Re: through a Glass darkly
Malcolm Lawrence (malcolm@wolfenet.com)
Sun, 18 Jan 1998 19:31:27 -0800
Fluxis wrote:
> "Solipsistic, nihilistic ennui" wasn't showing off at all, was it? :)
In a word: no.
In more words: the linguistic motivations for utilizing polysyllabic words or
concepts to illuminate and pinpoint certain areas of the human condition has
absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with exhibitionist tendencies if the dialectic
undertaken by said parties should venture into territory where mere monosyllabic
words fail to adequately circumvent said condition. Should the cachet of utilizing
polysyllabic words or concepts draw attention away from the dialectic at hand,
then perhaps strengthening one's vocabulary and the inherent concepts embraced
within, and the ability to pepper them appropriately during the natural course of
discourse is warranted, especially if the mailing list one is a subscriber of
pertains primarily to the architectural structures, literary mechanisms and je ne
sais quoi of the works of a seminal author of literature who is no stranger
himself to utilizing polysyllabic words (though not necessarily said polysyllabic
words) to enhance and illuminate ideas in his own work :)
> I'm not spitting. I'm just saying that its all about holding on to
> idealism...and to me the idea that it is going to disappear at a certain age
> is crap...by adults I was referring to Scotty Bowman's incredibly enlightened
> letter in which he states that he was once aware of beauty and sensitive to it
> but then He "Grew Up." THAT is not the "Growing Up" I want to do with my life.
> Of course I'm not advocating suicide, please don't assume I'm that stupid. I
> just advocate that life can go on and you can be as idealistic at forty as you
> can be at 16. Is that something offensive?
Not at all, but it would appear that a flame war has erupted unnecessarily when
closer examination of the semantics being used by both parties would probably
reveal the real nature of the dispute to be overreaction based on assumptions of
the other's semantic usage resulting in immediately being at daggers drawn
ideologically.
> If I were you I would be offended
> by Bowmans post stating that sensitivity and earnestness is something that
> serves only to display immaturity...as if everyone "Grows Out" of earnestness.
> That's just ridiculous!
> I want to know just what it is in my post that offended you, exactly...do you
> prefer to feel that earnestness and dedication rots along with our bodies?
>
> -ecas
>From Scotty I'd like to know what he feels exactly happens when one "grows up" and
from you I'd like to know what the pejorative aspects of being an "adult" are.