Everyone was being nice to each other.
Imagine this happening every day.
Either nothing or everything would get done: as opposed to the normal compromise between fear of action and fear of inaction.
Someone -- can't remember who but possibly another hate-able Malcolm -- recalled his first encounter with the Head Parliamentary Librarian.
She told him: "It's our job to make you look intelligent".
What a job!
I sympathise if only because I know my way around the web a bit and get asked by people if I can find things for them.
(Given that I can't entertain with music any more, I have to do something with my time!)
Some of these are academics.
(I've had intercourse with a few since meeting the Prof.)
One just asked me if I could find a database of famous quotations.
I duly obliged: with a slight suspicion that said (nameless) person was attempting something similar to Malcolm: the simulation of intelligence.
Trying it out, I found this from Wittgenstein:
No one likes having offended another person; hence everyone feels so much better if the other person doesn't show he's been offended.
Nobody likes being confronted by a wounded spaniel.
Remember that.
It is much easier patiently -- and tolerantly -- to avoid the person you have injured than to approach him as a friend.
You need courage for that.
Sadly, I do not have such courage.
That's why I live in Minjup.
It makes it easier to do patient and tolerant avoidance.
Sledge
