newsgroup and creative impulse

[Zach Spiller]

The mailing list is my preference.  I like its (relative) focus and
dedicated core of posters.  In the newsgroups I have seen, there is a
general degeneration of topic and focus that makes wading through the muck
too time-consuming and, at the end of it all, not really worth it.

As regards the discussion about following the creative impulse of a work and
having that be a basis for reading/enjoying a text:

It seems to me that intellectual "showing-off" was not what Benjamin
Nussbaum was referring to in writing about the massively intelligent and
creative nature of Pynchon and (perhaps) other writers.  It appears to be
adopting a sense of "play" (albeit, at times, very serious play) in one's
approach to the work and viewing it in terms of the chaotic web of
connections reading something like _V_ or _GR_ can spark in a reader.  This
is certainly not the same as appreciating intellect for intellect's sake...

Anyone think I've misinterpreted or interpreted correctly?  How's about it?


Be seeing you...

zachary spiller