Comments on: “The Perfect Man” on Salon.com

By: Seduction Techniques

Seduction Techniques — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:11:13 +0000

David Deangelo

Even when I was talking to a girl and it was obvious she was flirting with me I wasn’t sure how to make her really interested in me.

By: Roman Alberto

Roman Alberto — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:01:06 +0000

nice site

By: highschool pictures

highschool pictures — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 15:31:33 +0000

highschool pictures

homepage of highschool pictures

By: Matt Kressel

Matt Kressel — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:20:59 +0000

My character ends up on the floor of a bathroom.

By: Evil David

Evil David — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 16:12:08 +0000

But we always read fiction looking for themes and messages. If your bigoted character winds up being rich, famous and much-admired in your story, the reader will wonder, “Hmm, what is Matt trying to say here about bigotry…”

By: Matt Kressel

Matt Kressel — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 22:20:52 +0000

I hope that doesn’t ring true for my bigoted Brooklynite character I just sent to the Interstitial Anthology. Isn’t that a given in fiction that we are not to associate the characters with the author? They are, after all, creations.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 21:27:37 +0000

Hey E.D. When I finished an early draft of the Perfect Man, I recoiled from it myself. How could I, a sensible feminist, create a female protagonist who unwittingly chooses to be manipulated for kicks? Then I thought, screw it, I’m not going to sanitize my own fiction for the sake of a political agenda. Not that I don’t care about the feminist agenda. I live for it. But I think we shoot ourselves in the foot if we resign ourselves to only creating female characters who are perfect feminist role models. If men can be unique individuals, so can women. I don’t want to live in Smurf World where there are many types of men but only one Woman.

You are undoubtedly right, E.D., that a male writer would have been excoriated as a misogynist for creating such a character. Oh well. I guess that’s one privilege we female writers have. We dont’ have many, so I’ll take it.

By: Evil David

Evil David — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 17:21:39 +0000

In defense of JimJoe (hmm, when will I ever say *that* again…), I read “A Perfect Man,” my favorite story of Lauren’s, the same way he did. The female protag is looking for perfection in a man, but isn’t happy even when she can program every ideal attribute she desires. Its only when she’s manipulated and abused that she’s finally satisfied. Since I know Lauren and her political beliefs, I know she isn’t making some grand statement about female psychology in general. She’s simply written a terrific, edgy story about a complex, interesting-as-heck protagonist. But to stir things up a bit, I ask: if JimJoe (or any man) had written this story, wouldn’t he be accused of being a bitter, misogynist?

By: The Rocketeer

The Rocketeer — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 15:04:00 +0000

Hey JimJoe — with two first names you are already at a serious dating disadvantage, at least anywhere North and East of the Mason-Dixon line. Couple that with the fact that your yield of five internet dates suggests you may not be very handsome and all you have left is your wallet or personality to win you dates. Assuming you are of moderate financial means, I suggest that you adjust your attitude. In my experience, most women do want what they say they want and, above all, they do not want to be treated badly. If you are having trouble getting dates — it might be because women are smart not because they are hypocrites.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:17:35 +0000

One of the downfalls of writing a story with female characters is the tendency among readers to assume that she represents Womankind. I knew this story would resonate with some as a presentation of unversal female sexual desire. Of course there is no such thing. And a long time ago I decided that regardless of the risks, I would keep my female characters as weird, kinky, twisted, and unique as my male characters. I simply don’t want to be stuck writing nothing but strong, independent, sane women. How boring. So, while I’m sad that this story confirmed your worst prejudices of women, Jim Joe, I fully accept responsibilitiy for it.

As for the interview being B.S., I can assure you, I have been invited to the wedding, have attended the bridal shower and can attest that Jane and Gerry are a truly happy Match.com couple.

Also, I do not agree that the jerk population is increasing. In fact, I think it’s decreasing. Of course, I have no hardcore statistics on the subject, but I can attest that all of the married men I know are worthy mates and nice guys through and through.

Bitterness, alas, is a self-fulfilling prophesy.