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From: dht@druri.UUCP (Davis Tucker)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: A SHORT RESPONSE
Message-ID: <1097@druri.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Jun-85 20:17:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: druri.1097
Posted: Tue Jun  4 20:17:18 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 03:16:50 EDT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 38


Just for the record:

1) I *do* like science fiction, quite a lot. Don't say that I don't because
   I point out some of its problems.

2) I do not think I am God. I don't even think I'm L. Ron Hubbard.

3) I read for fun. I read trash. I just don't have any illusions about it, 
   even though I enjoy it. "Enjoyment" is not the be-all and end-all of life.

4) I realize that what I say is my opinion, and I am surprised at the number
   of people who have seen fit to inform me of this obvious fact. Lighten up.
   At least I have attempted to support my opinion with examples and logic.

5) You may think that Norman Rockwell is vastly superior to Van Gogh, but you
   would be wrong. There is good art, and there is bad art, and to deny that
   there is a distinction between them is to lump greatness with mediocrity.
   Otherwise, there is no basis for *any* critical statement except "I like
   it". Which is incredibly egocentric.

6) "Well-written" and "boring" are mutually exclusive in my book.

7) I am not a "fan". I don't go to "cons". But my familiarity with the field
   is not lacking, nor is my familiarity with mainstream fiction.
   
8) I could be wrong about everything, but there haven't been too many attempts
   to change my mind with reason and comparisons and concrete examples.

9) I do not think that personal attacks and name-calling, such as I have been
   receiving in my mailbox, are necessary, nor particularly witty, either.

10) I notice that the majority of responses have ignored the main point of each
   essay. No one chose to argue with Phillip K. Dick when he said, "The field
   has been growing weak... it has become ossified. A stale timidity has crept
   over it..." 

                                         Davis Tucker