Re: Poor old Simon

[Ellis Vener <evphoto@xxxxxxxxxx>]

AMANDA CHASE,
SURELY YOU HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE THAN WASTE
BANDWIDTH AND WHINE. 

ELLIS VENER
HOUSTON, TEXAS

Amanda Chase wrote:
> 
> Charles of SC, apparently no relation to Frederick of Hollywood, wrote:
> 
> > Amanda:  If you are not old enough to remember when Simon was in his prime,
> please don't cut him down.
> 
> This is called the "age before grace" defense. Does age exempt him from
> manners? No. I've seen his work from his "prime," and am not much impressed.
> 
> > He DID what he says he did.
> 
> No one ever questioned that. This is called the "straw man" defense.
> 
> > Or are you just upset because a MAN did it?
> 
> A new and off-topic subject. This is called the "limbaugh/ditch" defense.
> 
> If the list were named "Simon Says," maybe I wouldn't be so bored and
> annoyed by the pompous ramblings of an aging crankapotamus. But it's called
> "panorama-l," which leads people to think it's about wide-view photography.
> 
> It seems Charles has decided to go along with whatever Simon says, whether
> or not it's relevant. Maybe he watches his videotape library of "Lowell
> Thomas Remembers" while he drink his warm milk at 7:00 in the evening.
> 
> Mitch Warner has offered the best and most clear-headed explanation of what
> makes Simon tick. I appreciated that. But while stubbornness can be
> tolerated and ignorance can be cured, deliberate stupidity is beyond hope.
> 
> So you can drop the age and infirmity excuses, folks. Hans Bethe is still
> teaching with patience and love at age 93. There's no reason someone who
> views himself as grandly as Simon does couldn't do likewise.
> 
> Among other things, Mitch Warner wrote:
> 
> > There are solutions to Simon irritation.  The most immediate is usually
> located at the botton left or right of a keyboard:  'Del'
> 
> That's what others have said they do, or send simon/wide-of-the-mark
> messages straight to the trash. But there's no way around someone whose
> presence generates more discussion than the reason for the list to exist.
> 
> Rehotshots wrote, among other interesting things:
> 
> > sometimes it is difficult to synthesize a new idea; especially if we are
> attached to our old ones.  All you can do is throw it out there and hope
> that it will be of use to someone.  If you see you idea as a ball, notice
> that there are no strings connecting you to the ball.  If the ball is missed
> or if the ball is caught or if the ball is hit is no reflection on you, but
> simply a reflection of those to whom you pitch it.  We must be detached from
> our ideas.  The attachment causes the conflict, the pain, the hurt feelings,
> the shock, etc.  To pitch a ball at all we must let go of it.  Does that
> help?
> 
> Clayton wrote, just before unsubscribing for the second and last time:
> 
> > Nice illustration. Trouble is, Simon can't tell the difference between his
> ideas and his balls, and is thus reluctant to part with them.
> 
> What more could I add to that?
> 
> Well, enough stewing in someone else's juice. It's time for me to go
> unsubscribe and be happier. Besides, my L.L. Bean catalog just arrived.
> 
> -- Amanda Chase
> amandachase@xxxxxxxxxxx