X-Message-Number: 20778
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 19:32:59 -0800
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Kennita the Upset

> Message #20770
> Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 08:23:28 -0500
> From: Thomas Donaldson <>
> Subject: CryoNet #20764 - #20769
> 
> My, I seem to have upset Kennita Watson again. One more minor
> instance of how tough life is.

That's right -- I'm so upset I'm clutching my sides :-D ;-)

> Kennita, it should be obvious what I am comparing life to. I am
> comparing the real toughness of life with all the myths...

Thomas, I wrote:
> Thomas Donaldson opined that "life is tough".  I like the
> response of a friend of mine:  "Compared to what?".

I wonder to how many in our studio audience it was unclear
that that was intended to be taken lightheartedly (kind of
like one of the Zen Comics)?

 > If your friend really doesn't understand he's been very lucky...

I think my friend probably got it from a Sunday comics page
or a bumper sticker, and has about as much interest in
philosophizing about it as I do.

This is as far as I'll go:  I see "Compared to what?" in that
context as conceptual shorthand for "Stop feeling sorry for
yourself; you could be dead.".  If it "should" mean something
more or something else, catch me in a few hundred years when
we have nothing better to do and maybe I'll feel like
philosophizing about it.  Till then,

May you live long and prosper,
Kennita
--
Kennita Watson          | Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
     |   None but ourselves can free our minds.
http://www.kennita.com  |           -- Bob Marley, "Redemption Song"

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