Labor: Menial vs. Noble

[Dennis Perrin/Nancy Bauer]

>you've said over and over again that you think what gets discussed 
>here is useless.  that's anti intellectualism.  your rant at doug was a 
>form of anti intellectualism.  and it's always a hoot to me when such a 
>claim-how useless and boring it all is--gets trotted out:  what exactly do 
>you expect to take place on a mail list?  when you denounce theory and 
>learning--and i was self taught for a long time as well b/c i couldn't 
>afford college--you give ammo to those who lobbed grenades at my efforts to 
>learn on my own and then go to college.  

I don't think that everything that is discussed here is "useless." I do find
much of the academic jargon hard on the eye and at times too dense for any
serious appreciation. I know academics have a language of their own; but I
prefer clear, direct prose. 

If it makes you feel smarter to call me an anti-intellectual, by all means
fire away. I wouldn't want to take that away from you. As for my "rants" at
Doug, I simply played off his post about not wanting to dig a ditch. I have
tremendous respect for Doug and his work, and he's the primary reason why I
joined this list.


>and now you've resorted to another klinker -- we're all humorless left 
>intellectuals.  HA.  i'm a bit insulted as i believe it's hardly the case 
>that i'm humorless -- though carol thinks i'm too emotional.

On this issue, kel, you are humorless. Clearly I struck a nerve with you,
but such is life during wartime. I do find many of your other posts quite
amusing -- in the good sense of the word. Here, however, there is anger or
something else that keeps that part of you under wraps. 


>you may think that it is all "just" about your experience, that none of it 
>has implications beyond your corner of the world.  i differ.  i firmly 
>believe that attitudes such as you've conveyed here have been significant 
>contributions to the misery in the lives of men i know.  

I can't speak to that part of your life. I can only speak of mine. 


>i enjoy your posts to the list. people 
>criticize because that's what email lists are, basically, about.  so, none 
>of this should be construed as some sort of attack on you.

Gee, you could have fooled me. In any event, I don't mind criticism; I've
faced far worse in much closer quarters. I'm not easily bruised, so attack
to your heart's content. 


>if there's any chance, could you change the time on your 'fuser?  you have 
>it set at easter std time, even tho you are typing from michigan.  this 
>means that all your posts land in my inbox way out of order and i don't see 
>them unless i seek them out. 


>kelley

I'll have to ask my wife about that. She's the computer expert in the fam.
To me, computers are televised typewriters.

DP