[PEN-L:1825] Re: silliness

[Louis N Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 8 Dec 1995, James Devine wrote:

> I'm sure Louis is being metaphorical rather than advocating
> actual violence. But the choice of metaphors seems to indicate an
> a priori preference for violent solutions (with heavily sexist
> overtones). Crucially, I think Louis is engaging in a profoundly
> unpolitical way of criticizing those with whom he disagrees (akin

Louis: Do you or Levy own a TV? Do you ever watch professional wrestling:
Hulk Hogan, that sort of thing? I do myself occasionally. When Hulk Hogan
wrestles an opponent in a locked steel-cage, it is a spectacle, a joke.
Nobody gets hurt. I find the idea of contributors to New Left Review
putting each other in a bear-hug and saying things like "it's *class*,
not *identity* totally preposterous and harmless. This has nothing to do
with gender, by the way. If the subject of Noam Chomsky had come up, I just
might have used the same metaphor in describing a debate between him and
Harry Magdoff.

By the way, it is a totally useless enterprise to try to shame me into
using "politically correct" speech. I have almost no sense of shame when
it comes to a mailing list used predominantly by tenured professors.
Maybe it is a psychological problem. I have a very underdeveloped libido
(that's what psychologists call the part of the brain that's involved
with duty, conscience, propriety, etc., isn't it? If somebody knows the
name of a good psychotherapist in NY who can help me reinforce my libido,
please contact me by private e-mail.)

One final thought, I post to this list about once every 2 or 3 weeks.
There is always the danger that I might throw in a tasteless, immature
and politically incorrect wisecrack. Therefore, I forbid Jerry Levy and
Jim Devine from reading my messages from now on. Trust me, you will not
be missing much. I couldn't explain the falling rate of profit to save my
life. And for any others on the list with these two gentlemen's advanced
sense of appropriate speech, I also forbid you from reading my messages.

Now, that should make everybody happy.