One day, one proposal, so far I'm batting 1000. Alas, it seems some my
having fun and poking around has hurt some feelings - that I am very
sorry about. Having gotten that impression via back channels, let me say
a few things before I get a chance to read your replies.
I've always felt a deep contradiction between who I am and our cultural
conceptions of being grown up. For religious reasons and simply who I
am, I've always tried to be light-hearted and upbeat in my interaction.
Certainly part of it was an overcompensation for my own internal gloom,
but it also takes on a matter of duty. Humor is good medicine. More
importantly it has a self-humbling aspect that I deeply treasure. It
makes space for others to inhabit, for others to explore and to learn.
If given the choice, I shall always give to others the first chance to
"play on the patio."
I know that some people are a little bent out of shape over my attempts
to bend activity theory some. Let me be clear - I deliberately described
activity theory in an entirely different vocabulary. I was "playing"
with activity theory . . . trying to make the same thing with different
sized Lego blocks. I thought that was okay to do on this patio - is it
not?
Humor, hyperbole, and sarcasm are my attempt to "disarm" my emails. Yes
mature reputation has its place - but I dearly hope it isn't here. This
should be an intellectual playground. Not merely should I be free to
slap Legos around, but the light-hearted spirit of my messages are
intended as a invitation: "Hey take a look at this - how do you think it
works?" Perhaps some of invitations to tinker have come across as
"throwing the gauntlet," but such invitations are very hard to write.
They are made in the humble sincerity that is the only way I know how to
live. There is a reasons I avoid the "title" Dr. Lagache, mingle with
the office staff, and invite my undergraduates for pizza. I much prefer
to known as just a human being: with roughly the same attributes and
liabilities, organized a bit uniquely is all.
So I open my arms out and offer again: "Do you wish to come and play?" I
promise to let you borrow anything in my Lego set. When we work together
our creations are so much bigger and we have so much more fun!
Peace, Edouard
P.S. Sorry if anyone took offense at my joke about 380mm. The reference
is not hostile, instead it is expression of great pride in an innovative
French ship design. Ships put on hold as a nation suffered under
oppression, and a 15 year old boy pulled the dead and wounded from
American and British bombs. A few years later, one of the 4 ships had a
brief, if memorable twilight - dreams realized, if decades obsolete and
essentially useless. Such are the memories of that 15 year old boy who
grew up to serve briefly on a destroyer, and later passed on a little
piece of home to an impressionable young son. Like my Dad, I am trapped
in that time-capsule of French industry and culture. These are the Lego
blocks for which I am most proud, worn and misbegotten, yet such a
central part of me. So fear not when I offer these blocks - it is the
ultimate expression of my trust and love.
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: Edouard Lagache, Lecturer :
: Department of Communication (0503) :
: University of California, San Diego :
: 9500 Gilman Drive :
: La Jolla, CA, 92093-0503 Voice: (619) 534-7192 :
: elagache who-is-at netcom.com FAX: (619) 534-7315 :
: http://members.aol.com/EdLagache/home_page.html :
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: Christ leads me through no darker room than he went through before:
: Those that unto God's kingdom come, must enter by this door. :
: :
: Richard Baxter :
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