Ask Bonnie

[John Sutherland (S&T Onsite)]

Here's a thought: If you're unclear about what Bonnie meant, you could,
uh, ask Bonnie.

John

>-----Original Message-----
>From:	Joe Varo [SMTP:vjvaro at erie.net]
>Sent:	Tuesday, January 14, 1997 5:27 AM
>To:	Pynchon List
>Subject:	Re: GRGR(8) Discussion Opener
>
>On Tue, 14 Jan 1997,  Paul Mackin wrote:
>
>> Thanks to Sean for understanding what I was saying re the C-word
>> question.
>> 
>> I don't GET Bonnie's reaction. For one thing it doesn't
>> sufficiently distinguish between the original question (discussion
>> opener) and the attempt by yours-truly to supply a humble
>> answer. Don't know if she's lighting into me or Joe. Probably
>> both. Sean helped lift THAT kind of confusion by quoting only MY
>> part (see below). Wish Bonnie would clarify further. 
>
>Yeah, I wasn't sure who (if anybody in particular) Bonnie was lighting
>into either.  At first blush, I took it as her reacting to the question
>from the aspect of the very *asking of the question* perhaps being an
>instance of the sterilizing/sanitizing effect of some previous topics
>which have been discussed on this list...and I'm not even going to name
>those topics, for fear of more debate [flaming] on them.
>
>> 
>> Incidently, unlike Joe, I don't remember anyone (female or male) 
>> ever objecting vigorously to the word "cunt" in  the way Pynch
>> uses it. They wouldn't want to be CALLED one, of course (synecdocean
>> usage). Might not even have liked its LITERAL usage being tossed
>> around in an aggressive and reckless manner.
>>
>> [...]
>
>It's not that I know of anyone who objects to the word as TRP uses it, but
>that I know some females who object to it in *any* way it might be used.
>
>I agree with Bonnie that any of the other slang names for the female
>genitalia, used in this context, indeed would have sounded stupid.  The
>other terms (pussy, quim, muff, etc) would have sounded almost childish
>and to use the term "vagina" would have detracted from the sensuality or
>sexuality of the passage.
>
>But still, one must admit that "cunt", like all of the other
>"four-letter-words" does have a harsh sound to it, whether it be the
>result of socialization or something innate, I'm not sure.
>
>I just threw out the idea as a discussion opener.  Seems to have served
>its purpose, and perhaps redeeming somewhat a rather shoddy overall
>GRGR(8) Discussion Opener.
>
>Joe
>
>