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Subject: Re: sounds of silence


Author:
derek
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Date Posted: 13:21:47 03/16/01 Fri
In reply to: Zisel ben 's message, "sounds of silence" on 08:59:20 03/16/01 Fri

What are you talking about? Do you really want sound bites of his voice?

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Replies:
[> Subject: Re: sounds of silence


Author:
Snarf
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Date Posted: 13:35:07 03/19/01 Mon

Hi.
I came across your Web site and had to say something.

The argument in this threat is among the most ridiculous argument I've ever heard. All writers break silence in some form or another. They may not do it well, and you might wish that they kept their damn mouths shut by keeping their computers off and their pens down, but it is still speaking. In one of the few intelligent things Stephen King wrote, he acquainted writing to telepathy. Think of it: me (writer right now) and you (reader) aren't in the same place and we're not even in the same time since you're reading, but we're still communicating.

A writer can still speak and be silent in a figurative term. Just pick up something by James Waller or Danielle Steele and you'll see the literary example of speaking while saying nothing.

But I agree with Zisel. This forum is nothing more than a handful of people sitting around in all of their great literary pretension, probably wasting time while they are supposed to be working, thinking that their views are overly important and critical to solving the world's problems. That doesn't mean that it isn't good to sit around in a small group and kick around ideas and argue things, but I think its pretentious to think that millions of people will plop their intellectually starving depraved butts in front of this Web page and transcend themselves into some sort of nirvana. Having such a goal (and seriously believing it) while saying that this is a "those rudimentary pages that you can find floating in Cyberspace, and it isn't that glamorous" is trying to have your cake and it eat to. Its incredibly self-important and arrogant. But don't get me wrong. I like the parlay I see in here and encourage you all to keep it up.

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[> [> Subject: Re: sounds of silence


Author:
Anthony
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Date Posted: 05:45:37 03/20/01 Tue

Snarf, first of all, I agree that this is a ridiculous thread...to a point. Though I thought it was ridiculous I am willing to humor other people's thoughts since, well, since I like to converse with people. Maybe that way their outlandish words will become clear. This way, I hope to learn to expand my personal level of tolerance towards people. I have heard many opinions from many people that claim that the majority of users on the Internet are nothing more than blithering idiots. I would like to stifle that rumor, since I find the opposite to be true. Granted, there ARE those that use the medium as nothing as a place to cause trouble, but that is true of all media that have come before: some have used them to be serious, others to cause mischief. So, in the end, this thread may not be all that absurd. The person that started it was just coming from their personal perspective. That is what talking to people and being tolerant has taught me: that other people aren't just extras in one's life. They are other people with starring roles on this planet, just like me. And we all have to share the stage as best we can, a rowdy bunch of leading men and women. And other people's ideas, while strange sounding they might be at first to me, may become clear.

Now, to address the supposed pretension of this site. I really resent that, and I have had one or two other people like you coming to me claiming that I am pretensious, and I resent it. But there are others coming here for help on papers and to talk and debate and share. I have never stated once here that I believe that my site is some last bastion of intellect on the Internet. I am trying to contact people that like discussing politics, religion, and all the other aspects of civilization and how they have and will (possibly) change. I never said that my efforts or the site would spark earth-shattering global cultural change. I believe in the power of the masses, so what? And I don't think that I can sit here and change the world. I just want to do my small part in keeping people aware of the world around them. That's all. So should I just say forget it and not even bother? Why should we do anything, for that matter? Let's just sit around and not talk. Let's not communicate. Who cares, right?

Listen, I think that YOU are the pretensious one, coming down like from on high to declare me and this site to be pompous. Let me ask you, where did I ever claim that I was some miracle worker with the only path to enlightenment in my hands? I never did. There are multiple ways to "Nirvana", and I don't even think that I know a single one. I just know what sounds profound and pertinent to ME, what sounds like a good philosophy to ME, and just I wanted to share it with others. If others think that my ideas are crap, so be it. They can argue with me and we will have a good debate and maybe expand each other's hoirizons. If others think the same way, then they can talk to me and know that there is someone else out there like them. There you have it again, the use of the Internet to break the silence and to cut down on the loneliness and isolation that thinkers often feel...shit, that PEOPLE in general often feel. So instead of just writing me off as pompous and elitist, why not get to know me better? Why just lay down a judgement? Why not talk to me, using this forum, and break the fucking trend of stereotyping people. The way you so easily criticize me and label me is exactly the kind of narrow minded snap judgement that I am trying to tell others about. That method of thought, IN MY OPINION, leads to intolerance. That is what I believe. So why not talk to me a bit more before branding me? How about not branding people at all, despite what you feel about them? Cause in the end, a person is a lot more inside than the label you tack onto them.

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[> [> Subject: Re: sounds of silence


Author:
derek
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Date Posted: 12:52:59 03/20/01 Tue

Aristotle was against writing, the church hated print, I was not into the whole strap on thing but we all come around eventually. I have faith that snarf and zisel ben will as well. They just don't get it yet, yea thats all, they just don't get it yet.

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: sounds of silence


Author:
no one of consequence
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Date Posted: 21:18:40 03/20/01 Tue

WHAT exactly do snarf and zisel ben not "get"???
This whole "not getting it" shit is so stupid. Do you actually think that you have the authority to judge who "gets it" and who "doesn't get it"?

Obviously YOU are not getting SOMETHING because you feel the need to tell other people that they "just don't get it."

Aristotle? the church? strap ons? Wow. I'm impressed. Is that your back up? Is that supposed to legitimize your ridiculous claims?

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: sounds of silence


Author:
derek
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Date Posted: 06:59:55 03/21/01 Wed

You are damn right that I am telling you what you do and do not get, however I am not going to try to explain it again. Think what you will of me, I do not care. Argue you pointless points and I will still sleep at night. I am twice as intelligent as anyone that has yet to write to this site, and I hope that bothers the shit out of all of you. I think it will, you have been arguing constantly about who has the authority to judge and I think me telling you this will really get to you. Fuck you, I am better than you!

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: sounds of silence


Author:
no one of consequence
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Date Posted: 08:21:58 03/21/01 Wed

Yeah, your intelligence is overwhelming. I can tell from your brilliant passages like: "Fuck you, I am better than you!"

by the way, your hostility seems to be growing exponentially

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