the other side of the mountain

Various derivatives of the poetic expression “men think with their penises” have been around for – well – probably about as long as we’ve had language in some form or another. And men with penises, of course+. Although it may be true most of the time under certain very specific circumstances++, it hardly qualifies as a universal constant.

It is, however, simply the most obvious example of a physiological peculiarity that goes largely unnoticed: our brains seem to be content to let our bodies do most of our thinking for us. Need more proof? Consider how even the most unrepentant of ball-breakers turns into mass of maternal marshmallow in the presence of a newborn. And what about peanuts? Who is capable of eating just one?

But by far the most damning evidence of the brain’s inherent reluctance to step up to the plate, is the average person’s complete inability to concentrate on anything else when they need to go to the toilet.

Now I certainly don’t begrudge my brain a bit of down time, but I’m none too pleased with the idea of it heading off to the pool deck for a banana daiquiri when it should be involved in the serious business of making executive decisions. Left to its own devices, my body is capable of getting up to all kinds of mischief. What really pisses me off is that my brain is obviously too damned lazy to defend itself against these allegations. Hence, this entry.

+ My hit counter is probably going to burn out now

++ Such as the period between puberty and death