In preparation for California, I've taken to calling everybody 'man'. This could spell trouble. The last time I called someone 'man' I got my friend Mary Teresa fired from her job. We were seventeen, sitting on a wall like zombies in the early morning sun, after a long, hard night of dancing and chewing gum.
I have to get ready for work soon, said Mary Teresa, eventually, looking at me wide-eyed. She was spending the summer working at the swimming pool out in LeisureLand.
You'll have to call in sick, I said, eyes equally wide. I'll do it for you, if you like.
Mary Teresa peered in through the phone-box glass while I made the call to her boss. She's really sick, man, I explained, earnestly. He sighed and hung up the phone.
Um, why did you call him 'man'? asked Mary Teresa.
Eh, I dunno man, I said, panicking. He just hung up on me, man!
Stop saying that! Stop saying 'man'!
I can't, man, I don't know what's wrong with me, man!
And then we sat back up on the wall again, me with 'man' banging around my head like a drum, and Mary Teresa with her head in her hands, knowing she'd never work at LeisureLand again.
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I do that too, but it's mostly to imply I'm somewhat closer to another bloke than I really am, as in "Hey man, good to see you. still working in Supermac's?" It's not really any different to the way British and Australian men use 'mate'. It can also be used to make yourself sound a little harder than you are, as in "Hey man/mate, do you mind moving your car the fuck out of my driveway?"
ReplyDeleteThough why you would use it on a sickie call for a friend is still anyone's guess.
I remember getting calls somewhat like that when I worked in the cinema in Tallaght.
ReplyDelete"Stacey can't come in, cos she's sick like."
- "And who am I speaking to?"
"Ah, you know like, it's her ma"
Same as Andrew, I do the "good to see you man" thing. Especially when I can't remember a name, man.
Leisureland in Salthill?
ReplyDelete"Yeah, Man. A ten-spot."
Yes, LeisureLand in Salthill. And yes, ten-spots. Takes me back.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Cathy and I call each other "mate" all the time. It's like our special pet name for each other. I notice that every time I hear her call someone else 'mate' I get this funny little wave of jealousy...
Am I in love with her???
Assuredly Annie, this is Cathy-the-most-beautiful-girl-in-the-school after all.
ReplyDeleteWell, man, I go back to the sixties when everyone called everyone Man until it was utterly sickening. It was also very dubious in the age of so-called sexual liberation that even women were always called Man.
ReplyDeleteI read, btw, that the Iceland economy is in meltdown and likely to take a whole bunch of UK retailers with it. Hope you don't have any cash in Icelandic banks....
I have 2000 kronur in Glitnir, the bank that was just nationalised.
ReplyDeleteNote that "2000 kronur" is much less than it sounds. It is roughly about a ten-spot, man.
Annie, if you're going to be anywhere near Ojai/Ventura/Santa Barbara on your trip, or if you need a place to lay your head for a while, give us a shout!
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh Annie-you reminded me of when i was in college i went through a 'man' phase..It hasn't really dimished either :)
ReplyDeleteMainly due to the fact that i have the memory of a goldfish when it comes to names so it was easier to say 'maaaan' than embarrass myself(again) by asking their name!
I'd blame the depletion of serotonin on letting slip to your friends boss.lol
Damn, I think I'll actually be skipping the Santa Barbara area completely – getting a nightbus from LA to SF, then hiring a camper van in SF to tour around California a bit, but we probably won't make it as far south as you again. I'm only just beginning to realise what a big state California is.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the offer though, I'll be in touch if plans change. Be good to meet you again.
I haven't heard that many 'mans' to be honest, way more 'dudes' and way way more 'guys'.
ReplyDeletemy brother, sister and i went through a phase of calling one another "mate". we moved from that to "gicker" and it somehow spiralled from there.
ReplyDeletei'd hate to tell you what we're at now.
I thought the word of the day was 'Dude'
ReplyDelete*shrugs* that's what I use in Beantown
or I'll say...that's wick'd ahwsame
oh well...
I prefer the poncy theatrical mode of calling everyone 'darling'.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this didn't go down so well when I lived in Brixton.
I go through a 'dude' phase every so often, usually with an involuntary American accent though.
ReplyDeleteI tend to abuse of 'dear', but only to close friends. Although when I first moved to the UK I have quite enjoyed abusing of the fact that you could call any random cute bloke 'love' or 'sweetheart' and get away with it. But it got old quite quickly, I have to admit.
ReplyDeleteAlso - I've tagged your blog (I hope you don't mind). It's this chain thing going on through blogger possibly aimed at creating connections or attracting readers, but I've quite enjoyed coming up with my 7 random facts and thought that you would probably come up with something really good, so I did - the original pic also giving the rules to be found on my blog.
Lol! This made me think of Who Will Run The Frog Hospital.
ReplyDeleteI loved that book! Lorrie Moore, right? They used to smoke cigarettes dressed up as Cinderella.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting emails telling me it has to be "dude" and not "man". I can't bring myself to say dude, I just can't. It makes me feel like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
Hey Anna, thanks for the tag :)
Have fun in Californya, man!
ReplyDeleteDamn, I actually thought that was The Pirate for a second then. I got all excited.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best friends always starts our conversations with 'Alright Toots!'.
ReplyDeleteWhereas I'm always calling people 'love'. Gets a bit embarassing at work but I can't help meself.
i like saying dude. it always makes me giggle for some reason.
ReplyDelete