Re: virus: [Fwd: Re: Honest Intellectual Inquiry, Parable]

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Tue, 8 Jun 1999 18:53:25 -0700

Eric wrote:

>"my point"? Failability/Imperfection is at least as much "my point"
>as "Check your foundations" (indeed, the former is the source of the
>need for the latter). But I would contend that the second essay's
>point was obvious becuase the author kept hitting the reader over the
>head with it... again, and again, and again! (which is to say, one
>doesn't have to deduce it from the story, the story gives it to you by
>throwing a rock through every window in your house...)

Quite frankly, I didn't see that story as about Failablity/Imperfection at all. It was obviously more about living together with other people and accepting their ideas of what constitues a "good life" for them, even when those ideas aren't based on the same standards as your own.

Did you see something else?

>It does seem rather pointless to debate over the relative perception
>of quality... That said, I personally found the brothers character to
>be much nicer than the House Owner, who tended to be reactionary and
>had a serious case of identifying with his memes (and property)...

That's what I meant when I said "two-dimensional characters". The home owner is clearly presented as a strawman on par with the Big Bad Wolf. Oh, and let's not forget the Jedi Real Estate agent!

(waving hand) "You don't need to see the foundation..."

"I don't need to see the foundation."
"The droids you're looking for aren't in the basement..."
"The droids aren't in the basement."

(smiling) "You can sign the papers now..." "Let's sign those papers now!"

>But then I'm obviously biased. I like hearing the truth -- even if it is
>ugly and immoral.

HAHAhahahahahahahaahahha! --that's cute! Who can argue against the truth!

(And truth is, it wasn't the brothers house to fret so over, now was it?)

-Prof. Tim