Social?
Thanks to Ken, I now know that dasypygal means "having hairy buttocks". As a word-of-the-day prerequisite, I demand that you utilize this word at least once in the next 24 hours, in some (preferably judicious) context. Feel free to tell me about it.
Due presumably to my insufficiently idleThink-ian post (according to Jenny) yesterday, I received an influx of replied mails this morning. In addition (a heartwarming bonus), I received some mails from some extremely noble readers who expressed profound concern for my grim lack of email responses. Some of them, while gratifyingly well-intentioned, seemed to be under the impression that it was because of my depression regarding my dire email situation that the aforementioned post was so "not up to your usual razor sharpness, type thing". I assure you it was not; I am currently in emotional turmoil, and that is the reason :) But thank you all!! (and the cheque's in the mail.)
A friend told me today that at one point, she has voluntarily gone to the cinema to watch a movie alone, and against my best rational judgement (or non-judgemental-ness, rather), my social bone (which is a little like my funny bone, but probably not in the elbow region) recoiled at the thought. My common sense immediately launched a complaint against this reflex, but it was too late - I have been socially conditioned to recoil against that great Societal Mantra of "Thou Shalt Not Watch Movies Alone", the sister clause to "Thou Shalt Not Dine Alone" and "Thou Shalt Feel Awkward When Your Date Leaves The Table To Go To The Bathroom And You Have To Sit At The Table Alone". Those who say that brainwashing is science fiction are so, so wrong.