Re: Try listening to the real ideas and ignore vitriolic attacks

--- John Omlor wrote:
>
> Again, I a more than willing to approach the subject in a detailed and
> careful and responsible way, through patient reading, once the time and
> my own schedule permit it, if enough readers are interested.

To this I must say: finally.

Now, I'm not going to be the first one to run around here half-naked
screaming "Salinger, Salinger," but neither am I terribly impressed by the
theoretical threads of late.

I suppose it all comes down to one thing, the first thing I teach my
freshmen (okay, possibly not the first, because I *do* have to begin the
year with that whole "please put your name on the top of your paper"
business), but I'd think that everyone around here is so in love with the
turn of a good phrase that they've forgotten to include any *substance* in
their posts.

Theorize away, but back up what you've got to say with links to original
documents or quoting from them. Give me something to read so I can decide
if I think you're right. I haven't read the same books you have, you see.
 And for me to understand where you're coming from, you need to offer me
proof. It's simply good writing.

Otherwise, as far as I am concerned, you're all just taking potshots at
each other from your ivory towers. Problem is, they're all exploding
midair, making a pretty show but very little else. Fireworks.

Honestly, if my freshmen handed in half of these papers, I'd hand them
back with a nice red "What, precisely, is your argument?" after the first
paragraph. And after four or five more paragraphs, I'd write another
nice, equally red "Where, precisely, is your support?"

As far as I can see, on the part of most of our bananatheorists, the
argument is "I'm smarter than you."

I remain unconvinced.

Best,
Cecilia.

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Received on Wed Mar 5 19:31:41 2003