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Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

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Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#111

Post by TeaBrain »

Boogie_Man wrote: post #103
ofalkaed wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So how about contributing something constructive?

Sorry you didn't read the book

You aren't as extraordinary as you think you are by finishing the book. It is long, but it isn't incredibly long. By making this insinuation of others' lack of honesty in their claims of reading the book, it's as if you either believe the book to be unbearably boring for the average reader, which is odd for a fan of a literary work, or perhaps you'd just prefer to gatekeep this imagined status that you've invented for yourself, as someone who has managed the supposedly inhuman accomplishment of finishing the book. I and likely a decent many others in this thread have read it through. However, I've never convinced myself to have achieved something uniquely exceptional by simply having read what an author wrote, like you seem to have done.

Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#112

Post by Boogie_Man »

TeaBrain wrote: post #111
Boogie_Man wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry you didn't read the book

You aren't as extraordinary as you think you are by finishing the book. It is long, but it isn't incredibly long. By making this insinuation of others' lack of honesty in their claims of reading the book, it's as if you either believe the book to be unbearably boring for the average reader, which is odd for a fan of a literary work, or perhaps you'd just prefer to gatekeep this imagined status that you've invented fo…

Reading is incredibly easy in the modern era and I'm not special for having completed the book. I'm of average or sub average intelligence. I'm not gatekeeping anything and encourage everyone to read the book. It probably took me longer to finish than most other people who have. I still don't understand large portions of the novel.

That said, I've found that most online conversations about IJ seem to be held by people who really seem like they haven't read the book. I don't understand the phenomenon and haven't offered an explanation. I got on this kick 28 days ago when a commenter here said (about a different novel) "for what it's worth, up to now, you're the only other person in this entire thread I'm convinced has actually read the book.". I reviewed the rest of the comments in the thread, and he had a point. I think that implying you've read a novel you haven't is a frequent occurrence, and it is common with IJ because of the length and the popular intellectual status appeal it had in the 90s. This is a somewhat known phenomenon, as I recall reading a quote from a musician who stated something along the lines of "everyone owns a half read copy of infinite Jest in rehab".

It seems to me like people who've read the book could just answer the question. One person in this thread actually did. They certainly read the book. Everyone else? Well, they (and you, in fact) didn't answer a fairly simple question, and then got pissed off. You can draw your own conclusions.

Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#113

Post by slimeinthe21stc »

Boogie_Man wrote: post #110
spondylosaurus wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well this was gonna bother me until I figured it out, so, drumroll... Hal Incandenza is... a white boy! Or at least he says he is. Who would've thunk. > "I’m a privileged white seventeen-year-old U.S. male." I think it has the air of a trick question though. Most readers will (correctly) assume that Hal is white, which the text does little to dispute or confirm barring a throwaway reference or two (and which is unlik…

You are correct, and I'm proud to grant you the first "Actually Read Infinite Jest" award. You've also come to the proof differently than I did: there's a section wherein the two urban black gentlemen who work at ETA rescue a severely intoxicated stork from the subway. They specify that James was a lost "white boy", which, along with his mother being French Canadian, inform the reader that he is "white". You've also…

there's some insinuation that Hal's biological father could be the medical attache: -- Hal's "atavistically dark-complected” -- they share an interest in byzantine erotica -- from what i remember, dates and ages line up correctly to put Avril and attache both attending Brandeis a yearish before Hal is born -- there's a reference or two to James finding that specific affair particularly upsetting -- Avril's said to have a preference for sleeping with Canadians -- the attache is "one-half ethnic Arab and a Canadian by birth and residence"

so Hal could potentially be 1/4 "near-eastern"

Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#115

Post by Boogie_Man »

slimeinthe21stc wrote: post #113
Boogie_Man wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are correct, and I'm proud to grant you the first "Actually Read Infinite Jest" award. You've also come to the proof differently than I did: there's a section wherein the two urban black gentlemen who work at ETA rescue a severely intoxicated stork from the subway. They specify that James was a lost "white boy", which, along with his mother being French Canadian, inform the reader that he is "white". You've also…

there's some insinuation that Hal's biological father could be the medical attache: -- Hal's "atavistically dark-complected” -- they share an interest in byzantine erotica -- from what i remember, dates and ages line up correctly to put Avril and attache both attending Brandeis a yearish before Hal is born -- there's a reference or two to James finding that specific affair particularly upsetting -- Avril's said to ha…

You might be right, you created an account for this comment, and I acknowledge you as tribal chief uce. I hope my reread might get me to this level.

Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#117

Post by Boogie_Man »

neuroelectron wrote: post #116
Boogie_Man wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet in another comment you said you only read 50 pages

Did you read it?

Yes :)

I hope you read and enjoy too.

I'm sorry to everyone if I've been an ass in this thread. I think I was feeling obstinate but I apologize.

Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#118

Post by TeaBrain »

Boogie_Man wrote: post #112
TeaBrain wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You aren't as extraordinary as you think you are by finishing the book. It is long, but it isn't incredibly long. By making this insinuation of others' lack of honesty in their claims of reading the book, it's as if you either believe the book to be unbearably boring for the average reader, which is odd for a fan of a literary work, or perhaps you'd just prefer to gatekeep this imagined status that you've invented fo…

Reading is incredibly easy in the modern era and I'm not special for having completed the book. I'm of average or sub average intelligence. I'm not gatekeeping anything and encourage everyone to read the book. It probably took me longer to finish than most other people who have. I still don't understand large portions of the novel. That said, I've found that most online conversations about IJ seem to be held by peopl…

>Everyone else? Well, they (and you, in fact) didn't answer a fairly simple question, and then got pissed off. You can draw your own conclusions.

I did see the question you spammed around the thread. Most people likely didn't respond as they don't have any motivation to prove anything to a random user, which is what you are to them. Also, I couldn't have refused to answer the question you spammed, like you seem to be implying, as I was never asked. Unless you are confusing me with someone else, you seem to be reaching the inane conclusion that every single user who glances at your questions and doesn't respond is implicitly refusing, which is absurd.

Besides this, the premise of your question is flawed, as you would have recognized had you thought through it. The detail, besides his being white, that you seem to be looking for is of hardly any relevance to the novel. A reader could skip the pages those details are mentioned and it would have virtually no bearing on their ability to understand any context, as anyone who has read the book would know. It's about as relevant as remembering the exact number of days till Hal's urine test. Similarly, you could pick any given book that a group of people have read cover-to-cover, and ask a question about a minute detail, and likely most of the readers would not be able to accurately answer, unless they either just finished reading the work, or are currently reading or re-reading it, which you admitted to be doing.

Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#119

Post by Boogie_Man »

TeaBrain wrote: post #118
Boogie_Man wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading is incredibly easy in the modern era and I'm not special for having completed the book. I'm of average or sub average intelligence. I'm not gatekeeping anything and encourage everyone to read the book. It probably took me longer to finish than most other people who have. I still don't understand large portions of the novel. That said, I've found that most online conversations about IJ seem to be held by peopl…

>Everyone else? Well, they (and you, in fact) didn't answer a fairly simple question, and then got pissed off. You can draw your own conclusions. I did see the question you spammed around the thread. Most people likely didn't respond as they don't have any motivation to prove anything to a random user, which is what you are to them. Also, I couldn't have refused to answer the question you spammed, like you seem to be…

Oh yeah? We'll I'll meet you tomorrow at high noon on the tennis courts next to 1 Nevins Hill Way Brighton Ma 02135 with a polygraph machine and we'll really settle this buddy!!!!!!!

Really though I think I'm right but I don't care at this point and I'm probably being an ass so sorry about that. I did start the re read after the comments but that doesn't really matter. I apologize for being rude to peeps sometimes I get obstinate.

Re: Dubious Math in Infinite Jest (2009)

#120

Post by spondylosaurus »

Boogie_Man wrote: post #110
spondylosaurus wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well this was gonna bother me until I figured it out, so, drumroll... Hal Incandenza is... a white boy! Or at least he says he is. Who would've thunk. > "I’m a privileged white seventeen-year-old U.S. male." I think it has the air of a trick question though. Most readers will (correctly) assume that Hal is white, which the text does little to dispute or confirm barring a throwaway reference or two (and which is unlik…

You are correct, and I'm proud to grant you the first "Actually Read Infinite Jest" award. You've also come to the proof differently than I did: there's a section wherein the two urban black gentlemen who work at ETA rescue a severely intoxicated stork from the subway. They specify that James was a lost "white boy", which, along with his mother being French Canadian, inform the reader that he is "white". You've also…

Perhaps you'll also believe me when I say I've read Infinite Jest too many times to warrant another reread right now, but best of luck on yours and the nascent book club, lol.

I think there are some less blink-and-you'll-miss-it type questions that are too broad to Google but that most people who read it would remember...

- Which location in ETA got its name from an infamous player?

- What fictional cartoon character is popular during Subsidized Time?

- What mortifying experience does Gately have in the hospital?

- What's Lyle's second-favorite beverage?

Or one that requires a longer reply and doesn't have a "correct" answer, but props to anyone who takes a stab at it, because I still don't have a satisfying explanation:

- What the fuck is wrong with Orin? Like in general?

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