Impartial Analysis

Excerpt from a recent Bleat from James Lileks:

Having a spot of difficulty at the house today; child does not want to be in a Brownies Play, because she doesn’t like the role she was handed, and regards the lines as “stupid.” I keep telling her it’s not the role, it’s the performer – why, it’s an actor’s job to breathe life into the inert dross that unspools from some playwrite’s pen. Here, let’s practice –

YOU DON’T CARE.

Yes. Yes, that’s exactly what I meant. It was a devious and rather complicated way to show disinterest in your happiness. For my next act, I will make you supper to show how little I care about your empty stomach.

(PS for the pedants, however well-meaning: Disinterest = not interested. It’s the secondary meaning, but it’s acceptable. Even if it’s not acceptable to you, the battle was lost long ago. Concentrate your fire on bemused, and do what you can there.)

Tell you what, James--I'll give you "disinterest" if you learn how to spell "playwright."