[OSList] The Tyranny of Structurelessness

[Harold Shinsato via OSList]

Hi Daniel,

As a habitual outsider, I can't say whether or not I felt excluded by 
the Ralph Copleman story or not. For me, it might be a bit like asking a 
fish whether or not he feels wet.

But I will say - I've heard the story of Ralph and "everything is 
moving", and I got value from the story even without knowing the full 
context. And I really wish I had felt excluded by the story when I first 
heard it 7 years ago or so, and had asked about it like you did.

I'm so grateful to you, Daniel, for saying something. And I'm very 
grateful to Harrison for sharing the story, and especially the thoughts 
that it has provoked. And I'm grateful to Ralph, who I never knew, for 
leaving such an enduring legacy with just a few words at a Symposia 
decades ago.

     Cheers!
     Harold

On 10/5/15 2:50 PM, Daniel Mezick via OSList wrote:
> Howdy Harrison,
>
> Thanks for describing the context of the Ralph Copleman story- I'm 
> very thankful for that info.
>
> I notice that, lots of times here, there are references made to 
> notable OST episodes, and situations from times past...
>
> ...the "OST-mythos" as it were.
>
> These mythical stories often have me wondering what I missed, and what 
> I might now be missing. (Being clueless as I am.)
>
> I'm sure these story-fragment postings are not posted with intent to 
> exclude anyone, or to be discourteous, or unkind. More like: some good 
> old basic camaraderie is taking place between some old friends.
>
> Still: Do these "inside-story-fragments" on OSLIST tend to evoke 
> feelings of exclusion in readers who were /not/ there at the time?
>
> Not sure.
>
> <CONFESSION>
>
> As for me, personally, I sometimes find myself experiencing curiously 
> odd feelings of exclusion, when a told-fragment of an old OST-mythos 
> story lacks explicit context. So I can follow the story, you know? The 
> terms "outsider" or "clueless" or  "not in the story" describe these 
> feelings fairly well. "Not invited?"
>
> I sometimes wonder if some of the hundreds of /other/ members of 
> OSLIST ever feel this way...or if it is "just me."
>
> </CONFESSION>
>
> Daniel
>

-- 
Harold Shinsato
harold at shinsato.com <mailto:harold at shinsato.com>
http://shinsato.com
twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
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