rattus rattus’ blog

A friend once asked me whether I can explain the fact that my companion was important to me. After some months (to have my mind settle) I replied:

What I love is her contradiction, and her withstanding.

[*]

The following took place in the context of a lecture series on human ecology. One evening, after talks a speaker and friend of mine asked me how I perceive the lectures. I answered that I am thinking about responsibility. Next she wanted to know what were the results of my thinkings. I said: Responsibility.

By then we had reached the building’s exit door. She said bye, and off she was.

[X]

Black-and-white categories will lead us nowhere.

How can we explain explanation? Of course, dictionaries explain explanation. With ease, and without a word about self-reference. Though, implicitly (they explain a lot).

I wonder whether they have to in order to sell. Like scientists need to stick to objectivity in order to get funded. (This explains a hell of a lot.)

So, we can explain explanation (like we can think about thinking). Imagine we cannot. — I can’t. Now explain that you cannot!

I cannot explain why I cannot explain that I cannot explain. This is my explanation.

Stop Making Sense, one of my favorite self-contradictory principles, is also the title of a wonderful video of Talking Heads‘ Stop Making Sense tour in 1983.

Since Ratta reminded us of who we are to do what we do as long as we do (make sense) I’d like to remind myself of the fact that I intended to confront my blog with some more posts about facts (as if this were possible). So, introductory, here is a list of facts about facts taken from lyrics of the video Stop Making Sense:

• Facts are never what they seem to be.
• Facts cut a hole in us.
• Facts are useless in emergencies.

• Facts are simple and facts are straight.
• Facts are lazy and facts are late.
• Facts all come with points of view.
• Facts don’t do what I want them to.
• Facts just twist the truth around.
• Facts are living turned inside out.
• Facts are getting the best of it.

• Facts are nothing on the face of things.
• Facts continue to change their shape.
• Facts don’t stain the furniture.
• Facts go out and slam the door.
• Facts are written all over your face.

He: How are you?
Me: I am trying not to answer.

Then, an expression of complete mystery spread over his face.
Well, it startles me too every time i hear myself say these words :-)

If you have ever doubted the usability of a liar’s typical statement “everything you know is wrong” apparently suits well as catchline for a book about disinformation. And You are being lied to is of course the truth of another book, isn’t it?

Even when the title becomes more specific like in Everything you know about sex is wrong it’s no less of a truth as any self-contradictory statement.

Don’t forget:
Everything you know about blogging and me is wrong. This in particular.

How comes that justification is so hard to justify? I doubt self-reference to be the only source of mind boggles. And, who is a barber anyway?

Imagine justification to be some way to separate right from wrong. We might just slip through and fall into nothing, the space of no justifications.

I was wondering if anybody felt the urge to dig us out of such a whole, or do we call that whole ‘home’? — michael, 2006-02-13

The whole hole of nothing is a welcome space to be filled with home. Just don’t try to justify unless you need more room.

Yours truly, liar with an ever growing beard.