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From: Paul Robinson <robin6@server.uwindsor.ca>
Subject: Re: Literary Theory as Humor: Alan Sokal's Hoax 
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Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 19:15:04 GMT
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On 31 May 1996, moggin wrote:

> Russell:
> 
> >> > But yes, this phrase can and should mean
> >> >something about how we run universities.  Many decisions about
> >> >who does various things in universities SHOULD depend on
> >> >competence.  (Oh, horrors!)
> 
> David Knapp:
> 
> >   I was about to write a parody of the expected response: "but
> >the whole idea of _competence_ is socially constructed,"  but then
> >here comes moggin to do it for me, and not even a parody:
> 
> [moggin:]
> 
> >>         Can't shriek 'till there's something to shriek over -- saying
> >> that English depts. aren't immutable is pretty mild, and making stuff
> >> "depend on competence" and "serve an appropriate function" don't mean
> >> much of anything until the concepts of "competence" and "appropriate"
> >> get filled in -- and that's when the trouble is likely to start.
> 
> 	Yep, that's what I said.  Where's your disagreement?  Surely
> you don't think that the meaning of "competence" is self-evident, or
> that you can have "an appropriate function" without specifying what
> it's appropriate _to_.  Or do you?
> 
> David:
> 
> >   Hee, hee.  Of course, in pomo circles, "competent" == "politically
> >correct."
> 
> 	"Of course?"  I can't even guess what you think you're saying.

Robinson:
Here, here! I'm a Master's Po/mo student who came under intense fire for 
breaking ranks with my feminist-minded English department. I was still 
po/mo, not conservative or traditional, but I was also not feminist. It 
went over like a lead balloon in the final paper.
So in a sense, you are both correct. Yes, you can be competant in a po/mo 
circle without being politically correct, but watch out, because 
currently there is a price to pay for sticking your neck out like that.

Paul
