Thursday, May 14, 2009

Surrendering All One's Secrets To The
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine

'A woman in an MRI tube has few secrets. The man at the control console knows the size of her heart and the contents of her womb. He knows if she's had her breasts enlarged or her stomach stapled. He can see into her bladder and knows whether she's wishing she'd stopped by the restroom before climbing onto the exam table.'
--from Bonk--the Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. We've only grazed through the book, but found this passage to be especially compelling.

10 Comments:

At 12:35 AM, Anonymous ari said...

That's nothing compared to the man who truly knows what resides in a woman's heart because she has pulled back the veil to someone who cares enough to understand. A part of that "thinking together" you mentioned before.

To that man, the physical mechanics are but a part of the pulsating, mysterious, passionate whole package. THAT is compelling.

 
At 1:06 AM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Oh my, Ari. I think that sentiment will be quite popular among our female audience. Thanks for commenting, and just moments after we posted this too. Here's hoping you'll keep coming back for more.

 
At 3:27 AM, Blogger sevnetus said...

Why?

 
At 8:14 AM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Assuming that you're not referring to any of the comments, but instead asking why I found this passage compelling, the answer is that I simply found it at least faintly poetic. Perhaps including a longer riff from that page (the larger context is not unlike the direction in which Ari alluded above)would have fleshed it out a little for you, but maybe not. In the end, this kind of judgment is completely subjective, and I readily admit that it even sometimes depends on the day and its circumstances in which you happen to come upon it. I might only barely have noticed it tomorrow, but the day I happened to see it, it made an impression on me. It doesn't get much more subjective than that.

 
At 9:55 AM, Anonymous flo said...

Who the hell cares if I have a couple of pieces of metal in me? Cheap imitation of intimacy if you ask me. Knows if I've gone to the bathroom? Voyeuristic and a little sicko. I felt violated just reading it.

A lot of guys like to LOOK, but if a guy finds me intelligent, humorous and warm, whoo-boy, watch out! I know he'll call me the next day after the "exam" he performed with a warm touch and an eager eye. I'm a complete package. Very complete. Too much woman for most guys.

Happy with my man now, or I'd be looking for someone like Ari. You were right about that.

 
At 10:40 AM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Remember that a woman wrote that passage, Flo. And yes, part of what I found compelling in it was no doubt how voyeuristic it was, which is generally a good thing in any kind of writing, but basically unavoidable in a book devoted to the topic of sex.

As for our new friend Ari (whom I believe is a first-time commenter, but correct me if I'm wrong, Ari), I'm so glad to have at least one Alan Alda softie among my male readers, since I'm pained to admit (in the full disclosure mode) to being a tad more shallow when it comes to the opposite sex.

 
At 11:37 AM, Anonymous Mike Q said...

On an entirely different aspect, as far as I know you don't want staples or ANY metal inside you when you undergo MRI. The powerful magnet will rip it right out of you.

On a lighter note, also off the point, when I had a scan of my head they gave me earphones and asked what kind music I wanted. I chose jazz, but the machine makes so much noise I should have picked heavy metal. It would blend right in.

Now, regarding the use of MRI in diagnosing erectile dysfunction ....

 
At 11:50 AM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Good point about the metal, Mike. I think you're right. As for your parting shot about ED, ain't touching that one.

 
At 5:23 PM, Blogger Michelle O'Neil said...

Clinical people see what they see all day long every day. What most think of as very personal is barely a blip for those in the medical field who have seen it all!

 
At 5:26 PM, Blogger John Ettorre said...

Good point. Thanks for the nurse's viewpoint.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home