A midnight visit with the werewolf

[Joe Varo]

On Sun, 27 Oct 1996, Jules Siegel wrote, regarding the comments of
MASCARO at humnet.ucla.edu wrote

> You talk about argumentative people! No wonder I love the Internet. One
> big raving argument. Home at last, Lord, I am home at last!

I don't know how long you've been a part of the "on-line" world, Mr.
Siegel, but you've pretty much picked up on a major aspect of the 'net,
i.e. it's "one big raving argument".  Though usually we don't have any
major attempts a character assassination here on PYNCHON-L and things tend
to stay pretty much civil, though often heated.

> Your style of doing so is your own choice. In the present instance, it
> enables you to make antagonistic and unfair statements (which, frankly,
> make me feel bad when I read them) and then to back off by acting gooney
> when I try to correct your factual errors and unreasonable
> interpretations. Example: you post a quote from someone else and
> attribute it to me. This isn't being cute. It's slovenly. It wastes
> people's time.. It creates confusion. Please try to remember to use your
> Pampers next time you have to go out in public. 

Again, this is characteristic with this new form of communication.  With
the anonymous veneer of electrons and ascii, foax are more prone to be far
more brazen, disrespectful and flame-happy than in other forms of
communication.

> Just because you're on-line doesn't mean that you have the unrestricted
> right to kick others around with unsupported attacks like this.  If you
> perceive hostility in this reply, you've finally got something right. It
> is directed at you, because of the unfairness of your accusations and
> your generally unreasonable tone. I'm sure that you get off on reactions
> like this.

See my previous comment.  Apparently, (and unfortunately) many people DO
believe that being on-line gives them just this right.

> What bugs you is my magisterial tone and my disrespectful manner of
> talking about your hero as if he were merely another guy, a great
> artist, but just another guy. 

You could be right.

Joe