[lbo-talk] 'Grey Vampirism'

Mike Beggs mikejbeggs at gmail.com
Thu Dec 3 16:38:50 PST 2009


On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 8:40 AM, James Heartfield <Heartfield at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:


> Of course it is a bit unfair - but you know what it means. Troll means something like someone who manufactures controversy for the sake of it (can't think why that would be a problem...). And 'grey vampire' means someone who pretends to disinterested scepticism. I particularly liked the part of the argument that suggested that post-structuralism was the philosophy of 'grey vampirism' - after all could their be a more perfect sceptical argument than 'scepticism towards all grand narratives'.>

Well, like I said, I can see why the idea might be useful. Anyone who argues a lot online ought to have some criteria regarding when to hold them, fold them, walk away or run.

I just had reservations because the original context showed how it could be abused as well. Maybe it's a category best kept to yourself when you make a judgment about whether to keep engaging with someone or not, rather than to throw into the debate as a rhetorical strategy.

And James, from what I've read of you, I doubt you'd like very much where k-punk et al have gone from post-structuralism - towards a kind of catastrophist anti-humanism. 'Post-structuralism' hasn't really been that cool in theory circles for a decade.

Mike scandalum.wordpress.com



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