is probably pretty close to the one that your friend heard. If you read it, you will know as much as he does, or maybe more, if he was daydreaming.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: M.Ted
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 11:41 AM

When I was in school, people become existentialists because no one flirted with them. That was before the internet, though--

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 09:27 PM

Take him flowers and snap your fingers
Take him flowers and snap your fingers
Take him flowers and snap your fingers
Earie in the mourning

Find his books and laugh all at them
Find his books and laugh all at them
Find his books and laugh all at them
Earlie in the mourning

Strap him in your bright red sports car
Strap him in your bright red sports car
Strap him in your bright red sports car
Earlie in the mourning

Give him one sly wink and smile
Give him one sly wink and smile
Give him one sly wink and smile
Earlie in the mourning

Drive too fast on the winding highway
Drive too fast on the winding highway
Drive too fast on the winding highway
Earlie in the mourning

Ask him nicely to be quiet
Ask him nicely to be quiet
Ask him nicely to be quiet
Earlie in the mourning

Walk him up the misty mountain
Walk him up the misty mountain
Walk him up the misty mountain
Earlie in the mourning

Take his hand and kiss his fingers
Take his hand and kiss his fingers
Take his hand and kiss his fingers
Earlie in the mourning

Tell him what you like at bedtime
Tell him what you like at bedtime
Tell him what you like at bedtime
Earlie in the mourning

Give him hope and laughter darling
Give him hope and laughter darling
Give him hope and laughter darling
Earlie in the mourning

Wine and dine his jubillant spirit
Wine and dine his jubillant spirit
Wine and dine his jubillant spirit
Earlie in the mourning

Attend the funeral of his dogma
Attend the funeral of his dogma
Attend the funeral of his dogma
Earlie in the mourning

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 12:51 PM

You could make up a whole set of verses to "What shall we do with a Drunken Sailor":

How do you flirt with an Existent'list,
How do you flirt with an Existent'list,
How do you flirt with an Existent'list,
On a gloomy morning?

Make him a sarnie with cheese and Sartre...

Give him a Heidegger for his breakfast...

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 11:53 AM

Catters who answer thread questions are usually those with a knowledge of or at least an interest in the subject being raised. So far most people have answered from their knowledge of existentialism rather than flirting. It is for this reason that I feel that Noreen seems to be conspicuous by her absence. I can only conclude that Noreen has either never tried to flirt with an Existentialist, or alternatively found the whole experience an impossible task or just not worth the effort. Perhaps you should ponder on that Tenjiro.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 09:12 PM

I'm reminded of the true story of The Colditz Glider which the prisoners of war built in the attic of Colditz Castle.

I think that was probably the origin ofthe escape plan hatched in Chicken Run.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 04:36 PM

If you are saying that writing the book is an end in itself, so be it. If it is meant as a book to be read, you have to take risks. the house may fall on you, you may be rejected.

When Mark and I were working on "Songs of South Street," the publications committee that had asked us to write the book got into issues of political correctness and dithering. We went to a few publishers who turned us down on the theory that the book was too small.

We then decided to self publish because we had something to say to the public. If you want to be heard, you have to get the word out to your public. Otherwise, the book is simply an exercise in composition, worthy in its own way but a private document.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 04:05 PM

Bulding an aeroplane in a basement would count as an acte gratuit, clearly an example of existentialism in practice.

"As an impressionable young man I briefly flirted with existentialism, when I misheard an attractive young woman talking about giving me quite a treat. She had actually said acte gratuit" (from here) (I think this might suggest a possible answer to Tenjiro's original question.)

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 02:29 PM

Heric,

I understand, and am astonished, by the almost Zen-perfect wisdom your uncle demonstrates. Imagine!!

If he did finish the planes he could also just mothball them up in Saranwrap, and then refinish the house so it appeared to have no basement. Then when finally it came time to demolish the house, someone would discover the planes and unwrap them. Headlines! POsthumous fame!! Har!

But he probably needs the central heater down there too.


A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 02:21 PM

Shucks, my grandpa and uncles once built a boat in the loft of their garage/barn. There was no way to get it out down the steps or by the door through which they used to use to bring up bales of hay. When they did get it out -- eventually, by cutting the front wall of the second floor in half and rebuilding it as a door -- it worked really well. (They hinged it in case they ever built another boat up there.)

I understand about the airplanes.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 11:43 AM

Yes, it was not responsive, but I didn't expect you to call me on it. When one asks (feeling silly after doing so), "But you can't get it out, can you?" he answers, "No," and smiles. If I've ever asked him "why are you building airplane that you can't fly," I don't remember what the answer was. This mystery has sort of evolved, you see, in that most of us expected one of the planes (the Cessna) would near completion and some drastic news would come (yes we had thought about him firing it up and drilling his way out.) Instead, it became clear over the decades that he has no intention of finishing any of the planes. (I vaguely recall that he have told us that from the start, but we didn't believe him.)

You know what I mean, don't you, that the question seems almost un-askable? Who wants to hear a "because it's there" answer?

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 11:25 AM

Heric:

Your answer re your uncle is not quite responsive -- I meant, has anyone asked him what he was thinking when he built airplanes in a basement he couldn't get them out of? If he loved flying that much, I'd have thought he'd'a built them where he could fly them. Hmm?

A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 09:03 AM

What was Noah's last name, for that matter? Count? Zark? Or, in keeping with this thread, did he really exist? Or was he a contruct of our collective unconcious, created to fulfill some unexpressed and unexpressible desire within the human psyche? Mayhap he was, as Buber expressed it so well in his "Dialogue above the city," structuring the whirlpool out of existence -- or perhaps he was riding it. We will never know these things, of course, for we can never know these things by definition. It would all be so depressing except, as Camus wrote, "The point is to live."

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Sam L
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 08:49 AM

what was Noah's wife's name?

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 03:47 PM

I suspect the unicorns became extinct after violating the uniform unicorn code of conduct. Probably Abdel and Lobelia didn't want anyone else horning in on their business and filed a complaint.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 02:24 PM

Waldorf:

I dunno what you've been smoking. but I suspect the other unicorn was gay.

A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: GUEST,Waldorf
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 09:20 PM

Everybody didn't think Noah was nuts. There was a guy named Abdel who thought Noah was right on, but Noah didn't like him so he never got a place on the boat. This didn't stop Abdel, however, because he and his wife Lobelia disguised themselves as a unicorn and managed to get aboard at the last minute, along with a real unicorn. It is uncertain what gender the real unicorn was, but in any case it was quite unable to mate successfully with the Abdel/Lobelia combination during the voyage...or after it. Abdel and Lobelia started up a falafel business after the deluge, and didn't do too well at first because of a lack of customers, but in time the business grew. Abdel's descendants have mainly stuck to fast food, although one offshoot of the family helped found a Minnesota chapter of the Hell's Angels in recent years.

This also explains why unicorns died out.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Sam L
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 08:07 PM

I too think existentialism is natural for young people, even those who are busy being mainly something else. It always seemed to me that existentialism mainly says Things That Go Without Saying, at great length, and as if nobody ever thought about it before. Which is natural, sometimes, but as a concern of philosophers it seems to me to exist the way Performance Artists discovered the art of theatre: mainly by claiming it and taking themselves very seriously about it.

I remember liking David Hume a lot too. And Descartes's solecism solipsism.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 06:53 PM

I'm saying this gently, from the perspective of a "wise" old grandmother: I believe that existentialism is very common among the young. I was one, and called myself a "moonling." That memory now makes me blush, or look back fondly at who I was.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 06:04 PM

"Pola X"... A French film by Leos Carax... seems to size it up for the contemporary young aspirant...

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 05:07 PM

Well, when Noah started building this big boat in the middle of a field far from the sea, everyone thought he was nuts...Maybe your uncle knows something you don't.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 03:21 PM

Hmmm. I build model airplanes rather than the full-sized ones, and even that gets pretty expensive. I would enjoy trying to fly a full-sized Japanese Zero (after being trained adequately, of course). Those planes could stay in the air at speeds as slow as 30 mph when coasting in for a landing. They were amazingly responsive.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 02:39 PM

No need to ask. He loves airplanes. Flies cross-country a lot, too.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 02:27 PM

Heric:

Has anyone ever asked your uncle what he was thinking? Hoping the house would blow away from on top. or planning to drag it off? Or just fire 'em up and drill his way out?

Alas, good Barnacle, your advice is too true, too hard-learned. But the risk of rejection is so painful that endless continuous improvement is much to be preferred! :>))

A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 02:17 PM

Amos and EB, I have an aging uncle who I rarely see, on the East Coast. Last time I visited, I saw the Cessna that he has been buiding in his basement for at least twenty five years. I saw my cousin, his son, last week, who informed me that there are now three different aircraft in partial stages of construction in his (large) basement, none of which can be, or were ever expected to be, extricated from the structure.

Amy: Invite the guy to sit on your invisible love seat with you (assume the position), then, when he joins in, laughing, suddenly remember that you moved it yesterday to the other wall. Fall down, laugh, fall in love. (Boy scouts know this one.)

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 12:21 PM

Amos, as one who is also working on several books, be warned of the trap involved in "Just as soon as I touch up this one little thing." It's good to be dissatisfied, at the same time, we have to let go of our children or we will never sell them.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 10:26 PM

I actually do several things: work on a real job, look after honey-dews at home, sing songs, work on guitar skills, work on a book that keeps being nearly completed, worry about friends, worry about money, worry about friends' money. Sometimes I build furniture or madcap statuary. For a long time I was deeply immersed in producing the Mudcat CD series. Breath, and hope, and try to see through the maze of deception in the world. Write songs, or learn those writ by others.

A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 08:26 PM

Well, it's not my duty exactly, but I have been wondering...

What do you do when you're not Mudcatting, Amos? Sleep?

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 07:51 PM

Sorry LH, I take it all back as unfounded bluster on my part.

But where is Khandu and why is he silent? Isn't it your duty to know?

A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 07:26 PM

What in the world are you talking about now, Amos? Why would Khandu write a song about one of my relationships? I may just have to retaliate by writing a song about one of his...I'll just make it up as I go along. :-)

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Tenjiro
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 04:04 PM

There are more, for sure, just realize that I haven't known him for very long so the list has much room to expand.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 03:41 PM

Tenjiro

Speaking as a fully paid-up born again bachelor - I would say five things mustbe a small subset of the bigger picture or you are going to be surprised in a few years. BUT I think #1 is a good start!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 12:15 PM

someone less "amyable"

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 11:51 AM

Uh...Tenjiro -- suffice it to say it was written from the viewpoint of someone who was highly disappointed in the relationship. So it must have been some other Amy, I am sure.


A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Tenjiro
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 11:22 AM

ooo...a song with my name in it?

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Amos
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 10:44 AM

Little Hawk:

I think Khandu wrote a song about your relationship with someone named Amy, but I don't think this is the same person.

A

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 10:27 AM

ohh..right, McGrath..the good Bishop Berkley! ...well, maybe I just subjectively defined him as "not a serious philosopher"..Hume was MUCH more fun to read..

it was late....and I was thinking Getaway...and my corns hurt...and I'm old...and I hadn't had my pills...and...and...

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: LadyJean
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 12:09 AM

The phenominologist I dated looked like Roger Ebert. It made our breakup less traumatic. Your existentialist sounds like he'd be worth a lecture on philosophy on your birthday. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:58 PM

I would suggest reading poetry ... perhaps: "The Man With The Blue Guitar." Bob

Subject: RE: BS: How do you flirt with an Existentialist?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 10:35 PM

You sound a bit like someone I used go out with Amy...maybe.

Anyway, I like the sound of "Tenjiro", because I love all things Japanese. (I was Japanese once....a fairly long time ago...maybe more than once, for all I know. Still love Japan.)

I like your list of things you like about Mr eX...cute...good luck to you in your "search for fabled romance" (quoting from one of my own songs). I hope you have good times. Spanish poetry is marvelous! And so are Spanish songs.

- LH