The Maudlin Press

*EDIT: I noticed the exact same article has been posted at a blog called “On the Fritz“. Hmm..

*EDIT EDIT: The article at Pam’s site was actually written by the humorless Fritz (see comment below). I missed the byline on the first go-around. I was probably partially blinded by the incredible lack of anything resembling a sense of humor. I have also replaced the offending picture of Pam with a more appropriate  image. My apologies.

A delightful little blog called “Pam’s House Blend” linked my post called “Heres a song by a gay guy“. Unfourtunately, the article is titled “The Ugly Homophobic Truth About the Rickroll”.

Quote:

An Internet phenomenon Borne of Homophobia

As this Internet phenomenon gains public attention, the reason for its popularity will continue to be ignored by the media. To break it down to the most simple terms possible, the Rickroll is popular because immature young men like to laugh at males who they perceive to be gay.

For the record, Rick Astley is not gay. He was thin, pretty, and had an enormous voice. Unfortunately, he did not conform to the standard macho image that straight people demand of male performers (compare him to Clay Aiken today) and his brief success eventually faded.

She He then goes on to make a recommendation:

What Can We Do?

I would like to speed up the process of making the Rickroll a faded memory. The best way to do that is to create a new Internet fad that will supplant the Rickroll. This new Internet fad will not stem from homophobia. It will instead be a subtle protest against homophobia.

And what would this world altering solution be? (dear god…)

My goal is to have this clip of Bananarama’s I Heard a Rumour achieve over 25 million hits on YouTube. It will stand as a counterpoint to bigotry and homophobia.

Fail. First, lets settle one thing. I think Rick-rolling people is hilarious. There. I said it. Second, Until she he posted this article, I had no idea the Rick Astley video had anything to do with being gay, or making fun of gay people. I always assumed it was funny cause you get people to accidentally watch a really .. really.. bad 80’s video of a mediocre song. The backup singers don’t even know the dance steps for gods sake.

A short search on teh google finds a ton of information on Rick rolling, including an interview with Rick himself on the subject. Quote:

“Listen, I just think it’s bizarre and funny. My main consideration is that my daughter doesn’t get embarrassed about it.”

Yeah, he really seems torn up about the whole thing.

Rick Astley is not gay. I know this. I think most people know that. And to be honest, even if he was, Rick Rolling someone is not even remotely about being teh ghey. My personal impression from this one article is that Pam Fritz is a clueless busybody that jumps to conclusions. So to wrap this up, Fritz Pam, I leave you with a famous Billy Madison quote. :

Principal: Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

But thanks for the traffic. Now please leave the internets to those of us with a sense of humor.

*EDIT: In response to Fritzes continuing humorless attack on the internets and myself: Your intolerance of humor is just as rabid and misplaced as your imaginary connection between Rick Rolling and homophobia. Pam is culpable as well for supporting this bile, but the hate is all yours my friend.

“What you’re about to hear is a portion of a jaw-dropping speech delivered by an Oklahoma State Representative at a gathering in her district. This is what they say when they think we’re not listening.” While I prefer to leave my personal sexual preferences a private fact, I will state that I have absolutely no problems with the gay community.

And I’m guessing here,  but I have a feeling that there may be some “Stepping down for personal reasons” soon. Ignorant bitch.

Finlay.. some answers. From an article at Divine Caroline. I have to say, #5 is the most helpful, and #10 the most disappointing.

1. The neurochemical make-up of men dictates whether or not they will be faithful. There is a gene that codes for a particular kind of vasopressin receptor in the brain, which comes in seventeen different lengths. Males with longest gene variation are the most reliable and trustworthy partners. Therefore, this is the only size that matters when seeking a long-term mate.

2. The female brain is nature’s default setting. From conception until eight weeks, the fetal brain has the circuitry pathways of the female brain. After eight weeks, a huge testosterone surge makes this unisex brain male by killing off some of the cells in the communication centers and growing the areas dedicated to sex and aggression.

3. Women are not prone to fidelity any more than men are. Women are subconsciously looking for the men with the best genes to father their children. Symmetrical features are a signal of good genes, and therefore women are drawn to men with more symmetrical structures. When a woman is single, she is looking for men that can help her raise and protect her family. Once the home is established, the biological need to sneak around with men who have the best genes still persists.

4. Mommies fall “in love” with their babies. Research has shown that tender nurturing and breast-feeding that a mother experiences with her child releases bursts of dopamine, the reward and pleasure chemical, just as it does in romantic love.

5. No cold feet. In order for a woman to have an orgasm during sex, her amygdala, the center for fear and anxiety must be turned off. Women need to be comfortable and have their feet warm before they feel like having sex.

6. The switch from the giddy intensity of romance to the calmer, less passionate long-term relationship state is nature’s way of decreasing a couple’s focus on each other so that they can care for a new child.

7. The female brain is much more adept at reading subtle facial and verbal emotional expressions. Men, on the other hand, cannot read emotions—it’s only when they see actual tears that they realize that something is wrong. This is why women have evolved to cry four times more than men do, to signal distress that men cannot ignore.

8. Love hurts—literally. Romantic rejection triggers the same circuits in the brain, as does physical pain.

9. Menopause has the result of the “mommy brain” getting unwired. At about the age of forty-three, the female brain changes to become less sensitive to estrogen and oxytocin, the “tending” neurochemicals, and women are less inclined to nurture, connect, or establish connections like they did in their prior years. This kind of change usually baffles everyone around them.

10. Women are only half as likely to be gay as men. An estimated 5-10 percent of the female population is estimated to have same-sex attraction, but the female brain is only half as likely to be wired for same sex attraction as the male brain.