The Guy Primp

While enjoying my nearly permanent residence in the University Library, I have had the opportunity to reflect on an interesting fact about my sex: We don't primp...or at least, we don't like people to know we primp. Earth shattering, I know...but there it is.

Why is this something I have noticed, of all places, in the library, you ask? Its simple: the library bathrooms offer a unique insight into this delicate difficulty that we men endure on a day-to-day basis. Allow me to enlighten you, and distract myself for a few moments...

You see, the men's bathrooms have a large mirror right next to the door inside of the facilities. This mirror, it is assumed, is offered to us in order to staighten up before returning to normal society, outside of the facilities. But, you see...we're men. We don't primp. You will not, on average, see a man standing in front of that mirror comfortably primping himself. Oh sure, maybe tucking in his shirt, straightening his tie, or something of that nature...but most of that can be handled at the mirrors in front of the sink. This isolated special mirror has but one purpose...and we men aren't generally comfortable with that purpose. At least, not publically.

You see, unlike the fairer sex, who are portrayed as constantly talking in the midst of primping in nearly every movie...if we must primp, it is not generally a social affair. Which is why, if you were to enter the men's bathroom in the Library, you might open the door tocatch the briefest flash of motion, as the man that was primping himself only moments ago tries to pretend he was stretching and not rearranging his hair. Because, after all, we are men.

We don't primp.

I should add that there is one instance I have experienced which seems to directly challenge this observation: when a group of guys are involved in a play, they generally seem to relax the "Cannot be seen primping" rule. I guess that comes with the wearing of make-up...if that rule can be bent, what rule must remain steadfast?