From: nanowave (nanowave@shaw.ca)
Date: Wed Mar 12 2003 - 01:02:31 MST
Mike Lorrey writes:
>While this is an interesting exercise, I generally disapprove of any
>mechanism to extort a peaceful individual to behave according to the
>wishes of others. As philosophers have said, reputation may be what
>others think they know about you, but honor is what you know about
>yourself. Which do you think is more important to personal development?
>
>As Meredith McMaster Bujold's character Aral Vorkosigan said, "Guard
>your honor closely, and let your reputation fall where it may."
>
>I would much rather have a mechanism by which I can judge my own prior
>statements than to have them judged by others. I frankly don't give a
>damn what anybody thinks of the things I say. I'd rather be true to
>myself and whuffie-less than a sell-out to the esteem of others. I
>recognise that this is reflected in my nearly exponential negative
>karma on the ExI BBS. I just don't give a damn.
>
>Take your whuffie and shove it, or give it to Gina. After all the crap
>she went through, that is the least she deserves. She certainly
>has MY esteem.
Hmm
I'm part way into chapter 4 of Doctorow's book, but so far I haven't really
noticed - especially in the lead characters, how the desire to accumulate
whuffie might be characterized as a 'mechanism for behavior extortion'.
The only example that springs to mind is when Lil wrinkles up here nose when
she learns that the notorious Keep-A-Movin' Dan, in a state of depression,
has shamefully allowed his whuffie to piddle away to nothing. But even so,
she's still awfully nice in offering him a place to stay while he gets back
on his feet, no?
Perhaps I'm missing some huge forest for the trees, or maybe what you're
indicating develops later in the story?
Anyhow why on Earth do you appear to be defending Gina to myself--the only
person on the list (so far as I know) who has effectively offered her a free
professional service in exchange for prior news-gathering excellence?
Not to suggest I disagree with anything you wrote above, but you must be
having a bad hair day or something.
Russell Evermore
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