Later occurred to me why he looked a bit uncomfortable

[Buttercup]

Yesterday I bought 3 books at Barnes & Noble. No, don't ask for the titles; it's part of a trilogy which wouldn't be welcome for discussion at this family-friendly forum.

Anyway, I noticed the clerk (maybe 10 years younger than I) looked a bit flustered while bagging the books.

Later it occurred to me why: The covers of all 3 are reproductions of old paintings of Venus, or Venus-like females (and topless). Doesn't faze me at all (aside from artistic beauty), but it apparently did him.

[Fazor]

That, or he was gassy and just wanted the customers to go away before he exploded.

[Jim]

I know looking at pictures of naked women always makes me gassy.

[Buttercup]

Lol!

It did surprise me though, considering the covers are reproductions of paintings.

Then again, that trilogy is erotica; probably another reason for the reaction.

Should have checked out with a female cashier.

[AstroRockHunter]

Lol!

It did surprise me though, considering the covers are reproductions of paintings.

Then again, that trilogy is erotica; probably another reason for the reaction.

Should have checked out with a female cashier.

And this would have made a difference how???

(Oh, and could you send me the titles?)

[Perikles]

And this would have made a difference how???

There is a passage in Goerge Orwell's 1984 where they describe the automated production of pornographic material for distribution amongst the proletariat. All the workers involved are women, because they were deemed to be far less fazed by the material they were handling.

Does that answer your question?

[Buttercup]

And this would have made a difference how???

What, that the cover art is from paintings? I don't know...just think a painting wouldn't, in this day and age, prompt much of a response (especially as said art is dated centuries ago). Then again, I'm married for quite a while now and only have to concern myself with one male's responses, so I didn't anticipate there might be a response from the male cashier.

(Oh, and could you send me the titles?)

I might.

[Perikles]

What, that the cover art is from paintings?

Ah - I understood his question differently.

[AstroRockHunter]

Don't 'ya just love the way I can be confusing???

"I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I'm not so sure that what you heard is what I ment."

(Some saying that I heard a long time ago and I don't remember who first said it.)

[HenrikOlsen]

What, that the cover art is from paintings? I don't know...just think a painting wouldn't, in this day and age, prompt much of a response (especially as said art is dated centuries ago). Then again, I'm married for quite a while now and only have to concern myself with one male's responses, so I didn't anticipate there might be a response from the male cashier.

You haven't been looking at the right paintings then.

[Moose]

There was an episode of This American Life from a few weeks ago that had a segment (the one on Commandment Seven) that I expect might explain this fellow's reaction, Buttercup. I won't get into it further here for what should be obvious reasons.

[HenrikOlsen]

There was an episode of This American Life from a few weeks ago that had a segment (the one on Commandment Seven) that I expect might explain this fellow's reaction, Buttercup. I won't get into it further here for what should be obvious reasons.

Seven is don't steal¹, so it's not really obvious.


1) In both catholic and protestant traditions 7 is don't steal. Philonic and Talmudic has don't adult as 7, but I doubt those are traditions you'd be likely to count by. Neither Exodus nor Deutoronomy has 10 commandments, rather they have about 17 statements which the different traditions group into 10 commandments in slightly different ways.

ETA, just noted that non-lutheran protestants go by the Philonic grouping so you might have meant the adultery thing anyway.
BTW, isn't the relevant one actually ten(nine), the don't "wanna" one?

[Moose]

Seven is don't steal¹, so it's not really obvious.

As you realized, yeah, Seven is adultery by the Protestant count. The story I'm thinking about is in that segment.

[Buttercup]

To my mind, it was simply I'm a married customer buying these books and he's an employee (cashier). Guess I forgot there might be a reaction -- it is a living human at the register, not a robot.

[DonM435]

If I ever managed a store of any kind, I'd instruct the employees to handle any "sensitive" purchase swiftly and discretely, and show no interest in it.

Do not wave the prune juice in the air and shout for a price check.

[Tobin Dax]

If I ever managed a store of any kind, I'd instruct the employees to handle any "sensitive" purchase swiftly and discretely, and show no interest in it.

Do not wave the prune juice in the air and shout for a price check.

Agreed. Klingons get rather impatient at the register.

[HenrikOlsen]

As you realized, yeah, Seven is adultery by the Protestant count. The story I'm thinking about is in that segment.

I'm Danish, which means Lutheran Protestant, so slightly different counting, hence the reaction.

Still think it may be a case of coveting instead. Why they need two rules just to cover that one thing is beyond me.

[Moose]

Still think it may be a case of coveting instead. Why they need two rules just to cover that one thing is beyond me.

It's a specific interpretation of one or more US sects, not shared by all, though further discussion of that is well beyond the bounds of the board. Point is, the story is where I said it was, and the story adequately explains why it's there and not elsewhere.

[swampyankee]

Lol!

It did surprise me though, considering the covers are reproductions of paintings.

Do remember, that the previous attorney general of the US spent a large sum of taxpayer money because the statue of Justice near his podium was bare-breasted, and that was marble.

Then again, that trilogy is erotica; probably another reason for the reaction.

He may not have known it was erotica, but nekkid women may have convinced him it was pornography ("they sell that here?").

Should have checked out with a female cashier.

She might have.

[novaderrik]

if i had a cashier that reacted like that to something i was buying, i'd go back and get a bunch of other stuff that was at least as bad- and probably worse- because i'm immature like that..

[swampyankee]

Maybe Buttercup should see what the clerk does if she buys Casanova's Memoirs.

[Fazor]

if i had a cashier that reacted like that to something i was buying, i'd go back and get a bunch of other stuff that was at least as bad- and probably worse- because i'm immature like that..

Last time I was at "Big Book Store," I found it interesting that the discount table right next to the cash registers was filled with books featuring the title, "Have hotter sex" with a naked couple (though with nothing "visible") on the cover. Considering every purchase, from reference books to Dr Seuss, had to go through that line . . . Just seemed like they could have picked a more discreet location. I wonder how many people were offended. I don't have children, so I just found it amusing and wondered how many people, if any, would actually pick up the book while standing in line for all to see.

[Buttercup]

Maybe Buttercup should see what the clerk does if she buys Casanova's Memoirs.

I already have the complete set. Used bookstore. No reaction.

novaderrik:

if i had a cashier that reacted like that to something i was buying, i'd go back and get a bunch of other stuff that was at least as bad- and probably worse- because i'm immature like that..

Well this was just a standard Barnes & Noble bookstore. There are other books just as salacious (or even more so)...but I only purchase what I actually want to read.

[SeanF]

Do remember, that the previous attorney general of the US spent a large some of taxpayer money because the statue of Justice near his podium was bare-breasted, and that was marble.

There is for more (or perhaps far less) to that story than you're implying here, but this is probably not the place to discuss it in detail.

[novaderrik]

There is for more (or perhaps far less) to that story than you're implying here, but this is probably not the place to discuss it in detail.

poor John Ashcroft just got sick of constantly having to remind all the reporters that he was "down here" because he could see their eyes wandering...

[DonM435]

Another thing I'd do if I managed a store would be to ask any woman, whatever her age might be, to prove that she's at least 21 whenever such is vaguely justifiable. I'll bet it would be great for business.

[swampyankee]

I'd wonder if the clerk noticed any resemblance between Buttercup and the model, but he probably froze on "female."

[profloater]

I came across a reference to a book of photographs, plus the book, from the forties, which book was banned. The cover was a straightforward shot of several seashells, B&W , just what you might hang on a wall but somebody got all huffy and had the book banned for pornography. I imagine that helped sales considerably.

[Buttercup]

I'd wonder if the clerk noticed any resemblance between Buttercup and the model...

Well, I am pretty. Don't know if as pretty as the models in the paintings though.

I'm sure a lot of it is my red hair; I've gotten a lot of attention since I've dyed my hair red. A surprising amount of attention. :-\

Has made me wonder who has more fun: Blondes or redheads. Given my experience as a redhead...

[swampyankee]

Well, I am pretty. Don't know if as pretty as the models in the paintings though.

I'm sure a lot of it is my red hair; I've gotten a lot of attention since I've dyed my hair red. A surprising amount of attention. :-\

Has made me wonder who has more fun: Blondes or redheads. Given my experience as a redhead...

Many men (me included ) tend to turn into hormonally-driven, drooling morons in the presence of attractive redheads.