NP re. fake pics and other hoaxes

[jbor at bigpond.com]

Just to clarify:

On 21/06/2005, at 6:22 PM, Otto wrote:

> Of course the Wanda-Letters did not change anything, but Pynchon 
> definitely didn't become the reclusive author he is now because of 
> them, as Rob's argument indicates

Not sure where this came from, but it certainly wasn't my argument.

And there is, of course, more than one troll, as we all know. But 
greater collusion and coordination between them might make their work 
here more effective than it is.

best

> On 21/06/2005, at 8:11 AM, jbor wrote:
>
>> The next step from fake "fake" postage stamps and a photo of a guy 
>> with stuck-on teeth is some idiot making public claims that Pynchon 
>> is the Unabomber or "Wanda Tinasky", or attributing some appalling 
>> piece of drivel as a post-September 11 "interview" given by him. 
>> 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. (And why this list 
>> has leaked subscribers and participants over the years like a sieve.)
>>
>> It's surprising that a couple of the list contributors fell for this 
>> latest nonsense. It's pretty common knowledge that Pynchon had 
>> extensive dental work done. "Here's a photo", "no it isn't him", "yes 
>> it is him", "definitely maybe it is/isn't him", "he's so ugly", "what 
>> about this one?" etc - mostly it was just the same old troll. O. 
>> Henry anyone?

>>> Isn't it just the other way round that his reclusiveness is the 
>>> reason for these hoaxes?
>
> On 21/06/2005, at 11:33 PM, jbor wrote:
>
>> 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.