Re: Cross about Fabian comment

wilkr (wilkr@INDIANA.EDU)
Mon, 4 Apr 1994 01:12:54 -0500

The discussion about Fabian is beating around the bush. Complex writing
is NO PROOF of complex thought. Complex ideas DO NOT require poor or
obtuse writing. Some ideas are difficult. Yes. But that is no excuse for
making them more difficult. Anyone tried reading Marilyn Strathern
lately? Yes, she is brilliant. But that does not relieve her of the
obligation to edit, think through, and treat readers with respect. Any
idea can be well written. Read Orwell's classic essay on bureaucratic
language - murky thinking is responsible for a lot of bad prose. An
attmpet to bully and deceive is responsible for most of the rest.

Rick Wilk
Indiana U.