Re: CHAT: Unsolicited abuse

On Mon, 10 May 1999, JOEL MATTHEW PEARSON wrote:

> I once had a psychologist tell me that my conlanging was no better
> than mental masturbation (whatever that means), and the sign of a
> maladjusted personality.  Basically, he accused me of being a
> sociopath.  Boy, did *that* ever make my day...  So take heart!
> Everyone gets conlang-bashed from time to time.
I've heard that metaphor applied rather more aptly to pyschology itself.
I don't think I ever mentioned my conlanging to any of my all-too-numerous
shrinks--I wonder what they would have made of it.

I've had my conlanging called silly (and "the stupidest thing I ever
heard" by someone who was already angry with me for something unrelated)
but thankfully no-one has expected me to give it up yet.

    ___
   )_|_)   Eli Naeher - enaeher@emma.troy.ny.us
  )__|__)   "The denunciation of the young is a necessary part of the
 )___|___)   hygiene of older people, and greatly assists the circulation
\-,__|_,---/  of the blood."
 \________/                               --Logan Pearsall Smith