Comments for Internet Sophism

Comment on 101 Books to Read Before You Die … Well, Some of them at least by Tiffany

Tiffany — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:01:38 +0000

You’re comparing Apples and Oranges with your Galaxy/Gables comment. Hitch Hikers Guide is hilariously smart and obviously for an older crowd, as opposed to the classic but still juvenile Gables, mostly entertaining for those under 14. Your comments on House of Leaves was right on.

I was glad to see Siddhartha make the list, since it is a gloriously under rated classic chronicling the spiritual journey of a young man. As a literature major, it wasn’t even mentioned in my curriculum. It was a jewel I found on my own. Highly recommended if you haven’t already picked it up.

What? No Harry Potter?! What is great literature if not the chronicling of a young warlock’s coming of age?

Comment on 101 Books to Read Before You Die … Well, Some of them at least by Jenine

Jenine — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 21:31:53 +0000

As much as I enjoyed it, I’m a bit surprised to see Hitchhikers Guike to the Galaxy on the 101 list. Might as well add Ann of Green Gables for that matter. Enjoyable in that mind-numbing-almost-dummer-for-having-read-it kind of way.

I do highly recommend House of Leavesby Mark Z. Danielewski, though. A little unorthodox and a creepy mind-freak, but you feel like you’ve accomplished something when you’re done.

Great blog, by the way.

Comment on A Definition of Sophism by Jenine

Jenine — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 21:19:11 +0000

Very, very true. I’ve recently taken up an interest in politics, listening to our local talk radio. It’s made me realize that most of my political knowledge did formerly come from Comedy Central. And knowing that most of the American population watches more TV that I do makes me a little worried for the next election, but that’s a whole other topic all together.

Comment on A Definition of Sophism by poseidon715

poseidon715 — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 17:55:27 +0000

No doubt! And Comedy Central becomes a change-agent for political journalism!

Of course, good parody has always had that effect through the ages; though it offers no solutions itself, it does help us to confront sensitive issues and sometimes discover cultural problems that have been taken for granted.

Comment on A Definition of Sophism by Jenine

Jenine — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 17:18:07 +0000

Does it say something for the state of our country with South Park begins making direct contributions to the Encyclopedia? Funny, but still a little scary.

Comment on An Offensive Gospel by poseidon715

poseidon715 — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:46:50 +0000

Check out Frederick Buechner. He was a Nobel finalist in literature for his book Godric in 1979, and some of his other fiction is excellent as well, such as The Book of Bebb and On the Road with the Archangel. His non-fiction essays follow a similar train of thought. Very earthy and real – unlike so many titles that deal with religious, especially Christian, themes.

Also, more to your theme, check out the song “Here In America” by Rich Mullins – he wrote it when he was hitchhiking across America when he was 18.

I don’t think any of these authors are too sure that Jesus of Nazareth would regularly hang out with many of the suburban church-folk in my area. I don’t think so either.

Comment on (Nothing But) Flowers by poseidon715

poseidon715 — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:36:59 +0000

Nice comment.

The neo-luddite sentiments expressed in this post are a bit rash, and perhaps reactionary. It isn’t possible or preferable to throw away all culture and technology, for in that very process we are merely replacing one set of social conventions and “advances” with another. The importance, I think, is in the awareness of our current culture as an artificial social construct on par with many other cultures. The argument for the march of progress often blinds us to the many negative aspects of the technologies we are advancing.

Some out-of-the-box thinking is required for dealing with the issues of technology and culture as many of the its negative aspects, such as environmental damage and human health, are coming to a head.

While we consider new innovative solutions, let us not forget an important illustration: if a man realizes that he is traveling down the wrong road, the fastest way for him to reach his destination is not to continue along that same path, but to turn around and regress the path he is on.

So do I think we need to throw “progress” to the wind and start over? No. But I don’t think that technological progress for its own sake is the right road either.

Comment on An Offensive Gospel by tellitlikeitis

tellitlikeitis — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 03:14:22 +0000

Wow, I didn’t see this post before, but I really want to read that book now. Reason being, although I haven’t started drafting yet, I have been thinking all spring and summer about writing a novel in which a character who is a thinly disguised Christ figure wanders modern America…I’m sure you can see where I’m going with that…and it’s really interesting to hear of a nonfiction title that relates to that concept, at least somewhat. Thanks for the info, I will definitely check out this book.

Comment on (Nothing But) Flowers by tellitlikeitis

tellitlikeitis — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 03:45:28 +0000

It’s certainly worth thinking about that our “enlightened” progress has a very weighty dark side. But the idea that it is all or nothing, one way or the other, is an illusion of perspective brought about by the fact that humankind existed 200,000 years before the Industrial Revolution of less than 200 years ago. The means of the past 200 years to get to the ends at present represent, hopefully, only the first stab in a series of trials and errors that may ultimately lead to a balance between the Pizza Hut and the daisies. That humanity is in a state of denial about its impact on the world is evident and extremely, grossly problematic, but one needn’t result to apocalyptic scenarios to bring home the point.

Incidentally, I’m a huge fan of Talking Heads, especially Remain in Light and Fear of Music. Enjoyed your blog and looking forward to more…thanks!

Comment on The Truth About Dogs by Doug

Doug — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 01:47:47 +0000

After living with a my Brittany Spaniel for 10 years now I’m really not a lot closer to understanding her than I was the first week. I’ve learned her quirks and idiosyncracies and how to “read her” but my dog’s underlying motives are still an enigma to me (food aside). I’ll give this book a read soon and maybe it will answer the most gnawing question of all – do dogs have to think about each distinct wag of the tail or is there a “wag motor” that they just turn on so they can think about whatever it is that dogs ponder all day?

Thanks for the review.