Crows or Swans?

[Guest guest]

> On Fri, 9 Apr 99, Samba wrote:

> >Come on Srila Prabhu, it was a pun. No one was specificaly mentioned. I

> >agree with Janesvara prabhu that one of the refreshing things about this

> >conference is the ability of the devotees on it to be humorous, and not

> >on

> some kind of pedestal.

>

> a) I think it's intended referent was quite clear.

 

Ok, we all knew who it was for, but it was not direct, as in "Samba Das you

rotten *$%^@*!*...", which probabaly made it somewhat less stinging.

 

> b) What classifies simply as humor rather than a faux-pas becomes a fine

> line. That is the tacky nature of humor. My point is we have to draw the

> line somewhere, and I felt obliged to call it.

 

'tacky nature of humor'. I wouldn't think that humour was by 'nature' tacky,

the pastimes of the lord are full of humour.

 

To digress to the human sphere, toilet humour is especialy beloved of the

adolescent, which I would imagine is as eternal as the material world, farts

will always be with us. That story of the kings jester who needed to pass

'eshthool', and was allowed to do so, as long as he did not pass a drop of

urine, and the other one regarding the releif after ones ablution come to

mind as being somewhat gross in content but yet quite amusing, and used by

our authorities at that!

 

I must admit that using *both* the words (in the case of Madhava G.)

especialy the latter word was somewhat distasteful to me, being a Brit the

first word would have sufficed, but I know that in America they are

inseparable. I must admit though (after having discounted the second more

*gross* addition, as necesary for the American audience)to have been

immediately amused at its wit. It was obvious to me that his intention was

wit, and not offence.

 

> Varnasrama is not some kind of stick-in-the-mud, laid-back form of

> hill-billy complacency. Human life means to get serious about our real

> business - spiritual advancement -- and organizing a society that

> systematically facilitates it. We need to exemplify VAD right here and now

> or it will go nowhere.

 

While I agree that we have to try to rise above the modes, and become as

serious as we can. It is not always possible for everyone to do that all at

once. I personaly beleive it will be many generations before we will see a

very refined form of varnasrama (we havent even started yet!). But your

point is taken, that we should endeavour as much as possible to change

ourselves. The particular point in question though I feel is not really THAT

much of an offense, but I have my conditioning and may be too gross already

to really perceive a problem.

 

You have felt that it overstepped the mark, and we must respect you for

that, some others do not see it that way. Personaly I feel that it is a

borderline case, but the discussion is useful, to at least alert us to

others sensibilities.

 

> >It is very difficult to communicate fully on this medium.

> >The trouble with cyberspace is that these personal dealings are absent,

> >and

> so stark text can often be misread.

>

> So let's not give in to our lower impulses and belch out whatever comes to

> mind! No more of those "stark" texts, O thoughtful men!

 

I agree that it is better to evaluate carefully the possible reactions

before sending a text out on the airwaves, and after this little

altercation, maybe we should think twice before 'letting rip'.

 

> You can apologize even when there was no need or call. Therefore, you are

> a *gentleman*, Samba Prabhu. This conference needs to hear more from the

> likes of civil folk like yourself.

 

Aplogising in cyberspace is easy, doing it in public is what makes the

difference between a real gentleman, and a sham.... What! Actualy I am

nothing but a frightful bounder! (Britspeak)

 

I wasn't going to bother responding to this text, being satisfied to accept

your admonition, as I understand that you are interested in serious

discussion and a sense of decorum in our dealings which are certainly to be

desired. But I do beleive that humour has its place, even if it is a little

gross, as long as it is in good humour and not deeply malicious.

 

YS Samba das