Polite Fiction

A while back I stumbled upon an online diary that became popular after the author appeared on NPR’s “The American Life”. The diary chronicled her time as a porn clerk and the entries are full of brilliant human observations. The author Ali Davis brought the patrons to life with vivid descriptions and perceptive commentary. She also poured her own personal insights and life experiences into her entries and the stories drew you into her world.

Ms. Davis introduced to me to the anthropological term “Polite Fiction” and now it’s the name of my site. I would highly recommend this diary to anyone with a few hours…because once you start reading you won’t be able to stop. You can find the diary at the Improv Resource Center.

Here’s and exerpt from the site:

The polite fiction of the porn section is that, while people do generally use porn for the purpose of masturbation, there is no reason to believe that this particular customer will be doing so. He could be using them for his Master’s thesis. Hell, he may not get around to watching them at all. We all like to believe that. When it becomes all too clear to everyone involved that said customer did, in fact, not only lube up, watch the tape, stroke himself to orgasm, and then grab the goddamned thing without even taking the basic courtesy of washing his goddamned hands first, we all get uncomfortable.