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To: Dimensio
I don't see a value assesment in the article, and as an anthropological study a value assesment of any sort would be inappropriate anyway.

I want to tell you -- NOW -- how to make joyfull rejoicing plastic explosive from materials you already have at home or can easily pick up in a short jaunt around town. High explosives are an interesting pasttime that in other less-myopic and straight-laced cultures are enjoyed by many, young and old. Let us learn and try this stuff together, in great joy!

To start we need some nail polish remover ...

* * * * *

Now picture me as the kind and beloved, or cute and interesting anthorpology or sociology professor at your kid's college. Young people, their opinions on high explosives unformed, their experience (by poetic liscense I beg you this) of high explosive nil, or little.

Would I be wise to so present the material "value free" -- without also presenting a serious and careful introduction to safety and danger? Would I be wise to even present such material to introductory or mid-level students?

Oh and you'll note that my presentation wasn't value-free was it. Nor is this material and other material about the "free-loving" indians, in particulars and in overall effect it is very sympathetic, endorsing, suggesting it is a beter way. Such suggestions create create dangers and troubles for the young men and women who are exposed to them. It is a mean and rotten thing to do, for this material must be presented with great cautions to a general or young audience, or to a very carefull selected very mature, older audience.

76 posted on 08/20/2002 7:05:06 AM PDT by bvw
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To: bvw
I want to tell you -- NOW -- how to make joyfull rejoicing plastic explosive from materials you already have at home or can easily pick up in a short jaunt around town. High explosives are an interesting pasttime that in other less-myopic and straight-laced cultures are enjoyed by many, young and old. Let us learn and try this stuff together, in great joy!

Nice strawman. The author was describing societial attitudes, hence the 'fun' comment -- it was a reflection of the tribal attitude, not necessarily his personal opinion on the matter. You have presented a 'counterexample' that inserts "positive" words into a process that normally would not have emotion attached to it, and it ends up sounding like Engrish. When providing instruction for a process, it is responsible and appropriate to insert safety cautions as necessary. The author of the article was not offering instructions for anything, however, he was describing the societal nature of a specific tribe. He was not offering instruction on how we should live our lives or frame our own sexuality, he was attempting to explain how the sexual habits of a group of people might have provided for a biological advantage to survival of the species (which is not the same as advocating a social framework).
85 posted on 08/20/2002 7:21:48 AM PDT by Dimensio
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