NP re. fake pics and other hoaxes

[jbor at bigpond.com]

> > These hoaxes do him and his work a huge disservice,
> > and it's easy to see where some of his cynicism about people
> > and his reluctance to engage with the public and the media derive 
> from.
>
> Isn't it just the other way round that his reclusiveness is the reason 
> for these hoaxes?

No, that's blaming the victim. The hoaxers are the reason for the 
hoaxes. Exploiting Pynchon's name for "fun", or profit, or propaganda. 
Abusing his right to privacy. Mostly illegal, certainly not ethical. 
And Pynchon's no easy target either - they're not even particularly 
convincing hoaxes, which is why it's so amazing when, trolls aside, 
supposedly intelligent people fall for them.

Three pages in to the Tinasky letters and it was as obvious as the 
stuck-on teeth on the guy in that photo that it wasn't Pynchon. But the 
most incredible thing was flicking back again to the Foreword, and 
trying to figure out how or why Steven Moore had been so easily and 
thoroughly duped into getting involved in a venture like that, one 
which was simply cashing in on Pynchon's name.

Ditto the phony Japan Playboy interview. Sus as anything. And 
withholding the denial that was provided by the Melanie Jackson Agency 
just in order to try to perpetuate the fantasy was pretty much on a par 
with the original hoax. Weak as.

best