10.0806 contexts of mischief

WILLARD MCCARTY (willard.mccarty@kcl.ac.uk)
Mon, 24 Mar 1997 22:08:06 +0000 (GMT)

Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 10, No. 806.
Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities (Princeton/Rutgers)
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
Information at http://www.princeton.edu/~mccarty/humanist/

[1] From: Michael Guest <guest@ia.inf.shizuoka.ac.jp> (12)
Subject: Re: 10.0805 mischief out of context

[2] From: Anita Jawary <anitaj@cs.monash.edu.au> (6)
Subject: Re: 10.0805 mischief out of context

[3] From: Willard McCarty <Willard.McCarty@kcl.ac.uk> (26)
Subject: distancing

--[1]----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 14:54:52 +0900 (JST)
From: Michael Guest <guest@ia.inf.shizuoka.ac.jp>
Subject: Re: 10.0805 mischief out of context

>You know, Roman policemen are not always
> so highly educated people as to immediately grasp the difference
> between a leftish (?) spectacular happening and a hooligans' bravade.

I admire the spiritedness and ideological responsibility with which,
according to the account given, the group conducted their happening. It's
too bad that the constabulary isn't a bit better informed and reflective.

Michael Guest
guest@ia.inf.shizuoka.ac.jp

--[2]----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 11:09:22 +1100
From: Anita Jawary <anitaj@cs.monash.edu.au>
Subject: Re: 10.0805 mischief out of context

I sympathise with Tito Orlando's views. I have to admit that when I read
the original posting, my feeling was I was glad I was not on the bus at the
same time as those youths!!

Good on you, Tito!

Anita Jawary

--[3]----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 17:03:22 +0000
From: Willard McCarty <Willard.McCarty@kcl.ac.uk>
Subject: distancing

I'm sorry to have caused my esteemed colleague Professor Tito Orlandi any
distress with the article on the Luther Blissetts, about which I knew
nothing other than the Guardian article had told me. How I might have known
that I should know more I do not know. In any case, the matter does raise
some interesting questions in part having peripherally to do with the medium
we use and so may be worth pursuing further.

As I wrote to Professor Orlandi, this northerner, at least, finds himself on
many an overcast, chilly day remembering with considerable fondness warm
days spent in Rome amidst its great treasures and wonderful people. Perhaps
it is a mistake to do so, but I attribute to that city and its country many
utopian qualities, among which are a certain freedom and generosity of
spirit. I think it is not uncommon for northern peoples to do so. The
Guardian article seemed of a piece with such utopian dreaming, and so I too
easily fell into error and quick, unchecked publication.

Or is it entirely an error? Is it possible that partial views show something
of a truth that a more complete view obscures? When publication can be so
quick, should we necessarily view as improper or unscholarly tossing out a
remark, opinion or bit of news without checking it thoroughly, or can we, or
do we already, take it for granted that this medium is so conversational to
permit us to rely on replies, such as Professor Orlandi's?

Comments?

WM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dr. Willard McCarty, Senior Lecturer, King's College London
voice: +44 (0)171 873 2784 fax: +44 (0)171 873 5801
e-mail: Willard.McCarty@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/kis/schools/hums/ruhc/wlm/