Bartleby

[Paul Mackin]

  Thomas Eckhardt wrote:

>>Will close by saying I can't help being reminded of an utterance that 
>>was popular around here a few years back and which might have 
>>constituted  an appropriate response to Bartleby.
>>
>>Just do it!
>>
>
>That was Jerry Rubin, no (instead of "wasn't it")? Meanwhile, Rubin became a Wall Street broker, and his call for acting freely and spontaneously turned into a 
>slogan for Calvin Klein perfume. The times they are a-... 
>
>Thomas
>
>
>
>
>
Seems like Jerry Rubin said "Do it!" Don't remember precisely what we 
were 'sposed to do. Spike the Chicago water system with LSD,  maybe? Get 
our heads bashed in? Good revolutionaries make good ad men or good 
stockbrokers. Especially if they are lucky enough to be assigned a judge 
as studid and inept as Judge Hoffman. You can't BUY that qualify of 
occupatonal training.

It's my sense that "JUST do it" is of more recent provenance and belongs 
in a different context entirely. It definitely implies that you must do 
something even if you would PREFER not to. Like stop using drugs or 
having underaged sex. That't not quite it however. Maybe it will come to me.


P.