As the entire philosophical world knows by now, Colin McGinn has posted what some call a "defence" against allegations made against him. The defence is that one can jokingly trade on the literal meaning of 'hand job', i.e., job done by or to the hand.
Similarly, a professional glass blower might remark to his co-worker with a lopsided grin: “Will you do a blow job for me while I eat this sandwich?” The co-worker will interpret the speaker as indulging in crude glass blower’s humor and might reply: “Sure, but I’ll need you to do a blow job for me in return”
McGinn remarks:
These reflections take care of certain false allegations that have been made about me recently (graduate students are not what they used to be).
There are two things I don't understand about this. First, and quite innocently, is masturbation performed on oneself really referred to as a hand job? Not according to Wikipedia. (Americans, Brits: please inform.)
Second, and a bit more argumentatively: conceding that a manicure can jocularly be described as a 'hand job', doesn't 'I gave myself a hand job while thinking of you' cancel any such contextual broadening?
You really have to answer yes to my first and no to my second question for McGinn's "reflections" to "take care" of the allegations.
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