From: Walter Miles <walter at nova.org>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 12:20:29 -0400
Subject: [WSFA] Where's my copy of "Confessions of a Crap Artist?"
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Hello Candy

On 10-Mar-02, Candy Madigan wrote:
CM> At 05:49 PM 03/09/2002 -0500, you wrote:

CM> ...I'm enough of a snob that I
CM> don't want to hang with losers...

So what's a "loser?"  A term in TV comedy (specifically, those
requiring a low-pass filter on your brain) dialect connoting
someone who consistently makes poor life choices rendering them
unsuccessful in finance, romance, or other momentary pursuit?
A typical Philip K. Dick protagonist?  A Hindu Untouchable
without the aspects of heredity or practical utility?  Somebody
who forgot to cross their fingers as prophylaxis against
cooties?  Anybody outside the "village" of thirty-or-so close
acquaintances that each of us can keep in their heart at any
one time?

CM> (and you have to admit it, but most fen
CM> start out as losers and many never move past that)

Wow.
------------------

Maybe a loser is somebody you were never accidentally thrown
together with long enough to get a feel for who they are.  On
the other hand, maybe the thing that is "lost" is that
accident, and then the "loser" would clearly---oh, but what
a characteristically boorish thing for me to say, I've so
meant to reform...

CM> so that gives me a very
CM> small group as potential new friends.

While I object to the line of thought, I suppose I can't argue
with the conclusion.

Be seeing you,

Walter (Who despite contemplating Walt Dangerfield (a non-
typical Phil Dick character) as Boddhisattva, nevertheless in
the end Loves contumely, cruelty and living all aspects of
the great Loser/Wiener dichotomy better than any spiritual
alternative (like, ya know, moral and adequate dietary fiber)).