1962  Terrible accusations

Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 15:13:51 -0500
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Terrible accusations

There is a high possibility that you may not be interested in this subject,
if so please kindly *Delete*.

My friends tell me that Dirk has been bragging that "he put me in my place"
that being the reason I do not dare to answer his notes. :)))

I put myself in the place where I am and I am fully responsible for that,
nobody puts me in any place I am certain of that.

I have been accused of sophistry, languages, traveling and elitism.:))
Pompous and affected language.:)) - Terrible accusations that required Dirk
to stay up all night to spell them. :))

These accusations and his discussion about the history of bandoneon have
been his contributions to the list. We are all grateful for them, as they
greatly increased introspection into our personalities and contributed to a
better knowledge of the Bandoneon. (I mean it seriously here).

1- Elitism : If I have to talk about biology I have to mention the word
"Cell" many times, if I talk about nuclear energy I have to say "atom" many
times. Class difference and prejudice rest at the base of the history of
tango. So to speak about differences in social strata is an absolute
necessity when you talk about tango history.

2- Traveling: When I used to talk impersonally, not mentioning my own
experience, a little lady that lives on the west coast told some of my
friends that my tango knowledge came just from reading, (obvio) she added.
( this was direct result of my publishing tango bibliography in answer to a
character from the east coast that stated again and again that there was no
tango history neither good tango books.
So I decided to make personal references to substantiate my experiences from
then on.

Traveling can be done by most anybody that is interested in doing it.
Cruising in times of the Titanic was in the realm of the very rich but
nowadays, anyone can take a cruise as he wishes, for a few dollars.
Naturally you must have the interest to do it.
I was interested in knowing the world since I read the "One and a thousand
nights" as a child. So traveling is one of my hobbies, I feel free of any
inhibition to mention it as it is absurd to consider that as a show of
snobbism.

3- Languages: The same as above, I have to demonstrate that I know first
hand what I am talking about,:) otherwise the linguists will say that I do
not know what I am saying.

I am fluent in Castilian (my native language), Italian, French and English.
I also know a little German. I will talk about languages whenever I wish
because they are another one of my favorites hobbies. Snobbism, my foot to
use good English.

4- Elitism : I am such a snob, I am so elitist that I never used my titles
when introducing myself. I always preferred to be called Sergio. I went
dancing Country-Western for several years incognito, posing as a clerk. I
had the best time of my life as I was able to mix and was accepted as an
equal by everybody. One day a boy fainted on the dance floor, it was
instinctive that I run to assist him, that along with the fact that a nurse
that knew me from the hospital was there blew my cover. Things were never
the same afterwards.

4- About sophistry and Babel fish. Dirk is an expert on those subjects. As
usual he concentrates in little details and misses the whole picture.

5- Pompous and affected language.
My English teachers were from Great Britain, I learnt it in the classroom.
I did not have the privilege of learning it in the street, so that is the
only way I know how to speak. If you knew our language slang I would dispel
that notion very easily "Boludo alegre".

Summary: I have, do and will continue to talk about tango, languages and
travels whenever I feel like as they are part of my life and some of my
favorite hobbies. I do not think I am a snob.
As a medical doctor I had the chance to interact with all sort of people
both in Argentina and in the USA, I can adapt easily to any circumstance .
So Dirk do not waste your time, I like myself, I like my friends and they
like me and you are not going to change that.

Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 19:41:55 -0500
From: Dirk J Bakker <dbakker@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Terrible accusations : OFF TOPIC

It is nice to know that our respected Dr. Sergio is well and among the
living. Such is his observance of the rules that instead of sending this
response to me, he once again posts it to the list. Since he does not
permit me to equally answer him privately, I respond here. As he puts it
**Delete** if not interested.

Sergio wrote:

>My friends tell me that Dirk has been bragging that "he put me in my place"
>that being the reason I do not dare to answer his notes. :)))
>

This observation is most telling of the caliber of individual Sergio
deems to call friend. Singular. Sergio apparently needs to stretch and
pluralize it, and to attempt such an obviously incoherent fabrication to
pass as an actual quote of what I or perhaps even his "friend" could
possibly have written. Such is Sergio's misunderstanding of what a real
quote should be and of his ignorance of what is properly called a
paraphrase. The approach must be necessary to give it more credence, but
there was only one and the text read:

" Just so happens there are some that also appreciate your "best
contributor" being put on his place. But have no fear Sergio has too
much of a bloated ego to stay away for long. Melodrama is part and
parcel of most Argentine's and other Latin culture."

Sergio's friend in question is a certain ahshol Kahn and judging by the
insulting language that he chose to send my way (twice, so far), it is a
shame that Sergio keeps such company. That or this ahshol is doing
Sergio's dirty work. I do not copy the rest of the mails but if anyone,
including Sergio, is interested in reading them, I will forward them.
But be warned they are nothing else but vulgar in the worst sense.

>I put myself in the place where I am and I am fully responsible for that,
>nobody puts me in any place I am certain of that.
>

No doubt, Sergio.

But the expression is meant to humble, which anybody, including myself,
can never have enough of.

>I have been accused of sophistry, languages, traveling and elitism.:))
>Pompous and affected language.:)) - Terrible accusations that required Dirk
>to stay up all night to spell them. :))
>
>These accusations and his discussion about the history of bandoneon have
>been his contributions to the list. We are all grateful for them, as they
>greatly increased introspection into our personalities and contributed to a
>better knowledge of the Bandoneon. (I mean it seriously here).
>

Does this single admission mean that the rest of your response is not
serious, as denoted by the sparing use of the double-chined smileys?

(rest deleted)

>Snobbism, my foot to use good English.
>

The use of English is because it is the de facto standard of this list.
"Good" is relative. You have stated that your english is better than
native speakers. Hmm... To the degree that you have corrected others for
minor or uncalled for misuse of whichever language, you too should
accept that criticism, if your statement of introspection, above, is to
be believed. You will be better for it as will your contributions here
or elsewhere.

>
>4- Elitism : I am such a snob, I am so elitist that I never used my titles
>when introducing myself.
>

I beg to differ. That was the first statement you made when you sent me
your first private mail.

>4- About sophistry and Babel fish. Dirk is an expert on those subjects. As
>usual he concentrates in little details and misses the whole picture.
>

You are the only person that has seen fit the need to explain the
biblical story of Babel to an otherwise adult audience. Never mind that
it was completely out of context. Or is that what you call "the whole
picture"?

>5- Pompous and affected language.
>

Sergio must be having a change of heart at this point and must throw yet
another underhanded remark. Yet again he forgets that the lunfardo
dictionary is readily accessible to help in its translation.

https://digilander.libero.it/xkl/dicc/

>If you knew our language slang I would dispel that notion very easily "Boludo alegre".
>

Equal to "Boludo a la acuarela" = "Tonto sin malicia" or (pick your
choice, below) without malice.

Boludo = "Estzpido, haragan, fastidioso, cachaciento, lerdo, lento,
necio, negligente, tonto, imbicil."

or in good english "stupid, loafer or good-for-nothing, etc., annoying,
slow witted, etc., uncoordinated, coarse, etc., slow, brat, derelict, or
negligent, etc., dumb, imbecile"

I would say that raises the ante from "bacan" a trifle.

> Summary: I have, do and will continue to talk about tango, languages and
>travels whenever I feel like as they are part of my life and some of my
>favorite hobbies. I do not think I am a snob.
>As a medical doctor I had the chance to interact with all sort of people
>both in Argentina and in the USA, I can adapt easily to any circumstance .
>So Dirk do not waste your time, I like myself, I like my friends and they
>like me and you are not going to change that.
>

My definition of a friend is an honest mirror. Ashold for one is
certainly Sergio's.