Comments on: Glad I could help! http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/ A space for my thoughts on books and whatever else the brain pokes at Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:47:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: JCR http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27849 JCR Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:59:32 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27849 IMANI!!!! How are you? I've been gone for a while but I am back now... summer was crazy busy. Interesting post... I used to side with Rushdie (blindly I must say) in just about every subject... this made me think twice. Thanks. JCR IMANI!!!! How are you? I’ve been gone for a while but I am back now… summer was crazy busy. Interesting post… I used to side with Rushdie (blindly I must say) in just about every subject… this made me think twice. Thanks.
JCR

]]> By: imani http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27835 imani Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:18:04 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27835 No problemo. Thanks for the discussion anyway and for the great feedback on my pitifully updated blog. Much appreciated. No problemo. Thanks for the discussion anyway and for the great feedback on my pitifully updated blog. Much appreciated.

]]> By: Lesley http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27826 Lesley Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:41:26 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27826 Hey - we'll just agree to disagree here. Very few Poms are worth getting heated up over anyway, let's be honest. I'm still a fan of your blog! Hey – we’ll just agree to disagree here. Very few Poms are worth getting heated up over anyway, let’s be honest.
I’m still a fan of your blog!

]]> By: imani http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27825 imani Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:58:45 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27825 Hmmm. We seem to have crossed wires. First, I thought my post was nothing but light mockery and condescension. Where's the vehemence? (Is it because I used the word "stupid" in a comment? "Bonkers"? I thought that was a fittingly silly word.) Second, how does my feelings for Rushdie figure into anything? Who says I don't like him? Are we on the same blog, reading the same post? Third, why are you explaining the article to me in return (in far more lines than I ever bothered with in my alleged "explanation")? :p I already know Footman's point and my response is that it is irrelevant to his argument. Rushdie is not placed into any kind of "invidious" position because of "free speech" (hence why I recommended Footman enroll in a first year Political Science course). To think so shows a fundamental misunderstanding of a) the license of fiction and b) free speech as it is typically understood in most Western societies. What other response can be given to the "Rushdie plays with history too just like the bodyguard!! Oooooo" but a non-plussed, "Yeah, dude....he writes fiction. Unlike his ex-bodyguard who is branding his as "non-fiction. Anything else?" It just doesn't go anywhere, not even if you add the word "cavalier". Hmmm. We seem to have crossed wires. First, I thought my post was nothing but light mockery and condescension. Where’s the vehemence? (Is it because I used the word “stupid” in a comment? “Bonkers”? I thought that was a fittingly silly word.)

Second, how does my feelings for Rushdie figure into anything? Who says I don’t like him? Are we on the same blog, reading the same post?

Third, why are you explaining the article to me in return (in far more lines than I ever bothered with in my alleged “explanation”)? :p I already know Footman’s point and my response is that it is irrelevant to his argument. Rushdie is not placed into any kind of “invidious” position because of “free speech” (hence why I recommended Footman enroll in a first year Political Science course). To think so shows a fundamental misunderstanding of a) the license of fiction and b) free speech as it is typically understood in most Western societies.

What other response can be given to the “Rushdie plays with history too just like the bodyguard!! Oooooo” but a non-plussed, “Yeah, dude….he writes fiction. Unlike his ex-bodyguard who is branding his as “non-fiction. Anything else?” It just doesn’t go anywhere, not even if you add the word “cavalier”.

]]> By: Lesley http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27823 Lesley Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:01:07 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27823 I didn't actually need the article explained, but thanks anyway. I simply do not understand your vehement reaction. Footman is commenting (a) by saying that some authors do play fast and loose with history/fact/other literature, and in this Rushdie is no different from his detractor; and (b) that by his anger over Evans's book, Rushdie puts himself in an invidious position because he has been such a vocal exponent of free speech. Footman's mistake is in assuming that because Rushdie's cavalier use of fact in creating his fiction, he is somehow disqualified from wanting to sue Evans for libel. Evans, the poor plodding dolt who sees a meal ticket in an expose of Rushdie's eccentricities — allegedly titillated for the British palate — should not be allowed to publish lies. Whatever your feelings for Rushdie, he is perfectly within his rights to feel pissed off. I didn’t actually need the article explained, but thanks anyway.
I simply do not understand your vehement reaction.
Footman is commenting (a) by saying that some authors do play fast and loose with history/fact/other literature, and in this Rushdie is no different from his detractor; and (b) that by his anger over Evans’s book, Rushdie puts himself in an invidious position because he has been such a vocal exponent of free speech.
Footman’s mistake is in assuming that because Rushdie’s cavalier use of fact in creating his fiction, he is somehow disqualified from wanting to sue Evans for libel.
Evans, the poor plodding dolt who sees a meal ticket in an expose of Rushdie’s eccentricities — allegedly titillated for the British palate — should not be allowed to publish lies.
Whatever your feelings for Rushdie, he is perfectly within his rights to feel pissed off.

]]> By: imani http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27822 imani Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:53:49 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27822 We only have one national chain now when Indigo bought up the others (Chapters and Coles). It is pretty dominant, though, as the acquisition gave it more store locations. In Toronto you will find Indigo, Chapters and Cole stores all selling books. Independent store owners do complain about it and Amazon a lot in the industry mag. The matter doesn't get that much mainstream press attention though (based on what I read) so I'm not sure how bad it is in comparison to the US. My local indie is pretty fierce and much more active in terms of author events (or events in general) compared to the local chain which...doesn't do anything really. lol. I think it has a book club and every so often it hosts a Cornelia Funke-types. Icon? What icon? ;) <b>Lesley</b>, the "journalist" is equating a man allegedly publishing lies to Rushdie fudging Star Trek. He is clearly bonkers and his argument too stupid to be treated with anything but gentle ridicule touched with condescension and pity. Irony works if there's an underlying legitimate point but there is none here. We only have one national chain now when Indigo bought up the others (Chapters and Coles). It is pretty dominant, though, as the acquisition gave it more store locations. In Toronto you will find Indigo, Chapters and Cole stores all selling books.

Independent store owners do complain about it and Amazon a lot in the industry mag. The matter doesn’t get that much mainstream press attention though (based on what I read) so I’m not sure how bad it is in comparison to the US.

My local indie is pretty fierce and much more active in terms of author events (or events in general) compared to the local chain which…doesn’t do anything really. lol. I think it has a book club and every so often it hosts a Cornelia Funke-types.

Icon? What icon? ;)

Lesley, the “journalist” is equating a man allegedly publishing lies to Rushdie fudging Star Trek. He is clearly bonkers and his argument too stupid to be treated with anything but gentle ridicule touched with condescension and pity. Irony works if there’s an underlying legitimate point but there is none here.

]]> By: Lesley http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27821 Lesley Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:49:08 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27821 There is a hefty dose of irony in this article, you're quite right. And Footman seems almost as critical of Rushdie as you do yourself! But I think he makes his point really neatly: Rushdie can give it but he can't take it, and there's the dilemma. There is a hefty dose of irony in this article, you’re quite right. And Footman seems almost as critical of Rushdie as you do yourself! But I think he makes his point really neatly: Rushdie can give it but he can’t take it, and there’s the dilemma.

]]> By: lotusgreen http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27819 lotusgreen Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:14:49 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27819 hey! where did that icon come from??! hey! where did that icon come from??!

]]> By: lotusgreen http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27818 lotusgreen Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:13:53 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27818 do the chains and amazon have a stranglehold there like they do here? do the chains and amazon have a stranglehold there like they do here?

]]> By: imani http://imani.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/glad-i-could-help/#comment-27810 imani Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:12:52 +0000 http://imani.wordpress.com/?p=964#comment-27810 <b>lotusgreen</b> so nice to see a comment from you *hugs* Yes, there is something irresistible about Rushdie news, though I limit myself to headlines only these days. How awful about that book store bombing! I did not know that that had happened only about the murdered translator. Too sorry to hear that it's closed now. I'm really very very grateful that I live in a town in which book stores don't seem to be so close to the brink (near as I can tell). <b>K</b> thank you. :) lotusgreen so nice to see a comment from you *hugs* Yes, there is something irresistible about Rushdie news, though I limit myself to headlines only these days.

How awful about that book store bombing! I did not know that that had happened only about the murdered translator. Too sorry to hear that it’s closed now. I’m really very very grateful that I live in a town in which book stores don’t seem to be so close to the brink (near as I can tell).

K thank you. :)

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