What does 'TightPants' stand for? by Esther

Thanks for your comments, but my problem is merely a language problem.

is there a second meaning to "tight pants"? Like if you say, somebody has to "tighten his belt" that might be litterally true (because he visited the weight watchers), but in most cases, you mean that he needs to spend less money.

The "Tightpants" can be taken literally (which I noticed by looking at Mal

), but what would be the exact meaning, if it's taken figuratively. Or is there no figurative meaning in general about this? 'cause I can't find it in the dictionary (neither under "tight" nor under "pants").

Sorry, if I'm too nagy about this.
Esther

Love my captain!

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 6:01 AM

RUGBUG

It's literal only. There is no colloquial phrase dealing with tight pants...as far as I know.

The phrase came about sometime during the filming of the pilot episode "Serenity." When Mal bends down to check on Kaylee who's just been shot, Nathan's pants ripped. He subsequentally ripped a few more pairs of pants (in other eps). At some point, they began calling him Captain Tightpants.

Jane Espenson was the first to use the phrase in an episode, Shindig. On the commentary for Shindig, she seems to think she coined it, but Morena thought they had been calling Nathan/Mal that at an earlier date.

There is no other meaning, IMO.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 7:17 AM

RIMGIRL

Also note Nathan's commentary on his sporadic use of underwear and the outtake where he actually says, "You know I don't wear underwear. I mean..."

Gives an extra something to the pants splitting stories.
________________________________________________

Did it suddenly get hot in here?

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 8:54 AM

DONCOAT

So what you're saying is, that scene in Trash came as no big revelation to anybody in the cast or crew... right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm pointin' right at it!

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:10 AM

MMMKAREN

Ester: the colloquial expression I think you are searching for here is "tight ass". This is a rather vulgar comment on some one being rather prim and proper...certainly not our dear Captain!

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:23 AM

http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=19&t=22697

Ah, MMMKAREN, that might be it, thanks!

Love my captain!

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:24 AM

FOLLOWMAL

Quote:
Originally posted by RimGirl:

Did it suddenly get hot in here?

Yes.

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:42 AM

ELDUSTO

When I heard Kaylee say that, I kept saying, "YAR! Capt. Tightpants!"

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:42 AM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

You really think its vulgar? I mean considering what some of the Chinese translates into...Tight Ass seems kinda tame.

Also, Finding Serenity is an EXCELLENT read. I highly recommend it.

Well, here I am.

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:
So what you're saying is, that scene in Trash came as no big revelation to anybody in the cast or crew... right?

It may have been to wardrobe!

In the commentary for the pilot, Nathan jokingly blames the wardrobe personel for sewing his pants too tight and creating the splitting as a result, and Joss joked back that they [wardrobe folks] obviously hadn't realised that Nathan was slated to be naked later in the season [Trash].

Yeah, someone mentions 'naked' in conjunction with Nathan and I'm all ears.

*******
RMMC

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:52 AM

For society in general, it does come down on the side of vulgar. Think of vulgar as something you wouldn't say to Sister Mary Ruler if you were in a Catholic school. (Go watch the original Blues Brothers movie if you're confused by this.)

*******
RMMC

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:59 AM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

It's been a long time, but I do remember. I guess some of us live closer to the Rim and we're a mite less particular about our verbage. Don't mean no offense.

Well, here I am.

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 11:33 AM

AGENTRUSCO

Quote:
Originally posted by JonnyQuest:

Also, Finding Serenity is an EXCELLENT read. I highly recommend it.

Well, here I am.

I agree heartily with that statement. Lotsa good stuff in there.

______________________________
I cannot abide useless people.

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 2:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JonnyQuest:
It's been a long time, but I do remember. I guess some of us live closer to the Rim and we're a mite less particular about our verbage. Don't mean no offense.

None taken.

I'm a bit more on the Rim side these days, but grew up Core; soap in the mouth if you said the word 'hell' let alone 'ass.'

My brother ate a lot of soap. I learned from his mistakes.

******
RMMC

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 3:55 PM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

Off topic, Aren't you a MI_Browncoat? Shindigging tomorrow night?

I grew up with a strict standard of behavior that oddly did not include language restrictions. Europeans I think have a different way. It's okay to call someone a sh*thead, but not okay to dump sh*t on someone's head. Esther might want to sound off on this. Nichtwahr?

"Well, here I am."

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 4:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JonnyQuest:
Off topic, Aren't you a MI_Browncoat? Shindigging tomorrow night?

Yep. I hope to, but there are a few other things I gotta sort out tomorrow, like a doctor's appointment in Canton. You goin'?

Back on topic, you're probably right. It's that whole 'Puritanical' thing here. It goes with that folks in the US get more upset about sex on TV than they do violence, whereas in Europe, it's the other way 'round. Show a booby and the censors go ape-shit. Show someone shot to death, and it can go on in the 'family' time slot. *shakes head in bewilderment* I think we are worrying about the wrong stuff here.

*****
RMMC

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 5:21 PM

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"

Hey, wow. I have a Dr. appt. in the morning...go figger. But yeah, I'll be there.

Don't get me started on the sex/violence dynamic. I gotta get to bed! Lookin' forward ta meetin' everyone.

Damn. I hyjacked, didn't I? Sorry all.

"Well, here I am."

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Friday, August 25, 2006 4:54 AM

RIMGIRL

Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:
So what you're saying is, that scene in Trash came as no big revelation to anybody in the cast or crew... right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm pointin' right at it!

I forget where I read it now:
Nathan said he was talking to his mother and she said, "I hope this won't be one of those shows where you're taking your shirt off all the time." (She must have been the only one.)

He was just reading the script for Trash so he said, "No..."
__________________________________________________

Did it just get hot in here?

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Friday, August 25, 2006 5:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by JonnyQuest:
Damn. I hyjacked, didn't I? Sorry all.

No problem, my question was answered, so use this thread for whatever ...

Coming to "vulgar" language: I always think it's odd, that a country like the US, where freedom of speech and such is so high valued, has these verry narrow ideas on "political correctness", which sometimes just seem ridiculous over here.

Plus: I'ts no use.
There is a line going from "negro" to "black" to "coloured" to "afro-american", but using different words doesnt change, what people really think. language follows thought, not the other way around, and if people do not change their thinking, "afro american" one day will be used as disdainful, as "negro" before.

Esther

Love my captain!

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Friday, August 25, 2006 5:09 AM

double post

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Friday, August 25, 2006 11:27 AM