[MD] Problems with Intellectual control of Society

[Arlo Bensinger]

[DMB]
DMB needed a lot of help.

[Arlo]
I am disappointed to see this. Let me remind you (as if it had not 
been said already), that Pirsig himself voiced the strongest support 
possible for DMB here, saying in effect that it was DMB who most 
accurately represented his own intended views. You can, of course, 
stand and disagree with Pirsig (many do), but you can not argue that 
DMB did not represent Pirsig's ideas. Furthermore, such dismissive 
attitudes towards someone who devoted a hell of lot of time to argue 
FOR the MOQ, and FOR Pirsig, is kinda pathetic in a forum supposedly 
devoted to discussing Pirsig's ideas.

I did not agree with DMB all the time, often agreeing with Krimel or 
others who were arguing with DMB. But I knew he represented a very 
accurate read of Pirsig. At least when I argued with him I knew I was 
also taking issue with Pirsig, unlike others who want it both ways; 
to argue against Pirsig while acting like you are in agreement with 
him. If DMB was rough on the edges, I sympathize, as having to argue 
against the same mischaracterizations over and over does get 
bothersome. Could he have been more polite? Perhaps. But he was 
honest, AND he was a steady, accurate voice for what Pirsig meant, 
and that counts for a lot in my book. Hell, I'd prefer that to 
someone who is "polite" but has no real insight into or understanding 
of Pirsig's ideas.

Of course, I smell the root of this being that he was one of those 
gawd-awful "academics", who (despite endorsement from Pirsig) simply 
HAD to be berated because, well, "intellectuals are bad, mmmkay". But 
"ding dong, the academic is dead!", so you can celebrate for now. 
Although when we celebrate that people Pirsig endorses are driven 
away, it makes me wonder what the entire point is. Maybe Ant, DMB and 
Pirsig himself can continue having their discussions about the MOQ, 
while we all sit here and pretend we are doing the same (because you 
know, if the man himself is in contact with anyone, its those two). 
At least we won't have their elitist intellectual pinhead ideas 
interfering with us. How lucky for us. Yay.