From: Arlo J. Bensinger (ajb102@psu.edu)
Date: Thu Mar 31 2005 - 05:08:52 BST
Platt, All,
Platt wrote:
> What interests me about rock is it's relationship to social degeneration
> which Pirsig discusses at length in Chapter 24 of Lila. I keep trying to
> shift the conversation to a critique of Pirsig's analysis, without
> success. I can only surmise that this refusal to engage means there's
> little agreement with Pirsig's premise that societal morality is going
> down hill.
Ay Carumba, Platt. How do you write these things in good conscience? Do you see
the HUGE conflation, generalization and denial in this statement?
(1) No one is arguing that there is not "societal morality" problems that need
to be discussed. No one has stated that there is not "degeneracy" out there, or
has dismissed concerns to this regard.
(2) What everyone IS taking issue with is the "argument" that "all rock music is
degenerate", and thus "a cause of social decay".
(3) To disagree with you ON THIS POINT is not to claim an absolute dichotomous
position you try to force. I think most people are here because they see the
MOQ can, in some personal way or otherwise, can combat the maladies they see
around them.
(4) Even if Pirsig wrote in Lila, which he did not, that ALL rock music was ipso
facto degenerate, that does not preclude those of us who find such statements
without merit from challenging the continual trumpeting and avoidance of
discourse on the issue. All the questions you've conveniently avoided are in
this vein. I'm sorry if I don't just "accept" everything you, or Pirsig, says
as unquestionable dogma.
For example, speaking from my own perspective, and as I've stated repeatedly,
the overemphasis on material wealth and the "pursuit of money" in this country
is a BIG factor in social degeneracy. The de-emphasizing of a commons, and an
redefining of everything as "private property" is yet another. And, as I said
before, the prevailing "I am only repsonsible for myself, everyone else can go
to hell" attitude is also part of the social decay problem.
If you want to talk about "underlying issues of social deterioration", let's go.
If you want everyone to just "accept" your absurd soapbox issue that "all rock
music is degenerate", forget it.
It is to your "Poverty does not cause social decay, but rock music does" claims
that I have be taking issue with.
But what's the use. That you could draw the rhetorical statement, if I (or
anyone here) disagree with you (about "rock"), they therefore disagree with
Pirsig that there are societal problems, is flabbergasting.
Whether that speaks to ego or not, I can only guess...
Arlo
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