security in the time zone, or the age of security

[Paul Mackin]

I know it is wrong to judge what people say by their age, sex, ethnicity and country of origin but why did God make us visually distinguishable by age, sex, zipcode, etc., if it wasn't to help us figure out what each other is talking about. The problem on the p-list for example may be you will be struggling over the meaning of some post you won't immediately have a clue about and won't know if it is written by someone equally clueless or by some professor emeritus who happens to be the world authority on the subject. Maybe he just happens to be having a bad day or perhaps habitually writes like a college freshman. Something may be buried there possibly worthwhile if one can be persistent enough. (Some college freshman write very well of course)

            P.
----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Eulenspiegel7646 at aol.com 
  To: pynchon-l at waste.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 1:35 AM
  Subject: security in the time zone, or the age of security


  "I often wonder approximately how old a particular p-lister is. Especially 
  when they first appear. A lot of times they'll leave a clue in their first 
  post.  Other times not, even after many posts. Hard to interpret people who 
  don't drop a few age hints. Can't be sure what language group to put them 
  in, so don't know sometimes quite what they are saying.  This may seem 
  strange to some people." 

  You should never seek to know this.  It is the ultimate forbidden knowledge.  God help you.  I'm barely holding on to my sanity myself, thinking of things like this.  In my incarnation as Terrance, I often spew tiresome bits of prose. 
  When I was Quail, I flew through the forest taunting the hawks and doves.  As Barbara, I actually changed my sex, somewhat in the manner of Virginia Woolf, but who the hell is afraid of her.  Woolf, that is.  As far as Barbara, be afraid, be very afraid.  Orlando asked me how the plot was turning.  I referred him to Slothrop.  In an age in which Bob Dylan can't even get past security at his own concerts, any goddam thing is possible.  But I digress.  The bell is ringing.  God be with ye. 

  Manfred von Richthofen   

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://waste.org/pipermail/pynchon-l/attachments/20011031/fc942566/attachment.html>