Keith Haring (1958–1990)

See, this is why women, naturally, to be fair, don't understand the situation; drawing dicks on things isn't a schoolboy endeavour - it's a male thing that continues (where possible) well into adulthood. I guarantee that if there wasn't the threat of HR sanctions, there would have been a dick drawn on an internal company memo somewhere this morning. That's what happens. I also think women misunderstand the male dynamic that rears its head when you get a bunch of blokes together who are comfortable in each other's company; ribbing about appearance, about knob size, about dress - about absolutely everything, basically - occurs at a higher frequency and at a more brutal level than anything that happens in a female or mixed group. Again, it's what guys do so the notion that we're all one cock joke away from going home and crying in the foetal position in the shower is wrong. Men tend to have a thicker skin or a learned insouciance when it comes to this stuff; we recognise it as part of the game and to be frank, enjoy it. At least I do.

Very odd creatures adolescent boys are. If it's not their dick it's some other tangle of crap they're sorting out - how to talk to girls, or boys, why won't João and Carlos let me play footie, why do my feet stink, why won't my ears sit flat ... questions, questions, questions flooding the minds of young people today. It's only an issue if they raise it - be it ears, feet or dick ... OK, maybe not the feet. But you get my drift... the trick is to have the sort of relationship where they can raise anything they're worried by and not be mocked, scorned or jeered at. Easily scared off by the rough and tumble treatment they get as younger boys in fact ... learn quickly what not to raise - never ever do.

It's bants, innit? I used to like drawing penises coz it was naughty, therefore funny.....to my immature sense of humour anyway. My mates and I have been taking the piss out of each other for about many years, hope it never stops, part of the art is to be able to take it and give it back in spades and still keep laughing.

Go Keith!… (more)