From: nastasi@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (joseph.l.nastasi)
Subject: Re: Wendy Carlos, where are you???
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 12:18:46 GMT

In article <9210141909.AA02828@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, JROSSI@EAGLE.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL writes:

<stuff about my insinuating that John's complaints about Wendy Carlos
<sounding like "sour grapes"  deleted.


> Not sour grapes from me, guy.  I really don't give a shit about how emotionally
> strained Wendy was when she was Walter.  Her attitudes which are reflected
> in the last series of Keybunk interviews suggest she is the one with a
> sour grapes problem.  Clearly, my choice of words was not Politically Correct,
> but it did reflect my opinion.  I think that Wendy Carlos is exhibiting a
> classic case of 'penis envy'.  It isn't my fault that she once had penis and
> decided to get rid of it.  That, in my opinion, leaves her especially open
> for this kind of comment.  

If you re-read my response, you would see that I'm not defending her
personal life-style.  I was pointing out that she has _earned_ the right
to be a little uppity about her position in the music world.   You've
mentioned the word "penis" more often than she ever has; who's envious? 

My mentioning that her sex-change decision must have been very difficult
was purely compassion and empathy for another human being's feelings.
I also am a bit sad for people like you who, because of an extreme
amount of predjudice, miss the good that others have to offer.  

When I first saw the Keyboard cover of Wendy, I was put off a bit too.
I really was.  And yes, sometimes she comes off as a bit preachy.
So what?  You sound that way sometimes.  I sound that way right now!
But all she is preaching is "be more open to the non-obvious paths
in music".  You are preaching judgement and hate.  Her attacks are
towards popular attitudes about music.  Yours are directed at her
personally.


> By the way, if you haven't noticed I kinda like treading on sacred cows.  In
> this period of listening to Clinton/Gore rhetoric and watching the imbecile
> American public eat it up I get more prone to venting.  Sure as shit, all you
> have to do is mention the sex change in anything other than reverence and
> you can get a rise out of this newsgroup.  Funny thing, I am a sensitive person,except, of course, when I can be Pollitically Incorrect.

Tread all you want, but this forum is a public discussion of things-
musical.  If you want to bash people, post to alt.sex or something.
Your musical opinions are welcome, even if you _don't_ like Carlos's
music!  When you bash someone's lifestyle instead of discussing
what you don't like about her music, you leave some of us with the
impression that you don't have the depth of knowledge to even discuss
her techniques, so you you attack her sex change.  I got to believe
you understand most of what she is trying to do or you wouldn't be
reading this group.  Talk about that...

BTW, I'd like to add that I am not a big-time Wendy Carlos fan and
I'm not gay or contemplating a sex change (big sigh of relief from
my girlfriend, bless her heart :-).  I'm not going to spend any more
time on this.  You are entitled to your opinions, but I think your
"treading on sacred cows" should be directed to another news group.


> 
> John

Peace,
Joe Nastasi
Avengner of the Oppressed, Friend of the Friendless... ;-)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth