Hotbuns200: "He's not asserting that this world is a Salingerian place. He merely agrees with this particular individual (JD), and not in this 90's "the world is what you make it" crap that self-help books and people pedal non-stop (usually for money)." Tomato, tomahto. I've always thought of the 90's as the shit-in-a-shoebox-reality-bites-oh-well-whatever-nevermind decade, but our differing perspectives only serve my point. To the sulking depressive, the world is lonely, stupid, unappreciative, cruel. To the romantic, it's beautiful. Take a step back, and it becomes an infinitely complex place, filled with moral ambiguity and crawling with animals who project their imaginings and fears upon it, some of whom tend to get a little defensive when someone points this out to them. Take a long, careful look, Hotbuns200. Yes, that's right. It's an inkblot! However, if a pessimistic world view serves your needs, Hotbuns200, by all means, indulge! This greedy, superficial, injust planet certainly doesn't give a shit. -Sean -----Original Message----- From: Hotbuns200@aol.com [mailto:Hotbuns200@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 1999 11:22 PM To: bananafish@lists.nyu.edu Subject: Re: Real World Someone took a shit in a shoebox, mailed it to my mom's house, the post office lost it for 3 weeks, and when I finally got it, it turned out to be my life...3 weeks late. THAT'S REALITY! In response to: Eric, The real world is in large part what you make of it. You're assertion that it's a Salingerian place tells us much more about you than it does about the real world. Give yourself a much deserved break and turn the real world into something by Milan Kundera. -Sean