David Sedaris signing WHORE in MN poster's book

[TeachesOfPeaches]

He talks about this incident in the new Adam Buxton podcast episode 79.

Provides a bit more context as to why he does this and the other outrageous things he has written/drawn at book signings.

I now think the OP was being unreasonable as this seems to be part and parcel of being a fan of his.

[claraschu]

Essay in the New Yorker about his mother- very touching I thought:
www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/19/why-arent-you-laughing

[EnthusiasmIsDisturbed]

Of course he would mention it

Such ridiculous accusations made on that thread

I shall go off and listen now

My favorite books of his is Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family in Corduroy though would highly recommend you sign up to audio and listen to him reading his own books they are fantastic

My favorite stories are always about his family particularly his mum

His last book Calypso was very moving at times

[Brian9600]

God, I would absolutely love David Sedaris to write whore in a book for me. Totally fucking love it.

[LaurieMarlow]

The early ones are the best. Me Talk Pretty One Day would be a good start. Not sure what book it's in but the essay about being a Christmas Elf in Macy's is hysterical.

[TeachesOfPeaches]

What's the best DS book to buy? I've not read anything by him before.

[LaurieMarlow]

I haven't rtft, but firstly fanboi has absolutely the same tone as fangirl. If anything I'd say it's more insulting.

I like Sedaris, I've always found him hysterical. One thing I'd say is that he's always willing to go to quite dark places to get laughs. He's also happy to portray himself in a very negative light. I've never come across anyone who reveals so much of their own character flaws.

Does that mean I'd be happy if he called me a whore? Probably not. But I have a sense of his style and the insult would be tempered a bit by that.

[IfNotNowThenWhen1]

Cba to read the bunfight but David Sedaris is an amazing writer, sometimes very very funny and often very touching and honest.
I don't know the significance of "Whore" but I do know he is not a mysoginist.

[Angelil]

As for the podcast, you only need to listen to the first 10-15 minutes to get a sense of Sedaris (if you can stand Adam Buxton for that long - who I don't think is particularly funny either!). 'Arrogant' is the first word that comes to mind to describe him based on that.

[Thymeout]

Do fanboi or fangirl have a sexual connotation?

Groupie most definitely did in the 60s. It wasn't just a superfan, but a girl whose ambition was to have sex with her idol. There were some famous groupies who had more than one idol. I expect there were male groupies, too, but it was predominantly female. Until Bowie, gay/bi-sexual pop stars mostly stayed in the closet, and for many years after, e.g. George Michael.

[Angelil]

FWIW I read the article recommended by a PP in the hope of 'understanding' Sedaris better:

www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/10/28/now-we-are-five

What this told me is that he writes very well, even poignantly.
However, having also read some of his attempts at humour, this doesn't make him a funny man, and this definitely doesn't give him the right to be misogynistic.

[Antigon]

Hardly in the same vein though dey

ThisIs you haven't actually explained why Fangirl is insulting but Fanboy is not?

[cabingirl]

@AuntBeastie
My point is that that isn’t what I believe DS means - not because he’s gay or a good writer, but because it would be so wildly out of keeping with the body of his work and the way he interprets the world.

I agree with you.

I do think he misjudged his audience with this particular signee though - previous fans have loved the edgy and risque stuff they get.

[ThisIsTheFirstStep]

Hardly in the same vein though dey .

Besides which, it's more the total hypocrisy I had an issue with.

Thanks for the tea.

[deydododatdodontdeydo]

Fanboy is definitely used as an insult. The first I heard this was probably 20 years ago - people being accused of being "Maryline Manson fanboys". And it wasn't a compliment.

[TeachesOfPeaches]

Tea's ready

[ThisIsTheFirstStep]

antigone nonetheless, in the real world, they have different connotations. Fangirl is commonly used as an insult in a way that fanboy is not.

No one is 'bothered by fangirl but not whore' that's a willful misconstrual of the argument.

I guess I'll have a cuppa too. Milk and no sugar for me as well.

[SapphireSeptember]

I have no idea. I'm not bothered by fangirl at all, anyone who looks at my posting history on here will see that I am one (Evanescence, Harry Potter and Pusheen being my main obsessions.) If someone called me a whore I would get upset because I'm not! (Luckily if I ever meet Amy Lee, JK Rowling or Claire Belton I'm completely sure they wouldn't sign an album/book with that!) Anyway, you're welcome @Antigon.

I'm down for a cuppa OP, I've got some biscuits too.

[Antigon]

I'm in. Mine's milk, no sugar please

[TeachesOfPeaches]

Shall we all just calm down and have a cup of tea?

[Antigon]

@SapphireSeptember

Fanboy or 'fanboi' is definitely a thing, it's been around for quite a long time (certainly for the past 15 years when I started going on music forums.) Google has just pulled up a result from 1988 which was the year I was born. I'm slightly surprised that some people haven't heard or read it but know of fangirl. I suppose it depends on where you hang out on the internet. Music and the Harry Potter fandom are fairly unisex.

Thank you!

I wonder why some posters are so bothered by fangirl but not whore... 🤔

[Antigon]

antigone I find your defense of misogynistic language baffling? Groupie as unisex is a new one on me. Fangirl has a totally different tone to fanboy as I'm sure you know.

I disagree. Fangirl/fanboi are now used instead of groupie by young people now. Here is the definition of both in the Urban Dictionary:

fangirl/fanboy
anyone who is particularly obsessed with a certain book, movie, series, band or team to the extent of mentioning them in every conversation wearing merch/advertising them, attending multiple concerts/games/showings and generally freaking out at the mention of their particular obsession, even sometimes to an extent that could be considered crazy by others.

[deydododatdodontdeydo]

What is the word you omitted?

I put four asterixes :)

[SapphireSeptember]

Fanboy or 'fanboi' is definitely a thing, it's been around for quite a long time (certainly for the past 15 years when I started going on music forums.) Google has just pulled up a result from 1988 which was the year I was born. I'm slightly surprised that some people haven't heard or read it but know of fangirl. I suppose it depends on where you hang out on the internet. Music and the Harry Potter fandom are fairly unisex.

[53rdWay]

Maybe the posters you’re accusing of ‘personal abuse’ are just doing for the obvious shock response, thyme? After all, there’s a certain sort of humour where insults are funny. 🤷‍♀️

[InsomniacAnonymous]

"Rik Mayall was notorius for signing insulting autographs and his fans loved to be called a by him."

What is the word you omitted?