Tuesday, November 08, 2005

I can solve the worlds disputes....

One Word... SHENANNIGANS!

Origins
I have, while swapping stories with friends or discussing matters of importance found it necessary to point out when a friend is completely in the wrong or completely full of crap. At said point in the conversation I'll declare Shennanigans. Why Shenannigans? Funny word. Innocent word. Yet the sound of it implies horsplay, or wrong doing. Once declared, I'm obliged to explain what has been said that I feel is crap. I never used to say Shenannigans, I used to say something witty like "You're full of crap!" And occasionallywould get a punch in the face.
Being a peaceloving wuss, and fearful for my good looks, I developped the Shenannigan protocol.

Rules and Etiquette
  • Once Shennanigans has been declared, it must be resolved as it is a matter of honour. To be accused of a Shennanigans and not defend yourself will result in a severe blight on your reputation.
  • Once declared, neither the Shenanniganner (accuser) nor the Shenannigannee (defendant) are allowed to consume any alcohol (strangely Sehnannigans are rarely declared without alcohol present) until the matter is resolved.
  • Shennanigans must be declared on the spot unless it compromises a friends alibi in front of his girlfrien /boyfriend, signifigant other, or prospect. (i.e. don't blow their 'good thing' or chance at a 'good thing' by blowing their lie or cover story)
  • Once the matter is resolved, the loser shall provide one beverage, to the victor.
  • If the Shennanigans can't be settled in a timely manner, then bystanders (likely because they're sick of listening to this BS being hashed and re-hashed) may declare a Ro-Sham-Bo (yes, from South Park). Why something so serious as a Ro-Sham-Bo? It is a TRUE test of convictions. The man willing to enter a Ro-Sham-Bo TRULY believes in the cause.
  • Should Ro-Sham-Bo be declared, the bystander declaring Ro-Sham-Bo shall decide which party that shall receive the first kick. Remember, the participant(s) of the Ro-Sham-Bo may also call Shenannigans aginst the bystander turned Ro-Sham-Bo official, making them potentially a Ro-Sham-Bo participant AND preventing their beverage consumption until this new Shenannigans is settled

    How it Works
    Here's a typical application of Shennanigan's in a usual setting. You're having a couple drinks with a few friends... let's just say it's a BBQ.
    Fool: "... so long story short, that's how I inventerd the beanie babies. But the original concept was called Booger Babies"
    Huma: "I declare Shennanigans. You invented no such thing!"
    both parties place their partially consumed drinks on the table
    Fool: "What the hell are you on?! You know this is true. You were there!"
    Huma: "I don't think so! I've never been to a day spa... and who in their right mind would come up with the idea called Booger Babies!?"
    Fool: "All right... maybe I didn't really say that. Here's your beer."

    Variations of the Ro-Sham-Bo
    I would like to suggest that if need be, a Ro-Sham-Bo-esque event may take place depending on the surroundings and the context of the relationship.
    For example, if both patries involved play a sport together.. Ro-Sham-Bo may replace kicks to a test of accuracy throwing or kicking a ball at the target.

    Anyway... imagine how quickly our Softwood lumber trade dispute would be settled if we set up Paul Martin vs George W. Bush to meet over the matter, and then have Paul yell out "Shenannigans!" as Bush was speaking.

    Anyway - Let me know if you think this may work. What disputes have you had where you wish this tool was available. Have you ever thought someone needed to be shut up? Could this have helped?

  • 1 Comments:

    Blogger rawbean said...

    We have a guy at our office (ask chantoon, it's true) who should have shennanagins written across his forhead. He is always going on about how smart he is and how he was very close to being in the olympics and how his lawn is like 8000 sqft. A shennanagins show-down would work well.

    9/11/05 21:18  

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