To be conned for enlightenment

[Hardeman]

Thank you Gordon and Phil for your interest. It seems to me that the disdain for truth that has arisen in throughout our society in the 21^st century makes an environment rich with confidence men. As an experienced sailor, Melville understood that conn (also con) was “to conduct or superintend the steering of a vessel” as in “to conn a ship.” It was a natural evolution for him to adopt the emerging American concept of “confidence man” as someone who steers a relationship, a companionship, an internship or even a friendship toward some goal. So he conned his readership in his final publication toward towards a comprehension of the meaning of “confidence” well knowing the reader's response would cause enlightenment or consternation depending on their personal values.

Last year we had the film “The Experimenter” that showed us how we obey authority figures in whom we have confidence even when they violate our values. This year we have presidential candidates who mesmerize the public into having confidence in words devoid of reason. There is never a better time to understand the CM than today.

[Gordon Poole]

Dear Hardeman:

                I did not know about the maritime meaning of conn. After reading your message, I came across it in Coopers’s Homeward Bound. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have understood it.

                I’m wondering whether Melville had read this novel. It has just come out finally in a critical edition, very pricey.

Thanks,

                               Gordon

 

Da: ishma...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ishma...@googlegroups.com] Per conto di Hardeman
Inviato: domenica 6 marzo 2016 05:16
A: Ishmailites
Oggetto: To be conned for enlightenment

 

Thank you Gordon and Phil for your interest. It seems to me that the disdain for truth that has arisen in throughout our society in the 21^st century makes an environment rich with confidence men. As an experienced sailor, Melville understood that conn (also con) was “to conduct or superintend the steering of a vessel” as in “to conn a ship.” It was a natural evolution for him to adopt the emerging American concept of “confidence man” as someone who steers a relationship, a companionship, an internship or even a friendship toward some goal. So he conned his readership in his final publication toward towards a comprehension of the meaning of “confidence” well knowing the reader's response would cause enlightenment or consternation depending on their personal values.

Last year we had the film “The Experimenter” that showed us how we obey authority figures in whom we have confidence even when they violate our values. This year we have presidential candidates who mesmerize the public into having confidence in words devoid of reason. There is never a better time to understand the CM than today.

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[Phil Walsh]

I'm 75 pages in to CM. I'm reading the Hendricks House edition, edited and with notes by Elizabeth S. Foster.
We've just passed the point where the Methodist minister has driven off the one-legged man for insinuating that the crippled beggar is a fraud. I read in the notes that Foster supports the theory that the one-legged skeptic is Melville's alter-ego.

This looks to get con
fusing.

--Phil

[Hardeman]

Dear Gordon,

Would you not consider Melville's actual experience of conning aboard a whaling ship of greater importance to his maritime lexicon than his readings? Thank you for sharing your scholarly perspective on the term con/conn.  I had incorrectly presumed that the maritime meaning of the term was widely accepted.

Hardeman 

On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:55:29 PM UTC-5, gordon poole wrote:

Dear Hardeman:

                I did not know about the maritime meaning of conn. After reading your message, I came across it in Coopers’s Homeward Bound. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have understood it.

                I’m wondering whether Melville had read this novel. It has just come out finally in a critical edition, very pricey.

Thanks,

                               Gordon

 

Da: ishma...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ishma...@googlegroups.com] Per conto di Hardeman
Inviato: domenica 6 marzo 2016 05:16
A: Ishmailites
Oggetto: To be conned for enlightenment

 

Thank you Gordon and Phil for your interest. It seems to me that the disdain for truth that has arisen in throughout our society in the 21^st century makes an environment rich with confidence men. As an experienced sailor, Melville understood that conn (also con) was “to conduct or superintend the steering of a vessel” as in “to conn a ship.” It was a natural evolution for him to adopt the emerging American concept of “confidence man” as someone who steers a relationship, a companionship, an internship or even a friendship toward some goal. So he conned his readership in his final publication toward towards a comprehension of the meaning of “confidence” well knowing the reader's response would cause enlightenment or consternation depending on their personal values.

Last year we had the film “The Experimenter” that showed us how we obey authority figures in whom we have confidence even when they violate our values. This year we have presidential candidates who mesmerize the public into having confidence in words devoid of reason. There is never a better time to understand the CM than today.

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[Hardeman]

Phil,

Con-fusing it is. That is to say we all have trouble determining who is conning whom. As far as one can comprehend the CM with its often confusing dialog as to who is "the stranger" and who is the confident one, I was forced to annotate my copy as to who said what in each paragraph. Then I would go back as objectively as I could to find the point where my doubt injected itself into the reading. I was always able to regain a rational  perception and see the alternative perceived realities of the characters which naturally enlightened my own perception of my own illusions. If seeing is believing than this book is a test of ones confidence in Thyself. 

On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 2:13:03 PM UTC-5, Phil Walsh wrote:

I'm 75 pages in to CM. I'm reading the Hendricks House edition, edited and with notes by Elizabeth S. Foster.
We've just passed the point where the Methodist minister has driven off the one-legged man for insinuating that the crippled beggar is a fraud. I read in the notes that Foster supports the theory that the one-legged skeptic is Melville's alter-ego.

This looks to get con
fusing.

--Phil

On 03/10/2016 12:55 PM, 'Gordon Poole' via Ishmailites wrote:

Dear Hardeman:

                I did not know about the maritime meaning of conn. After reading your message, I came across it in Coopers’s Homeward Bound. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have understood it.

                I’m wondering whether Melville had read this novel. It has just come out finally in a critical edition, very pricey.

Thanks,

                               Gordon

 

Da: ishma...@googlegroups.com [mailto:is...@googlegroups.com] Per conto di Hardeman
Inviato: domenica 6 marzo 2016 05:16

A: Ishmailites
Oggetto: To be conned for enlightenment

 

Thank you Gordon and Phil for your interest. It seems to me that the disdain for truth that has arisen in throughout our society in the 21^st century makes an environment rich with confidence men. As an experienced sailor, Melville understood that conn (also con) was “to conduct or superintend the steering of a vessel” as in “to conn a ship.” It was a natural evolution for him to adopt the emerging American concept of “confidence man” as someone who steers a relationship, a companionship, an internship or even a friendship toward some goal. So he conned his readership in his final publication toward towards a comprehension of the meaning of “confidence” well knowing the reader's response would cause enlightenment or consternation depending on their personal values.

Last year we had the film “The Experimenter” that showed us how we obey authority figures in whom we have confidence even when they violate our values. This year we have presidential candidates who mesmerize the public into having confidence in words devoid of reason. There is never a better time to understand the CM than today.

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[Phil Walsh]

Thanks for the suggestion re: annotating the book. I may try that.
Perception is a tricky thing. I thought I was 75 pages into the book, but when I opened it up last night I realized I was only 25 pages in. And then I returned to page 1 and started again. ;-)

--Phil