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Here is a link to a scanned image of Polarity Is Interesting But. It is the article by Angelo R. Lacuesta from the May 9, 2009 issue of The Philippines Free Press. For some time, only those who have bought or borrowed a copy have been able to read it, as it hasn't been published online. I have asked the author for permission to put it up, and he has given it, so here it is. Here are some of the reactions to that essay after it first came out, oh, about a week ago. Dun dun dun dunAlmost Professional
Excuse Me, Your Cred Is ShowingFear And Loathing In The Philippines Free PressI felt that the reactions have been more readily available to readers than the article they were reacting to, given that they have the advantage of being online. I believed that it would be best for everyone to be able to read the article in its entirety, with the quotes taken from it in the reactions seen and read from the context of where they were written. That is why I am happy that the author agreed to allow me to scan and place the image here, so people can read and decide for themselves where and how things stand, and to gauge for themselves whether the reactions' interpretations fit, or not. Please do read the scanned image above first, then read the rest, including all the comments, then make a decision/come to a conclusion yourselves. Thank you! Update: Here's a link, Written In Poverty By Floundering Spirits, by An Exercise In Youthful Blasphemy, posted on May 12, 2009 as a form of closure, I think, over all this.
 | "I felt that the reactions have been more readily available to readers than the article they were reacting to, given that they have the advantage of being online. I believed that it would be best for everyone to be able to read the article in its entirety, with the quotes taken from it in the reactions seen and read from the context of where they were written."
Yup, that's what I felt too. Thanks for uploading this, Kenneth.
I must say, now that I've reread it, it seems all the stranger that it has drawn such vehemence -- although Sarge has written tighter material, to be sure.
Also, "Excuse Me, Your Cred Is Showing" -- hi Banzai Cat -- mistakenly links to an unrelated article as "one of the editorial responses." |
| Incidentally, Sarge's reaction is up on Chingbee's blog post ("Fear and Loathing in the Philippines Free Press") now too. |
 | @luiskatigbak: Thanks for this extra info! |
 | hi luis! the editorial 'response' article I linked to in Far East also appeared in an FP issue, i.e. the "wa-sabi" piece. it could be my mistaken presumption (but i don't think so) that the piece was put in FP to address whatever issues adam had raised earlier. in any case, its appearance in-between adam's "hot" articles (patricide and addenda) and sarge's position as literary ed made me think that this was definitely a 'quiet' response. |
| Hi Joseph! Well, I just asked Sarge. The 'wa-sabi' piece, while reprinted in the FP, was originally written for the Far Eastern Economic Review, and really had nothing to do with Adam at all. Adam just took the opportunity to leap on it and criticize it as well. The 'quiet' response is "Polarity Is Interesting But." |
 | Wow. Lots to digest. Don't know exactly what to think of it all just yet.
Thanks for the links, Kenneth. |
| Hi, Exie. Sad, all this. Hope it gets sorted out so we can all get back to reading.
Aww...I'm heading to a short-story website to do some reading right now. |
| luis: yes, so i heard. ;-)
however, the timing and the theme of the reprinting was perfectly attuned to the situation that the average reader wouldn't think it was out of place. |
 | Adam just took the opportunity to leap on it and criticize it as well.
talaga lang, ha.
- Adam David |
| It might constitute time travel, though. |
|  luis: yes, so i heard. ;-)
however, the timing and the theme of the reprinting was perfectly attuned to the situation that the average reader wouldn't think it was out of place.  Hi Joseph -- I do see your point. :)
It seems apparent from the comments, though, that the issue people have with "Polarity" and the Note that accompanied "Mistakes" is that they were more or less explicitly identified -- by the editors -- as a response to Adam's writing, and that this was misguided on the part of the editors, a violation of the ideal contributor-editor relationship.
Again, I see your point about the convenience of the timing. But since it makes no direct statements about criticism, much less Adam's criticism, much less the works Adam criticized, nor was it announced as any sort of response to Adam, "'Wa-Sabi" could be read as part of the conversation only inasmuch as it is a glimpse of Sarge's writing philosophy, and thus relevant to his duties as an editor. |
| "But since it makes no direct statements about criticism, much less Adam's criticism, much less the works Adam criticized, nor was it announced as any sort of response to Adam, "'Wa-Sabi" could be read as part of the conversation only inasmuch as it is a glimpse of Sarge's writing philosophy, and thus relevant to his duties as an editor."
(grr, how do you do that quote box thing?)
very true but upon my comparing of the similar styles of the wa-sabi and polarity articles (the 'soft-shoe' approach), I would have thought these two were totally separate and independent and is, as you say, just the editor and writer speaking. one would only realize polarity was a response to adam's article due to the editor's note in adam's addenda article. so I figured, why not the earlier article of wa-sabi? Which is why I went to re-read my copy again.
Like I said, it was really the timing that got to me. :-)
but that's just me. :-) |
 | In fact, your reaction is dated May 1 while the FP reprint is dated May 2. If that doesn't constitute "leaping on," I don't know what does.
It might constitute time travel, though.
I don't know if this has missed your attention, Sir Luis, but the Philippines Free Press put out their issues ahead of the date they show at the front page. I've surmised that they use the same reasoning as Time magazine for this. I guess the response is 'leaping on it' only insofar as he clicked on the Enter button for his blog post faster than the rest of us. |
| ... But that's the internet for you. |
| ah. on the question of whether it was intentional, adam says it was just timing and his quiet response was the professional essay. ;-) |
| I thought that my point -- that Adam really didn't waste any time in trying to shoot Sarge's ideas down -- still holds, whether he took a week or a day to vent.
Adam makes no quiet responses. ;)
Luis, I think your real issue here is only really merely the Sheer Fact that I responded to Sarge’s essay at all and really not with me flaunting the weight of my convictions around or whatever else outside of that Sheer Fact, regardless if I have a point in my rebuttal or not. That’s how I see it, at least.
For clarity’s sake, I suggest that it would be better for all of us if you actually try to bother typing up your strong and seemingly well-considered views on all this as a proper response essay, just so we all know where you’re really coming from, as with Sarge and me, with our opposing takes on the ‘Wa-Sabi analogy being all very much available online – for people to read so that they can “make … decision[s]/come to … conclusion[s] [them]selves,” – makes our views on it all the more “of consideration.” I think responding to these things intelligently – be it to affirm or rebutt – is way better than just being witty about it, especially in an environment – Literature, the Interweb – where Reader’s Response almost always trumps Authorial Intent.
I had issues with Sarge’s essay, so I responded to it with an essay. If you have any real desire to have your views on any of this be of any importance in the context of this conversation – and it really does seem like you want to address it on that level, or to at least have your views on this be of the same merit, or maybe even higher, as my views on Sarge’s essay – I suggest that you do the same.
- Adam David |
| "If you have any real desire to have your views on any of this be of any importance..."
Oh Adam. Please listen to yourself.
I'll get back to you. I have scripts and a column to write, and a magazine to edit. |
 | the people involved here (sarge, chingbee, adam) are writers i love and respect. i hope this gets sorted out. :( |
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