Wolfean epiphany

David Stockhoff · 03 Dec 2011, 04:52 · from 2011-December.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:52:12 -0500
Subject: (urth) Wolfean epiphany
In-Reply-To: <4ED985C2.3090405 at clueland.com>
References: <SNT123-W31B5B9A4618A76826A0700CFB60 at phx.gbl>
	<36B534A558774F08B0D378FBE1D40347@Rover>	<4ED94A53.8080107 at verizon.net>
	<c99955a747fb95e9ff81f743ab741a11.squirrel at webmail.prismnet.com>
	<4ED951A8.9040509 at verizon.net> <4ED985C2.3090405 at clueland.com>
Message-ID: <4ED9AAFC.1060308 at verizon.net>

On 12/2/2011 9:13 PM, Jeff Wilson wrote:
> On 12/2/2011 4:31 PM, David Stockhoff wrote:
>> On 12/2/2011 5:10 PM, Jeff Wilson wrote:
>>> On Fri, December 2, 2011 15:59, David Stockhoff wrote:
>>>> Why is this a clue to a strange and climactic scene of UNS? Because 
>>>> the
>>>> unmanning was not a random punishment. There were surely practical
>>>> reasons for it, but I think Wolfean logic demanded it. It's 
>>>> ridiculously
>>>> simple. Positive is balanced with negative, presence with absence.
>>>> Either you pass and your genitals contribute to a mythic 
>>>> regeneration or
>>>> you fail and they no longer exist.
>>> This seems culturally relative, and not particularly of a BotNS-wide
>>> culture; in Norse myth, which is very much a part of the mix, missing
>>> body
>>> parts indicate the opposite outcome of a fruitful sacrifice: Heads for
>>> wisdom, eyes for knowledge, hands for justice.
>>
>> Ah, so there is precedent for it. Yes, it seems to have a mythical
>> force, so I'm not surprised.
>>
>> But my point has nothing to do with any BNS culture and everything to do
>> with the kind of logical path Wolfe expects us to know how to follow. If
>> there are such rules in myth, then so much the better.
>
> By opposite outcome, I mean the opposite of what you propose. Mimir 
> loses his head, but the head endures and becomes guardian of the well. 
> Odin is missing an eye because he successfully traded it for drinking 
> at the well. Tyr loses his hand when he successfully tricks Fenris 
> into captivity. Loki fails to win his challenge but keeps his head. 
> Sif falls for Loki's tricks or just falls for Loki romantically but 
> ends with more exotic and alluring hair than before instead of losing 
> her charms for good.
>
>
I see. That is indeed the opposite of losing your manhood in failing to 
procreate.

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