Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 08:28:34 -0500
Subject: Re: Paralogy in psychology looong story


Sissy:

Thanks for your post. It helps clarify things a bit more, but I am still
confused about a couple things.

First of all, what do you mean by the term "glbt". It appears to mean
something like gay liberation, but I'm not sure.

Second, Lois Shawver is someone who has contributed to the list in the
past and, for all I know, may still be a member. (Lois, are you still
out there? congrats on your book!) IMHO she always had interesting
things to say.  However, as you imply she definitely was
professional/clinical in her approach to Lyotard. I remember humorously
she once asked me if I was interested in participating on her web site
and what was my profession anyway. When I told her I was an accountant,
it was the last I heard from her. Rest assured, this site lets anyone
participate.

Third, I am not sure I am understanding the conflict, but it appears
there was one group advocating their rights as gays, another group
advocating the mainstream fundamentalist anti-gay position and a third
clinically arguing the first group had to tolerate the second for their
hegemonic position.

If this is the case, this definitely has nothing to do with Lyotard! It
is simply what he describes as terror. However, I may be misreading
this. Let me know if I am.

After the postmodern condition, Lyotard wrote a book entitled "The
Differend" in which he spoke about these kinds of conflictual situations
that could not litigated because the tribunal or common rule is
lacking.  
We can continue to talk more about this and use the differend to enter
more fully into the situation you are describing, but first I need to
make sure that this is what the situation actually is.