Stop The Madness! (was pynchon-l-digest V2 #4549)

[Cyrus]

Carvill John wrote:

> [...] Either way, I suggest we all determine to drop all the virtiol, 
> draw a line under the bickering, and proceed in a manner more 
> befitting a literary group. Would people behave in this way at a 
> real-life book club discussion? I don't think so. [...]


Well, people at a real-life book club discussion wouldn't have multiple 
personas, as is the case here, and they sure would never dare insult 
somebody face to face. Physical presence is crucial to politeness and to 
the personal evaluation of each other's mental state. So ... so I think 
you're being too optimistic.

Let me put it another way: It takes effort not to be an asshole. Some 
people are too lazy to do that.

Cyrus