Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 10:57:39 -0600 (CST)
From: Omar Nasim <umnasimo-AT-cc.UManitoba.CA>
Subject: HELP!!!


Greetings all, 
I am a confused post-modernist, Baudrillardian-philosophical-reader.  I 
have attempted to read some of Mr. Baudrillard's books and have found 
them to contain many confusing and obscure ideas.  I think that either I 
am a very stupid classial-anylitical-philosopher, or that Baudrillard, 
intentionally advocates ambiguity and is against the French idea of clear 
and distinct ideas.  I am refering particularly to his ideas of 
simulation, simularca, hyperreality, and other real weird stuff.  I 
understand that he attempts to show that reality does not exist, rather 
only simulations of reality exist.  But how do you explain that? 
Practically speaking, everyday of my life I experience reality and real 
things.  Althought, at times I do experience simulations, as in films, 
the internet, and television, and maybe Disneyland.  But these events are 
very specific times of my day, that cannot be generalized into the realm 
of my everyday life.  So what I am asking is for someone, who is kind 
enough, to elaborate, in laymans terms, what Baudrillard means by these 
dense terms, and how he justifies their use.  
Yours, Despondent, 
Omar Nasim
Dept. Philosophy.