It is difficult to establish, as a rule, that screaming—even full-throated, profanity-filled screaming—is the best palliative for a thumb smashed by a hammer. Despite a scientific basis for the theory that producing loud noises might disrupt the transmission of pain, some thumbs continue to throb no matter how much bellowing occurs; and others may even hurt worse despite the paroxysm. Relief is capricious, as Clark Anton Gannon famously said. Perhaps it is best to recall not Gannon, but Warren Burke’s conception of pain as a thing always delivered but never signed for.
©2020 Ben Greenman/Stupid Ideas
No comments:
Post a Comment