i must confess: i may be the source of all of the hatred of 12 year-olds in the world, and especially on the internet.

you may have noticed that i use a turn of phrase semi-frequently. "what are you some kind of ____ or something?". it's mel brooks comedy, lifted from get smart. i've been using it as long as i can remember. i always use it ironically, but the nature of the irony shifts. so, if i say something very anarchist that i know most people would think is outlandish, i'll parody the reaction: "what is she, some kind of anarchist or something?". if i see somebody being naive in their politeness, it's "what are you, some kind of canadian, or something?". &etc.

i had a 12 year-old sister once, and i really mercilessly ridiculed her for being 12. "what are you, like 12 or something?". see, the humour is that she actually really was 12, so she had no way to defend herself against the accusation other than to collapse into fits of laughter. but, see, she found it so funny that she went off and accused everybody else of being 12....

that was 1996.

so, i may be responsible for this. if it's true, i must publicly apologize. now that i'm a little older, i understand that 12 year-olds have every right to be as frustratingly idiotic as anybody twice or even thrice their age. it's not fair to pick on them, specifically.