[Ansel]

Ok, I know lots of you guys read, since we are all heavily into an artist's philosohpy on life an such. But have any of you ever read Danish literature? Paticularly the works of the genious Jens Peter Jacobsen. Anyone ever read the novel "Niels Lyhne"? This book relates to artist so well, its unbelievable how much he knows, and how wide his vocabulary. I urge all artists to read it, you will not forget it. The book can be found in excellent translation. You can get it at barnes and noble, or their website.
Btw, I don't want to hear people's admiration for american writers.. cause quite frankly, America produces lame literature. I don't even like Poe, I think hes so popular because hes the only writer that America can be proud of..Don't be offended, if you ever read Danish Literature you would agree with me.

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Ansel

[Nex]

uh oh.. I smell smoke here..

[Impaler]

I smell a flamewar too.

Let's not and say we did.

One man has an opinion, another has another. Let's leave it at that.

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My signature is slightly better than yours.

[Ansel]

I wish someone would flame me, I would like to get in an intelligent arugument on literature. Keep in mind though, I never said that Poe was a bad writer, I just don't like his style. I used to be a fan of him myself, until I recieved a book by Rainer Maria Rilke

[Count Zero]

Oh.
Well, opinions are like as- no, won't say it. :|


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[SporQ]

Henry David Thoreau
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Walt Whitman
J. D. Salinger

just a short list but i could go on

but i'll check out Niels Lyhne. my mom is danish, so i have a love of all things from denmark

SporQ

[Ansel]

Great, you won't forget it man. Btw, Im Danish as well.

[Nex]

No REALLY?

[A.Buttle]

Whoa there buddy. Who are you to insult American literature? I couldn't possibly imagine that you've read through the entire catalog of American literature, only after which would you be qualified to make a statement like "America produces lame writers."

Indeed, only in a country like the United States, which has a breadth of diversity found no where else, could we produce an author like Jack Kerouac. And only here would you find an author like Amy Tan, who can relate her experiences as the child of immigrants through her work. How about the beautifully poignant social satire of Kurt Vonnegut? Oh, shall we not forget the humanity, wit, and warmth of Isaac Asimov? Flannery O'Conner? Ambrose Bierce? William Faulkner? Ernest Hemingway? I could go on, but I think it is unecessary.

What it boils down to is that the comment was not just an expression of your opinion, but rather your ignorance. Let's look at the holes of your poorly founded arguement, shall we? Great.

First, why is an appreciation of both American and Danish literature? Are we to assume that they are mutually exclusive preferences? You sure seem to think so. "I used to be a fan of him myself, until I recieved a book by Rainer Maria Rilke."

Second, who are you to make statements about American pride or lack thereof? You're Danish. That immeadiately disqualifies you from making a judgement call like "I think hes so popular because hes the only writer that America can be proud of."

Third, you couldn't have used a better word than "lame"? I assure you, that a vast majority of our authors can walk. Sure there are those that can't, be we love them too. Oh wait, excuse me, you meant to say that they weren't good, by your view of "good"? You used a word, one which is no longer used for disabled people because it was derogatory, to say that they're bad? So, you're a bigot too?

Fourth, you're Poe logic is horrible. There is a basic fallacy of logic that goes "post hoc, ergo propter hoc." It's Latin. It means "after this, therefore because of this." Let me explain. Say, for example, that a small child picks up a stick and then the wind picks up. The child reasons that because she picked up the stick, that the wind started blowing harder. Now this is an error in logic that we can all see because we know that wind is created by the displacement of air caused by heating and cooling, and not by picking up a stick. Where is it in your bit? Let me quote it for you. "I don't want to hear people's admiration for american writers.. cause quite frankly, America produces lame literature...Don't be offended, if you ever read Danish Literature you would agree with me." Did you see it? Yes, I did too. It's the entire thing. To assume that after the reading of a piece of Danish literature, the reader would adopt a very deep antipathy for American literature is very clearly wrong.

Fifth, are you a Facist on top of being a bigot? It sounds like that when you tell us that you "don't want to hear people's admiration for american writers". I don't know what kind of public forums you've been to in the past, but in general such clear attempts at censorship are frowned upon. Quite frankly, there is no reason for us to follow your petty little command. Especially because you are so horribly wrong, as I have explained earlier.

Back down.

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Smile on mighty Jesus, spinal meningitis got me down...

Joe Dillingham

[email protected]
Three Times A Day

[Impaler]

Doh? I thought we were going to avoid flame wars. His opinion isn't necessarily valid, and his statements were extreme, but recognize them as his opinions. Not fact, but quite the opposite. Opinion. There has yet to be an opinion that's been true. And that's a fact.

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My signature is slightly better than yours.

[Ansel]

He's not flaming me, don't worry. This is exactly the type of post that I wanted, someone to point out my extreme accusations.
However, my opinion remains, maybe not in that manner though. Let me ask you something sir, you say that my opinion is one-sided. I have read many American novels and many Danish novels. How many Danish books have you read? Besides the well known stories of Hans Chritian Anderson.

I do have an appreciation for American writers, but in my humble opinion, I believe that the Danish have a superior way of thinking, artistically. Have you ever dove into the world of a Danish novel? When is the last time you read a good american novel on philosophy, art, and even love combined? Can you even find such pieces of literature in the United States?

For the record, Rainer Maria Rilke is not a Danish writer. He is an austrian writer, futhering the point that I do not have a favoritism towards Danish literature. I may be Danish (not completely, only half), but I do live in America.

It's true that I am not a fan of Poe, quite frankly I can't stand his style. "Oh that I am happy now! Behold the golden tolken that proves me happy now!" I realize that sounds childish.

I could talk for quite some time, but I'm not going to. In closing, I urge you to go and pick up a copy of the great danish novel "Niels Lyhne", as it is the best danish and overall piece of literature I have read. This post was not meant to be a flamewar, but just to make you people realize the beatiful world of Danish literature.
I thank you for that flame, it was well written. On the contrary, I believe that I am not horribly wrong. I hope that this is more clear for you and that maybe it has changed your opinion somewhat.

That is all for now, I await your response.


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Ansel

[thor64]

We have read some of "Niels Lyhne" - Can't remember anything of it, but then again I think Danish is borring!
I like Paul Auster

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http://www.tsarup.mobilixnet.dk/

[Spitfire]

Scottish literature! All bow to your God Iain Banks!

[Count Zero]

Guess I have to say it then...
Opinions are like assholes; everyone has one and all of them stink.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but once they make it public, there are no rules. And there are less aggressive ways to submit one's opinions, Ansel...
I'm siding with A.Buttle on this, but I refrained from commenting previously. Now, I don't give a fuck.
Oh, and William Gibson rules. 'nuff said.

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[faustgfx]

count zero- i'll say it for you, 'cause it's a saying i've used for years and a saying that holds oh so true.

personal opinion is like an asshole. everyone has one and it stinks hardcore. some just have it lubed up pretty good; the pain hits later.

hallelujah.

remark, damnit i didn't notice you put it out, zero. my bad.

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the not so resident caustic bitch, and the owls turned back the way they are.. even the foos ain't trippin' no more. icq#35983387 / [email protected]

[This message has been edited by faustgfx (edited September 25, 2000).]