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PENETRATE_THE_SHELL

                                             December 10, 2006

I remember a short-story by
Jules Feiffer about a fellow
who realized that someone
was probably reading his mail,
spying on him because of his
political activities.

He begins writing letters
to his unknown watcher,
sending them by mailing
them to himself.

He tries to address the
man as a man, penetrate
through to the human being
inside the employee --

The letters continue to come
through the mail, but they're
resealed in an increasingly
sloppy manner:  clearly he's
getting through to the fellow.

   This now seems to me like
   a bit of a hippy-trippy
   naive fantasy -- these
   folks are hardcases, if
   not hardcore ideologues,
   the idea that you're going
   to get them to shift
   position with a few kind
   words seems crazy...


      But on the other hand,
      might it not be possible
      to plant a seed?

        Consider the skill with
        which an experienced usenet
        flamer can get under someone's
        skin with nothing but words
        at their disposal.

        After all, "the abyss gazes also".

        Shine some darkness into the
        darkness -- you can never tell
        how far your shadow will reach.


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