Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Paotie Complex Response

Intellectual Humor. Especially when it's a dry or wry humor that comes with an intellectual twist makes it even more funny. If you ever listened to Steven Wright's dead-pan comedy skits then you'd might understand how that works when it comes to wry humor. A way of playing with words that many people find riotously funny. Like my own joke I made up a few years ago, "Why do they call it “manual alphabet”? Is it labor intensive or what?" Just not what you say but how the delivery of that joke is made is just as important when it comes to humor.

People generally like humor but not all humors are made equally. And not all humors are humorous to all people, generally so. Just humor me for a moment here. I like people with intellectual humor along with a good philosophy about themselves and about life. Just as I liked some of Barry's own philosophy, outlook on life and his love for nature in his The Holism blog. He find his own brand of humor that suits him and anything that tickles his funny bone just like the rest of us. Though I'm pretty sure he's a fan of the Monopoly game just as I am although I would win. But for Barry he's certainly not of the "Napoleon Complex" variety seeking control as some people would try and say. Rather I see him seeking equilibrium in life more than anything else. He's more grounded than most people would give him credit for. But to say "Napoleon Complex" is regarded as a derogatory social stereotype. An expresssion meant to be personally mean and petty. People who say those things for that just purpose might want to look into their own mirror the next time.

Now, this brings me to this complex condition called, "Paotie Complex Response." It is definitely a knee-jerk response condition. It is an automatic reflex. Sometimes it's a gag type reflex for some people while for others it's like eating succulent Kobe steak. Yummmm. A "Paotie Complex Response" might sound really bad if you're already a paranoid person but then again to be diagnosed with PCR might proved curative and rejuvenating for the more enlightened people. Which condition of PCR do you have?

First and foremost, what or who is Paotie? Easy, he's the guy behind the green curtain hitting the control buttons and levers while saying "Gawwwrsh!" in a deep, trembling voice. No. Just kidding. Really, who is he? Well, I...don't know. He's just....well.... Paotie. You know. Just...Paotie. That guy with the green moldy couch thingy on his blogsite with a bunch of stale crumbly stuff underneath the cushions. You have to read his old blog pieces in order to understand the humor and the intellect this guy brings to the table. And when he writes a piece, the paranoid, er, upset people usually come out of the woodworks and react irrationally to his writings. Things like.... well, you probably can already imagine it. It ain't pretty!

Because of that some 3 years ago I (and many others) recognized the fact that some people were willing to squelch other people's blogging style on what they should or should not write just because they disagree or don't like? Thin skin anybody?
But to promote or instigate for the limitations on the free exchanges of ideas and concepts just because people happen to not like what’s being discussed sets a dangerous precedence.
Indeed it would set a dangerous precedent. Although by saying "Gawwrsh!" in a humorous way is certainly not harmful. Kicking a stone in mock disappointment is a harmless thing. Saying "DBC sucks!" should not trigger an apoplectic fit except for the most criminally insane people who don't bother to look before leaping. Or by giving an alternative meaning to "deficit thinking" as oppose to those who say it is more about people who do not properly speak of Deaf culture do they get supremely upset when people are told it's really double speak to mean “not Deaf enough." Even that shouldn't be justification to somehow censure the blogger.

Today, even speaking remotely "negatively" on anything Deaf related is almost criminal..... to some of them that is. Not all of them but some of them. Of course, all this is a bit of humorous hyperbole and a stretch there but you get my drift. Yada yada yada. But having an opinion contrary to what other Deaf people say isn't about hating the Deaf community. It's about.... surprise.... having an opinion. And when humor is employed in the whole scheme of things to make a point do some people get all "Deaf-uppity" (word is copyrighted by this blog owner, please send check or cash for literary license use of the word) or, to move toward to a more politically correct word, really, really uptight. So tight the spincter actually disappears inward which will take a proctologist days to find. Spelunking would take on a new meaning here.

Either you have a good case of PCR or you have a bad one. Make the best of your funny bone. Just don't go all freaky on us and fall apart like some zombies. We, "alternative bloggers," do have valid opinions. Just not the mindless ones.....(that was supposed to be a zombie joke...you can laugh now).

13 comments:

Karen Mayes said...

:-)

When he first appeared on DeafRead, I admit to being curious about him. I have to admit that his writing style went over my head, failing to understand him right away... no kidding. Reading the comments, I started getting an idea of what he was trying to say... When I started leaving the comments, he was courteous to point out what he meant, guiding me to understand some things that I failed to pick up right away.

I will never forget "Go Nad" posting... that was funny. I ain't saying anymore about it; look for Paotie's archive for it and you'd have a good idea.

His satire writing is talented... wow. His kind of writing leaves readers thinking that's what he means until he says "Really?" and then we quickly learn it is NOT what he meant and feel somewhat foolish and starts questioning ourselves. It's funny and a bit humbling in a way. He points us to our human psyche. And we learned an art of recognizing the ironies, hence complicating ourselves and our words.

Of course, he has a way of turning tables on us... skillfully. Some resent that, hence viewing Paotie in a hostile light.

Ahhh... pink topic... ;-)

I really enjoyed his satire writing, because it made me think. Even he writes, making the words to TALK in SOUNDS, which is kewl.

Heck, I was caught up in the commenting that I left the oil burning in the frying pan, catching fire and my kids ran to me, screaming at me and I looked at the kitchen and saw the red flickering lights on the ceiling and went... oh crap! Of course, the fire was put out quickly, by me, and no damages... but... oh man, I thought it was time for me to cut down my addiction to Paotie, ha.

Paotie... you are a kewl guy and I kissfist you. :-)

Karen Mayes said...

And... as for Barry... Mike is correct, Barry is NOT narcissistic. He's very level-headed and consistent.

To be honest, I did NOT view all of his DBC vlogs...I did view a few of them to get a good idea of what he was talking about, nothing more.

He again and again stated that he was NOT a leader, that we all had our own opinions, etc. He firmly believes in truth and he presents it to us as the way he sees it, rightly or wrongly. Somehow, people made him a leader, and when they notice that he did not do what they expect, they denounce him, calling him names and when they see some people leaving positive comments, calling them Barry's followers, etc.... hmm. OK. Expectations are relative. His son, Cobi, created an animated vlog about it...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFE-wcK9Qc&feature=player_embedded

He's different, yes. Yes, he has lost some respect from some people, and that's between them. Honestly, I feel bad for the loss of respect between them, but...~shrug~, it's not my business.

What it all boils down... is to appreciate what each blogger and vlogger contribute to the Deaf cyberspace, not to judge them just because other people say so.

Take care.

Anonymous said...

Intellectual Humor....Ah. It's hard to think how the intellectual humor works. It's hard task. It does not mean if it's the dry humor or real humor. It's just the natural way for the writers to develop how the visual environment or approach appears in everywhere. Like it or not, for instance, screenwriters could be the ones who can use all the news/shows, newspaper, internet, tabloids, etc. to humor us. So, people will have to live with the intellucal humors. Simple, if people don't like to see the "bad" intellucal humors, then, don't have to see it.

So, Paotie could be the ones who CAN become the screen writer. It'll be nice if he becomes the first deaf screenwriter.

Screenwriters could be the one of those who can use the politcal/personal agendas only if they can handle with all the good and bad judgments. Not nesscarily to destory other people's images/behaviors/reputations unless the media press/reporters broke the news. It's tough task.

Paotie is now deaf Mr. Oz? Mystery example. Sounds good! We don't know who Paotie is but Paotie is Paotie. Does not matter who he is.....don't need to reveal his real name. I don't care. ;-)

White Ghost

Karen Mayes said...

I decided to blog about him...

http://deaftranquillife.typepad.com/blog/2010/09/about-paotie-1.html

Candy said...

We've seen how people react to Paotie's posts, and that itself was hilarious.

It's where I get my doses of laughter. Not just only by his writing, but how some people react to his writings, especially when he touches controversial stuffs in the deaf community. Stuffs we really should be looking at in a hard and honest way. You could land on his green couch (it's moldy?! ack!), to find the air indeed fresher, one could breathe easier. A breath of fresh air...ahhh.

Ain't nothing more to say about Paotie....

Paotie is Paotie.

Karen Mayes said...

Yup, Candy.

Paotie is Paotie.

Rob said...

There are some Deaf people who probably flunked reading and comprehension courses and still bother to leave comments attacking bloggers for their subtly satirical writings and rhetorical opinions, even with humor. It's really sad... no, honestly depressing.

We're heading toward an idiocratic society, thanks to these people not making efforts to improve themselves intellectually.

mervynjames224 said...

I suppose they don't want to create an intellectual elite that looks down on others. You get enough of that sort of thing with brilliant signers or brilliant lip-readers or someone with a few more db's than you have.

I think stupidity and making mistakes has a lot going for it, and those of higher intellect are amongst that category ! To have much intellectual humour you need an audience on the same level to appreciate it, but you don't want a select few talking over everyone's head.

Nobody likes a show off lol.... (Well Brits don't, I suspect Americans love it). It's a cultural thing. I rejoice in the statement it makes no difference how good you are, there is ALWAYS someone better.

Mike said...

MM,

There is always an audience out there who will like your brand of humor. Always. Not everybody will like but certainly there will be people who do.

Rob said...

MM, I'm not talking about Ivory-tower-educated elitist asses. I loathe them as much as I loathe infantile-minded dummies who unhinge themselves out there.

It's about people trying to improve themselves intellectually by doing some reading works of literature, learn and research history, non-fiction stuff bit by bit over the time. It's like being a late-bloomer: if you didn't do well in school when you're a kid, you could always make up yourself by learning later in life and become better at it as an adult. One never stop learning in life and it's not too late, though. I hope a lot of people who didn't do well as youngsters could do well as adults by making such efforts to learn, read and catch up with the rest of educated folks.

Anonymous said...

Gawrrrshhhh, so some of us got dropped on our heads as babies a couple of times? LOL! Good one, Mike

Tousi

Ann said...

I miss my delicious kobe steak, like right now.

I loved Paotie's classic "Jesus Hates Deaf People". If one cannot see the point that he made with that blog article and beyond, then he doesn't have any sense of humor. I roared over that 'un, it was so funny and so, what is it now? so moving in another way.

Yeah, Paotie had a way of touching ppl's nerves and sensibilities at the same time. But he also touched on what is so human in our deafness.

I miss that green couch.

Ann_C

Margarita said...

*googles* Rehab...*googles*panties up in a bunch..
Oh My Gosh! Excuuuuse me! I became distracted for the moment!
Anyway... I have enjoyed Paotie's blog from day one, his first blog post to his last post. His blog is still there for me to enjoy at my leisure. I Enjoy your blog too, Mike, and some others who have commented at your blog. Uniqueness entices me. My curious mind leads me to wonder why folks read blogs that they have no interest, but yet their comments are those of "reactoraholics"
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