![[ OPINIONS ]](/images/opinions97.gif)
Arizona Daily Wildcat January 23, 1997
Letter writers' obsessions with the trivial mask true solutions to society's problems
Whenever I open a copy of the Wildcat, I am fascinated by the way every word, every idea, every graphic apparently serves to upkeep a meaningless struggle over who can catch the most attention. It is not just the way in which information has evolved to stick in our minds and keep us occupied with trivial thoughts, but also the opposition to this trend that lies at the heart of is deep-rootedness.I despise John Y. Ahns' letter (yesterday) criticizing the use of the word "Fuck" on the front page. If he really preferred to dispense with the word he should use it freely or ignore it completely. By regarding it as forbidden, he merely increases its appeal and effectiveness for those who make use of it.
Chuck Dodson's letter (yesterday) strikes me as an equally self-defeating complaint. Decrying the Wildcat as "sensationalistic and negative," he goes on to use the very literary tactics he claims to be opposing. Dodson begins his condemnation with "all that SEX. Quite titillating, eh?", and then proceeds by dwelling on the irresponsibility of our newspaper with phrases such as "chock full of sex", and "fear and negative sexual programming". With his creative writing style he makes his subject of criticism more rather than less interesting.
Furthermore, I see little sense in avoiding the expression of certain ideas because they are morally bad. I am much more motivated to ignore them by recognizing their intrinsic unimportance.
These authors share with the majority of the population a deep affinity for the present state of the world. By focusing on details and getting themselves involved in the spread of superficially appealing information, they become part of the process they struggle against.
I claim that the solution lies in a focused opposition against the world at large, an attitude that is presently nonexistent. While numerous religious cults indeed reject all of society, I have never heard of a scientifically or rationally inclined point of view that does. Remarkable opportunities await those who manage to adhere to the dictates of reason and reject society at the same time.
