P-list as an encyclopaedia

[Paul Mackin]

On Aug 5, 2006, at 10:13 AM, Ya Sam wrote:

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>> A lyrical monologue. Variant 2, with the correct spelling of  
>> 'encyclopaedia'
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>> P-list is a complex phenomenon (sorry for being trite, can't help  
>> it). One can approach it as a vast theatre of operations in an  
>> ever-lasting flame-war in which many brave sock-puppets died a  
>> noble death. It can also be viewed as a social club in which  
>> casual chatter is interrupted every decade or so by the  
>> hyperactive and all-embracing literary examination of a new  
>> Pynchon novel. But I realise more and more that P-list is  a big  
>> (not always reliable) but nevertheless extremely useful cultural  
>> encyclopaedia. You can find all sorts of things in the archives,  
>> the variety of topics discussed and the spectrum of opinions is  
>> mind-boggling. Just to give you some examples. I was looking for  
>> some stuff by Merrill besides his poetry and decided to check the  
>> archives for any relevant info, and what do you think? it was  
>> there: http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon- 
>> l&month=9507&msg=2116&keywords=Sandover reference to his  
>> collection Recitative, plus a Pynchon-related excerpt. Then, again  
>> I recently got interested in the American crime fiction writer  
>> James Ellroy, and thanks to the archived posts (a little bit  
>> flamish though) I got a pretty good background on him plus a wide  
>> range of opinions. So these days I am more inclined to think about  
>> the list in these favourable terms, don't you hurry to disillusion  
>> me!


Not at all, but I  think using Google for the same purpose will be a  
hundred times more likely to provide you with what you're looking  
for, and be faster in the bargain.

And, as everyone knows, using any such  "knowledge base"  requires  
the ability to interpret what comes up. Is  it chaff or grain? People  
who already know a little or preferably a lot on the topic will  
benefit the  most.

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