Talk:Blind Men and an Elephant

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Nice article, well done! Glad to see the nasty comments some people made in one of your discussions didn't discourage you! I'm making a few minor edits, though. IamthatIam 19:34, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

Thanks! It did bother me for a while but I got over it. But it really upset Gerina. I don't think she's posted anything since! I hope she comes back. Some people are totally rude. I think they should be banned! But I'm not an admin. Binky The WonderSkull 05:02, 27 May 2006 (UTC)
Sadly, there's an attitude prevalent which seems to think that "politeness" is anachronistic in these modern times. Certain folks would do well to realise that it's actually an evolved, useful species trait which enables H.sap to function in social conditions which would drive non-domesticated species to violence. Musings aside, if anyone's in contact with Gerina, do let her know that there *are* folks who appreciate her, and hope to see her back sometime. Drjon 02:18, 9 June 2006 (UTC)
I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to be adding, but the Apocrypha also contains an earlier Discordian Blind Men and Elephant story (see page 80) by Robert Anton Wilson. Perhaps someone might like to add the information to this article as well? Or if it's not a conflict of interest, I will add the information myself. Drjon 02:18, 9 June 2006 (UTC)
Drjon you have a link for that? I'd think about adding it but there's a particular Wikipedian who didn't like some comments I made about him and tries to get everything I do deleted. IamthatIam 01:26, 12 June 2006 (UTC)
The version that Robert Anton Wilson wrote under the penname Reverend Loveshade is a lot more famous than the one he wrote under his legal name. I don't think it's necessary to add that one too. MRN 17:41, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
Actually, not only are there two different earlier Discordian Blind Men and Elephant stories (references to follow), I think you'll find that the author of the version mentioned here is not the same individual as Robert Anton Wilson. Drjon 23:03, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] An Elephant is...

Sam Gross, U.S. cartoonist best known for his work in the National Lampoon, published several collections, one of which (1982) was titled after a panel cartoon depicting the blind men...one of whom was elbow-deep in dung, making the astute observation "An Elephant is Soft and Mushy!"

[edit] I thought it originated in China.... in which there were three blind men

http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/blind_men_elephant.html says so, though I am unsure of its credibility.

[edit] Discordian

Then there's this earlier Discordian version, from Illuminatus!:

Five stoned men were in a courtyard when an elephant entered.
The first man was stoned on sleep, and he saw not the elephant, but dreamed instead of things unreal to those awake.
The second man was stoned on nicotine, caffeine, DDT, carohydrate excess, protein deficiency, and the other chemicals in the diet which the Illuminati have enforced upon the half-awake to keep them from fully waking. "Hey," he said, "there's a big, smelly beast in our courtyard."
The third stoned man was on grass, and he said, "No, dads, that's the Ghostly Old Party in its true nature, the Dark Nix on the soul," and he giggled in a silly way.
The fourth stoned man was tripping on peyote, and he said, "You see not the mystery, for the elephant is a poem written in tons instead of words," and his eyes danced.
The fifth stoned man was on acid, and he said nothing, merely worshiping the elephant in silence as the Father of Buddha.
And then the Hierophant entered and drove a nail of mystery into all their hearts, saying, "You are all elephants!"
Nobody understood him.

--FOo (talk) 08:34, 21 April 2008 (UTC)