I have some other hypotheses to put forth in the Szasz/Tomlin controversy:
1. It was a case of two people independently stating a not very
novel idea. There are many cases in the scientific literature, as I'm sure
you all know, of simultaneous discovery even of much more complex concepts
2. It was a case of "cryptomnesia" (e.g. Brown & Murphy, 1989), or
unintentional plagiarism
3. Tomlin knew it was from Szasz, but comics are not required to
cite references (can you imagine what comedy routines would be like if they
did?!! >:) )!
Esther
At 09:26 AM 11/2/00 -0500, Stephen Black wrote:
> > > Jim Guinee wrote:
>
> > > > I don't have a relevant comment, but it made me think of the latest
> > > > quote in my signature block.
> > > >
> > > > "Why is it when we talk to God we're praying,
> > > > but when he talks to us we're schizophrenic?"
> > > > -Lily Tomlin
>
>Mike Scoles commented:
> >
> > > I believe it was Szasz, not Tomlin!
>
>Jim Guinee replied
>
> > According to the "21st Century Dictionary of Quotations," edited by the
> > Princeton Language Institute, it's Tomlin. But, I'm aware that quotes are
> > commonly attributed to the wrong person.
>
>And a voice said to me: "Take down the Oxford Dictionary of
>Modern Quotations from your shelf". I obeyed. It said:
>
>"If you talk to God, you are praying; if God talks to you, you
>have schizophrenia. If the dead talk to you, you are a
>spiritualist; if God talks to you, you are a schizophrenic."
>
>_The Second Sin (1973), "Schizophrenia", Thomas Szasz
>
>My theory: Tomlin ripped Szasz off and made it her own. In some
>circles we call this plagiarism.
>
>-Stephen
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
>Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
>Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Lennoxville, QC
>J1M 1Z7
>Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
> Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at:
> http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
Esther Yoder Strahan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Heidelberg College
310 East Market Street
Tiffin, OH 44883-2462
(419) 448-2238
fax (419) 448-2236
