What I happened upon....

[mikebailey at speakeasy.net]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: B C Johnson [mailto:bjohnson02 at insightbb.com]
> 
> What do these data tell us about The Writer 
> or his Works?  Answering for myself, I surmise that, in the Pynchon 
> household, the strict anti-Telecaster policies of my youth do not obtain. 

Bummer, my sympathies...

>I further surmise that the oath of silence taken by The Writer does not apply 
> to all those who live there. 

a point brought up by the young lady a few days back

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Sean Mannion" <third_eye_unmoved at hotmail.com>

> > I'm sorry, I'm gonna have another go at explaining what exactly I think is 
> > wrong with the whole debacle, ...(:) 'bad taste' and 
> > an unhealthy lack of respect;
> >

This is the Pynchon List, (btw, not even the specifically TR Pynchon list, I keep meaning to read "The Meritorious Price of our Redemption" and respond to it on list) and I hope that we're among fans of the man's work, but also of the man himself, wishing to treat him excellently.
 
> > And again, if Pynchon has tried his utmost to avoid his own celebrity 
> > status, we can be fairly sure that he wouldn't want his son being dragged 
> > into discussion by association, nor should there be any reason why he 
> > should be.
> >

Mr P went out of his way to write PR for a band in the past - Lotion - diverted a business meeting and volunteered to do this, according to the account I read.  He also wielded some influence for Roky Erikson.  Is it not conceivable that he would be gladdened if we became fans of X-Choirboys?

> > remember this: http://www.suntimes.co.za/1998/06/07/lifestyle/life01.htm
> >

yeah, that sucked.  Where is Sean Penn when you need him?
I heard that Greta Garbo was allowed her privacy in NYC for a long time.  O tempora O mores.

> >
> > "So it is with "Pynchoneering", in which we (me too, foax) try to 
> > reverse-engineer a model of The Writer, from the scant ephemera of His 
> > public life, in hopes of finding that Key. 

The guy writes great books.  He likes his privacy.  What's to know?  

 It just isn't our 
> > business, full stop. Any responsible and intelligent parent warns their 
> > children about the internet these days. We should presume this to be the 
> > case, and therefore assume we have no business, any of us, for contacting 
> > those people whatsoever, no matter what anyone's distanced concerns.

I'm with you there.  
I'd like to be a fan of a good band which could happen to include Jackson Pynchon, and they've recorded a single, which I may in fact at some point listen to - but I'm uncomfortable assuming that makes me their best buddy or something.  let's wait till they release something commercially, or perform in public - we should find out then without prying ("and on zither, Zorba the Greek; on glass armonium, Philadelphia's own Ben Franklin; on ukulele, Arthur Godfrey; tap-dance stylings from the talented toes of Miss - er, Ms - Shirley Temple;...." et cet)  

TRP fan thought:
Portents of a blurb or liner notes in the offing?

Potential JP fan thought:
imagine if the level of talent in a chosen field were commensurate with...
(goosebump time; slap-oneself for unreasonable expectations time)