a funstigator is someone specially trained to swoop into tense situations between kids and parents in public places. i hear they have bunch of them at the science museum of minnesota. the function of a funstigator is to diffuse the bedlam that occurs when someone hasn't had a nap, feels cranky, or just needs to screech for whatever reason. and just as moms or dads are at their breaking point trying to manage strollers, juice boxes, miniature egos, sticky fingers and bad cases of the grumpies, a funstigator flies in and blows bubbles at them and giggles. or pokes someone in the belly with a fuzy puppet to get them to smile. and everyone breathes a sigh of relief and not one cries and peace prevails.
i'm not sure i'd like to be a funstigator but i can think of situations where i'd like one handy so as to resolve some of the world's smaller conflicts. a "return" with no tags at the customer care counter in walmart. a misunderstanding in a parking lot about whose space that really is. someone filled out the wrong form at the government center and is forced to go to the end of the line.
but i wonder if bubbles and puppets would work for grown-up messes. maybe not. imagine the funstigator jumping up and down with sock puppets and a monster bubble kit and the people who are upset become even more upset with that obnoxious idiot, and then they bitch slap him upside the head. maybe the funstigator should wear padding and a helmet and pass out supersoakers to support and encourage the resolution process.
actually that might feel kind of fun.
as long as you are not the one with the puppet.
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