From: not@mvs.ais.com (N O Tai)
Subject: Re: Something in us going wrong ...
Reply-To: not@mvs.ais.com (N O Tai)
Organization: Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 00:11:05 GMT


ecsd@well.sf.ca.us (Eric C. S. Dynamic) writes:
: What about Scott Tai. --- I don't have to guard against 
: falling in love with my own facilities, just how to unleash - 
: I mean, use - them to best advantage. You're a (relative) 
: newcomer, yes, Robin? I darkened the doorstep beginning around 
: October last year - hmm. Scott actually gave me a telephone 
: call, on my voicemail system, his voice, in person, can you 
: believe it? He said - as I recall - happy holidays, or 
: something like Merry Chistmas. Well, well. Merry Christmas, and 
: Happy New Years, and all that. I'm in - what, message (local 
: well number) 5800 out of 61XX to go - so I may bag a whole 
: bunch - but HERE I IS.  YES, YES. Let's get back to interesting 
: things. Except for needing to find work (ouch), why, Scarlett, 
: I could devote just as much time as I used to to abusing my 
: favorite people . . . is Franklin still around?  He actually 
: turned out to have a brain too . . . apart from Postpischil, 
: all these 'new' Erics are - yes - bland. They sound sort of, 
: uh, - academic.  Sorry. That's Obsolete.

I hadn't seen ecsd lately, but I have always marveled at his
lucidity and accuracy of expression.  Ah, he's a deep one!  He
has great talent.  I'm no judge, of course, but people who do
know say the same.  The most transcendental ideas become 
within my reach when he's writing.

What about Scott Tai?  Here on rec.org.mensa he has created
quite a stir; I've seen a great many altercations.  I remained
here on r.o.m on purpose to find out more.  Scott has never
curried favor with anyone.  Many of you consider him a gadfly:
I don't.  If you want to know, we really have something in
common.

I like to meet young people:  one learns new things from them.
But that proud suppressed enthusiasm in young people is
dangerous!  I quite agree that Scott's behavior at times has
been reprehensible, but may I beg you to take into account
that it was a mistake and make allowances for his youth?
Besides which, he regrets it deeply and entreats your 
forgiveness.

Of course, I was very pleased with ecsd's and franklin's
articles.  It shows at last we are beginning to take an
intelligent and steady view of the matter.

Some have talked enough of Scott's defects, and shown enough
scorn of him, to make it natural he should doubt himself.
From a hundred rabbits you can't make a horse, a hundred
suspicions don't make a proof, as the English proverb says,
but that's only from the rational point of view -- you 
can't help being partial.  In the absence of clear proofs of
Scott's condition, I deem it best to abstain from noticing
his curious condition.

But of course you know that in these cases there is always
some hidden moral and emotional factor.  Yes, that goes
without saying.  It is rather indiscreet, but it's so good
that it's an awful temptation to tell his story...

Scott spoke of something I wanted to tell you myself, so it
is easy for me to be his mouthpiece.  He said that he
suffers on your account and on his own.  You can call it
egoism if you like, but what a justifiable egoism!  But the
chief thing he desires... he desires that you should not
suffer.

I'll tell you something:  Scott's an honest fellow.  He's
been letting off steam!  Come, forgive him!  He won't do it
again.

--
Dr N O Tai -- Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory -- not@mvs.ais.com

   '' Treachery and violence are spears pointed at both ends:
      they wound those who resort to them worse than their enemies. ''