the value of punctuation: it conveys meaning!

October 27, 2005

I saw a sign at 2nd Ave and St. Marx that said:

HELP WANTED PIZZAMAN

It didn’t have any punctuation. I think the intended meaning was “Help wanted: pizzaman.” (A colon goes before a list or explanation). However, it could have been “Help wanted, Pizzaman!”

And then the imperiled people light the Pizzaman Signal, sending a distress beacon into the night sky, and Pizzaman comes flying in, faster than a speeding pepperoni stick, ready to save the day … with pizza.

Posted by jen | Filed Under Jen says 

Comments

6 Responses to “the value of punctuation: it conveys meaning!”

  1. whythehellisthissohard on October 27th, 2005 5:26 pm

    PizzaMan:

    “Here I come to save the day! That’ll be $20.13, I already added in my tip!”

  2. Susan on October 27th, 2005 10:42 pm

    Umm actually the corrected statement still doesn’t quite sit with me. I mean what is a pizzaman. Is it someone who loves pizza? Someone who has a face like a pizza? And soooo politically incorrect ‘man’! Why couldnt it be a pizzawoman. I think the sign should read: Help wanted - man/woman to make/deliver/eat/spit on/ pizzas. Although of course all of that depends on the sign dimensions.

  3. George on October 27th, 2005 11:14 pm

    or maybe theres a pizzaman on the run. a wanted pizzaman, better go help the guy…

  4. Greg the Boyfriend on October 28th, 2005 3:37 pm

    HELP. N. A person employed to help, especially a farm worker or domestic servant.
    a. Such employees considered as a group. Often used with the.

    Therefore, “help wanted pizzaman” could also describe a situation where the maid or butler desired sexual relations with a pizza delivery person.

    I think that this is by far the most reasonable interpretation.

    The help are people too. They have desires just like me and you.

  5. JenIsFamous on October 28th, 2005 3:50 pm

    Hahahaha. The help wants a pizzaman, carnally,

    It wouldn’t be too surprising if maybe the help (the maid, for instance) desired a particular pizzaman, but it would certainly be unusual if she desired a pizzaman in general such that she had to advertise — or rather, to ask her employer to advertise on her behalf.

  6. The Dish or the Surgery | Jen Is Famous on October 6th, 2008 5:27 pm

    […] that the imperfect use of English didn’t stop the job from getting done.(See also, “Help Wanted Pizzaman” and NIGHTLY MAKE SEX AT […]

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