Fun_People Archive
25 Feb
Shen?

Date: Sat, 25 Feb 95 04:47:55 PST
From: Peter Langston <psl>
To: Fun_People
Subject: Shen?

[Fun_People may remember a Fun_Item ("Login name of choice") that used the word
"shen."  I got a couple of questions about the meaning of "shen" and, since I
didn't know, I naturally tried to sidestep the question.  Then I tried hinting
that it was Yiddish.  None of these things worked, so here's my latest attempt
to lay "shen" to rest... -psl]

Forwarded-by: <Ninafel@aol.com>
Forwarded-by: lshavelson@igc2.igc.apc.org (Lonny Shavelson)
Forwarded-by: Emery Jeffreys <jeffreye@DB.ERAU.EDU>
From: The Burned-Out Newspapercreatures Guild's Newsletter

...
SURFING THE INTERNET.  This week the Other Side Lives Committee found
the Usenet group alt.shenanigans, devoted to merry pranks called
"shens." Some of its postings also appear in alt.revenge, a group that
appreciates somewhat more vitriol in its pranks. Some shens:
     -- In a public place, when bothered by other people's brats, say
loud enough to be heard, "That reminds me.  Condoms.  We need condoms"
or "You see now why you're not supposed to drink when you're pregnant?"
     -- When confronted by an answering machine, contributors were
particularly creative.  One fellow leaves messages in a normal voice,
then suddenly switches to SUPERFASTSQUEAKYVOICE and then to v-e-r-y
l-o-w, s-l-o-w v-o-i-c-e, leaving the machine owner with worries about
his equipment.  Another plays back the operator saying this number is
not in service. And then there's the guy who recorded the AT&T intercept
tape for callers to the Northridge, Calif. area. "Due to an earthquake
in the area you are calling, your call cannot be completed at this
time," and put it on his own machine; he lives in Chicago.
     (In that vein, Dayton Daily News cartoonist Mike Peters has been
known to answer his phone with an empty coffee cup over his mouth,
creating that perfect mechanical echo sound.  Conversations go:
     "THIS IS MIKE. I CAN'T COME TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW, BUT YOUR CALL
IS IMPORTANT TO ME. PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AFTER THE BEEP (*beep*)."
     "Mike, this is Charley, it's 2:15 Tuesday, and -- "
     "(Still in machine mode) OH HI, CHARLEY!  HOW YA DOIN'?")
     -- Pagers are another foil.  A contributor gets even with his
weenie supervisor when he knows the super isn't near a phone.  He calls
the super's pager, then punches in the super's boss's number.
     (Dayton Daily News reporters with voice pagers, waiting in lines
at the bank, have been known to get loud calls saying, "YOUR LAWYER
CALLED AND HE SAYS YOU SHOULD MARRY THE GIRL.")
...
            Copyright (c) 1995 by BONG.  All rights reserved.

© 1995 Peter Langston