So who the heck is Evan Harris? I've never heard of him. Well, this is my 2 cents but I
think his answering his questionaire might be too much like true confessions and you
know
how I love obfuscation. Or if you didn't know, now you do.
Another way to drop out is simply to make television your world and become a T.V.
nihilist. After all the major networks are still freely piped into everyone's house and
one can get a used T.V. from Goodwill or Salvation Army very cheap. Then after a while
people who don't have time to check the schedules start to ask you what's on and you
become a resident expert on television. The only drawback is that one must be careful
to
remember that everything on T.V. is a lie. So...
RA
Patricia wrote:
> I prefer Marcel Proust. He took paper and pen to his bed and wrote Remembrance of
> Things Past. This is described in "The Quit, A Consideration of the Art of Quitting"
> by Evan Harris as "Technique #19, TAKE TO YOUR BED."
>
> "This technique is helpful for the quitter at the end of her rope. It is suitable
>for
> use in quitting ideas (such as the notion that anything matters), hope for the
>future,
> and optimism of any kind. When despair is the operative emotion attending the quit,
> Take to Your Bed is the appropriate technique.
>
> Collapse in a heap of depression and disillusionment, driven to your bed in a sweep
>of
> psychic exhaustion. Realize everything is hopeless. Intend never to emerge.
>
> While opting out is a staple of the quitting way, the particular incarnation of the
> notion requies a somethwat sedentary nature on the part of the quitter. Athletic
> quitters should take to their beds with caution.
>
> Many quitters who take to their beds bring things with them, like magazines or
> cookies. Marcel Proust is a good example. He took paper and pen and wrote
> 'Remembrance of Things Past.' "
>
> Which brings about excerpts from his questionnaire - shall we publish this one?
>
> Your favourite virtue:
> Your idea of happiness:
> Your idea of misery:
> If not yourself, who would you be?
> Your favourite curse word:
> Your most hated word:
> Your favourite food or drink:
> Your favourite poets:
> Your favourite visual artists:
>
> (well, a bit of artistic liscence above)
>
> And, in 1972, I had moved into my first apartment, next to 5 guys from a farm team
>for
> the NY Mets who pitched their hamburgers onto our wall to flatten them, drank cheap
>red
> wine, smoked great Columbian gold, and read Thomas Pynchnon in the bathtub.
>
> PK
>
> Reed Altemus wrote:
>
> > > Reed Altemus wrote:
> > >
> > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > In a message dated 04/21/2000 8:31:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> > > > >
> > > > > << > me. Quite bland. I think Rimbaud's life was more interesting than his
> > > > > art. That's my
> > > > >
> > > > > Matineee d'ivresse ? >>
> > > > > Yes, but did you think that when you were a teenager?
> > > >
> > > > Exactly, he was a poetic prodigy. I really can't put my finger on it but the
> > > > poems just didn't reach me on an affective/visceral level. They didn't strike
> > > > me as particularly lyrical like, for instance Rilke can be (which I like).
> > > > Maybe I've just read too much brut stuff and it's ruined me for it I don't
> > > > know.
> > > >
> > > > RA
> > >
> > > Reached me on an affective visceral level. But perhaps that was only in 1972 or
> > > thereabouts, when my primary reading was greek drama and primary amusement booze.
> > > Grew up in a little rural town where recreation was alcoholic, for everyone,
> > > really, except the pastor and the priest had to do it privately. And of course my
> > > parents didn't drink. Really.
> > >
> > > There are many many tales from that crazy little village. But they're all too
> > > tacky for the present moment of prosperity.
> >
> > Greek drama & booze. Wow. That must have been a nasty combination. Boone's Farm or
> > M.D. 20/20 and hubris. In 1972 I was 11 so Greek drama was a bit above my reading
> > level at that point. Had to read them in college though and must admit didn't much
> > enjoy them then. I
> > had to anylize them according to Northrop Frye. Man I shudder just to think of it.
> >
> > RA
