Hello?

[Henry M]

As an infamous p-list defender against knee-jerk PC, I must say that 
I agree with you, Greg. (Though that "WO-PERSON" stuff gives me the 
creeps.)

> Date:          Mon, 23 Dec 1996 09:02:32 -0800
> To:            pynchon-l at waste.org
> From:          Greg Montalbano <Greg.Montalbano at ucop.edu>
> Subject:       Re: Hello?

> 
> I'll tell you all what MY problem is with these last few posts: 
> When Steeldick carries on like a boorish, drunken asshole, we have to hear
> about how "refreshingly honest & direct" he is;  if a WO-PERSON like , say,
> Diana, acts in the same manner, we have to hear about how it betokens the
> end of civilization as we know it.  This is one of the best demonstrations
> of the whole concept of sexism that I've seen for a while:  the fact that
> you DON'T EVEN SEE that you're doing it.
> 
> 
> 
> At 05:10 PM 12/21/96 -0500, you wrote:
> >Redbug, I also had a major problem with that post. It's possible that 
> >a lot of us were just tired of the whole thing and wished that it 
> >would go away. I don't think of Ms. Blaine as foul-mouthed, etc. 
> >Certainly less so than than others that, not having disagreed with a 
> >grey-back, have not been attacked. 
> >
> >As far as censorship goes, attacks such as the one that you objected 
> >to are far more censorial than are messages that request that 
> >writers consider behaving ever so slightly decently. Sticks and 
> >stones may break my bones, but email can hurt even more.
> >
> >On 21 Dec 96 at 10:43, RedBug wrote:
> >
> >> 
> >> Was I the only one who had a problem with:
> >> 
> >> >Compare this attitude, then, to the foul-mouthed, smug-as-ice, and
> >> >ultimately meaningless screeds of Diane York Blaine (a teacher who
> >> >disgustinglyt demeans her own students in order to project herself
> >> >[snip] as bringing feminist Enlightenment to the befuddled populace
> >> >of N. Texas, whose latest maliced missive is a perfect metonymy for
> >> >the elitist orb of
> >> her so-called disciple. [&c. &c.]
> >> 
> >> I read this post from Jeff St. Clair (aka Steelhead) regarding what
> >> began as a somewhat reasoned discussion and couldn't believe the
> >> resounding silence with which it was met on this list. I followed
> >> this thread and S's vicious, ad hominem attack on Ms. York, though
> >> not without historical precedent, seemed to go WAY over the top.
> >> This is a fairly old tactic of the Steelheaded one, to enter a
> >> discussion, or perhaps dangle a provoking, extremely binary opinion,
> >> and then if everyone doesn't fall into his line, steps up the
> >> insults and name-calling (Steely's got the act of naming DOWN, my
> >> friends), slips comfortably into hyper-demonizing and then, when
> >> someone throws a little cold water in his face, slinks away for a
> >> couple of months (or sometimes just threatens to -- "oh no, Steely,
> >> please don't leave"). 
> >> 
> >> I like this group and find SH vastly more intolerable than even the
> >> fabled Koopman. There's a lesson, dear Steely, in that book we all
> >> admire so much, regarding Kindness. You once cleverly retorted when
> >> you were awhile back accused of in danger of being perceived as an
> >> asshole (when you made derogatory remarks about anyone who would
> >> read and enjoy DFW's IJ), that you saw yourself as Pig Bodine. You
> >> remind me much more of a left-wing Major Marvy. I fondly recall when
> >> I had the temerity to defend an idea with which you absolutely
> >> disagreed and found myself on the receiving end of one of your
> >> screeds; in fact, I think you came after me several times (without
> >> my even having to participate). You must be great fun at a party
> >> (perhaps more relaxed if it's a group of students rather than a
> >> group of professors). You should re-read the your 12/15/96 message
> >> entitled "In the Jungle The Indian Knows All." Substitute your name
> >> for Ms. Blaine's. It's a remarkable fit. 
> >> 
> >> I know it may be a bit too boring for you to just participate in
> >> this group without picking fights and deploying your
> >> clever-but-often-specious attacks. I don't mind arguing about ideas,
> >> and attacking ideas, but you all too often go after people,
> >> categorizing and demonizing them. It is really the kind of tactic I
> >> would think would be beneath someone of your obvious intelligence. 
> >> 
> >> RedBug
> >> 
> >> 
> >
> >Keep cool, but care. -- TRP
> >Moderation in moderation. -- Husky Mariner
> >
> >http://www.nicom.com/~gravity
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 

:-<

Keep cool, but care. - TRP
Easier done than said. - HDM
Moderation in moderation - Husky Mariner