Re: My current observations

In <kenlongDAK4Io.5KE@netcom.com> kenlong@netcom.com (Ken Long) writes: >Keith "Justified And Ancient" Cochran (janda@netcom.com) wrote:
>: For example, from page 57 of my copy of Dianetics 55!:
>: "If you are simply invetigating Dianetics to discover whether or
>: not it is workable, you should be aware of the fact that the
>: Auditor's Code, following of, is an essential portion of Dianetics."
>: What is that "following of" doing in there?
>Here's another, more clarified paragraph:
>Yyou should be aware of the fact that following the Auditor's Code is an
>essential portion of Dianetics if you are simply invetigating Dianetics to
>discover whether or not it is workable.
If this is what Hubbard meant, why didn't he state it so?

The reason that many people find Hubbard's writing particularly humorous is that Hubbard made many claims about the communications abilities of Clears. Supposedly, those who have taken advanced Dianetics courses will gain exceptional clarity and skill of communication. Presumably, since Hubbard was at the forefront of Dianetics, he had such skills, as he had the necessary auditing, and was Clear, etc.

IF that is true, and IF those enhanced skills exist.... why is it necessary for someone to come along and clarify what he wrote? Either the skills do not exist, or for some reason, Hubbard chose to be purposely obscure in his writing style. If Hubbard's goal was to bring salvation to the masses, and if the paragraph in question was intended as a notice or warning to a casual reader, how would being obscure accomplish that goal?

Occam's Razor suggests that the simplest explanation is most likely to be true. The simplest explanation is that Hubbard was not a very good writer, and had rather poor grammar skills, among other things. Unfortunately, it seems that many of his works suffer from the lack of a decent editor, as well -- many writers are saved from a fate of the appearance of being foolish by their editors.

It would be most interesting if Hubbard had taken a standardized academic exam such as the SAT -- one wonders how his verbal SAT score would mesh with his claims about the mind of the Clear.

-- --Rob Levandowski Computer Interest Floor associate / University of Rochester macwhiz@cif.rochester.edu [Opinions expressed are mine, not UR's.]