GRGR(4): Episode 12

[David Morris]

David Morris wrote:

>>>> Jeremy Osner:
>>>> p. 73 "Bert"
>>>> Why not Poseidon, say?
>>
>> ANY name would be fine.
>> The name is meaningless.  The plunge into the void makes such questions
only
>> so much baby-talk.
>
>I've gotta disagree here. True that what name the policeman offers
>has little relevance to the lunatic's fate; however "Bert" is the
>one he chose.

Don't you mean it's the one he accepted (not chose), very passively at that?

>The question "why?" is almost always meaningful even
>if (especially if) you can't find an answer.

I very much agree w/ you here.  In this regard I'd say the "why" question is
"Why'd the lunatic accept such an absurd name?"

The question would be a very small one except for a passage further into the
reading where Katje also accepts a suggestion with complete passivity
saying, "[blank] is fine."  Why indeed?