Hi again,
>Obviously we here took it, and now many times I see people turn around and
critique him after
>they've subscribed to a mailing list that was intended, if anything, I
think to try to clear
>up his vaguer areas, not criticize him over them.
>
Well, I agree that, at times, and especially in this forum, it could sound
like we're criticizing Pirsig more than anything else. But before you point
any accusing finger, try to read some of Struan Heiller prose, and you'll
find out that, by comparison, we're all rather polite gentlemen. Anyway,
that kind of behaviour is always the problem in an unmoderated, free-for-all
mailing list like moq_discuss.
That's why there are two forums. Its sister, moq_focus, might be more your
kind of thing if you'd prefer working the MOQ up rather than tearing it
down... ;)
I was just kidding, many people of this forum have contributed a great deal
to showing both the strengths and weaknesses of the ideas proposed by
Pirsig, despite the constant din of idiotic political arguments... [baleful
stare]
You have to remember that everyone here has *interpreted* 'Lila' and the MOQ
ideas (as is natural) and integrated them into their own world-view. So you
have as many "Concept-Worlds" here as you have participants. In those
worlds, the three letters MOQ have come to cover many different things, from
the "ugly complication" of Struan to the "rational reason to nuke the Arabs"
of Platt (so I'm exagerating, sue me :).
And every last one of us believe that this IS what Pirsig said, that our
interpretation is right (or at least, better than everybody's else). And
that also is natural, and inevitable. Pure objectivity has always been a
myth, and even more so when what you're interpreting consist of two novels
(*novels* for Christ's sake ! that's nearly as bad as holy books !). So when
one convinces himself enough, he pours down his praises and/or heap his
scorn unto *his* interpretation, and try to have everyone else toe his line.
In other words, everybody has done for himself what you'd like us to do
collectively.
And that is perfectly natural, and inevitable. Because in the intellectual
field, it all comes down to rhetorics, man.
>Does anyone agree with me, or am I just not in the MOQ mailinglist vibe
yet?
If no one agrees with you, then you definitely ARE in the vibe ! ;o)
Denis
PS : don't worry, soon everybody will acknowledge the superiority of my
views, and then we'll be able to start the *real* work !
PPS : on second thought, maybe you should start on your own and see if
anyone feels like agreeing with you. Don't hold your breath, though. I
nearly died from that. ;)
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