David Foster Wallace RIP - pipTalk Forums

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Brad
Member Ascendant

since 1999-08-20

Posts 5705
Jejudo, South Korea

0 posted 2008-09-14 06:18 AM

At 46, Wallace committed suicide.

I don't know what to say. I just found out from a friend. He was drunk, shocked, and called me. His words are probably best:

"He was the best writer of our generation."

As some of you know, I wrote a poem about a group of his essays.

This is a big one -- and personal.

[This message has been edited by Brad (09-14-2008 06:57 AM).]

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

1 posted 2008-09-14 05:52 PM

My condolescences, Brad. I do not know his work but, if he has your respect, that's good enough for me.

So many talented people have taken that route. Perhaps true creators of beauty cannot handle the ugliness of reality....beats me. It's a sad loss....

Poet deVine

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-26

Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley

2 posted 2008-09-14 09:51 PM

Infinite Jest

There are no words to describe the feeling of losing someone who had such a profound effect on you. You are in my thoughts Brad. I will pray for his family who now must begin a lifetime of asking 'why?'

So sad.

Huan Yi
Member Ascendant

since 2004-10-12

Posts 6688
Waukegan

3 posted 2008-09-18 09:22 PM

.

Yet why did he take his own life?

.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

4 posted 2008-09-18 09:44 PM

quote:
In the November 2007 issue of The Atlantic, which commemorated the magazine's 150th anniversary, an invited series of authors, artists, politicians and others were asked to prepare 300 words or so on "the future of the American idea". Wallace asked whether some things were still worth dying for, and presented a "thought experiment" in which "we decided that a certain baseline vulnerability to terrorism is part of the price of the American idea." He goes on to say that we might have to accept that every now and then "a democratic republic cannot 100% protect itself [from terrorism] without subverting the very principles that made it worth protecting." By comparison, he continues, we accept the 40,000 highway deaths each year as the price we pay for the convenience of the motor car. Finally, he asks, in the context of Guantanamo Bay, the Patriot Act, and warrantless wiretapping, "Have we become so selfish and scared that we don't even want to consider whether some things trump safety?"

(This is from Wikipedia files)
RIP. How very tragic, and my condolences to his wife, family, and all the students he taught.
And Brad, my heartfelt condolences to you as well.

Huan Yi
Member Ascendant

since 2004-10-12

Posts 6688
Waukegan

5 posted 2008-09-19 03:22 PM

.

"we accept the 40,000 highway deaths each year as the price we pay for the convenience of the motor car."

Because they're the results of "accidents".
Could we accept 40,000 deaths as the
results of terrorism?
.

oceanvu2
Senior Member

since 2007-02-24

Posts 1066
Santa Monica, California, USA

6 posted 2008-09-28 05:59 PM

Brad -- I can't fathom it either. I dip often into Infinite Jest for the sheer brilliance of the language, and take the title to heart. It is all an Infinite Jest, but I wish he had felt a need to continue on.

Jim

Local Rebel
Member Ascendant

since 1999-12-21

Posts 5767
Southern Abstentia

7 posted 2008-09-28 06:53 PM

He was ill. Depression is a disease. The meds didn't work anymore. The electroconvulsive shock therapy didn't work. He was ill.

It shouldn't be thought any other kind of death than illness.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

8 posted 2008-09-28 09:08 PM

An appropriate and sensitive comment, LR.

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