It might be interesting here to consider the phenomenon of "trolling", an
activity which tends to combine several kinds of "pseudo-" discourse: not
only is it often pseudonymous, but also full of "pseudo-" statements. The
troll's posts are designed specifically to tease, provoke or infuriate: the
attitudes adopted are feigned, the writing a series of feints - often clumsy
and half-hearted, like stale jokes, although it's worth considering that
this may also be part of the performance, which tends towards the abject.
In the case of pseudo-Sue (et. al.) some of the irritation seems to come
from the fact that s/he seems to be writing English as a foreign language,
which can be disconcerting for native speakers to read. Poets who write in
English are likely to be especially touchy about this, of course; but I
think it's reasonable to insist on some degree of inter-cultural politeness
here, which amongst other things would mean containing one's grumpiness at
foreigners and their peculiar manners.
It has been the case on other occasions when I've been on lists or in
discussion groups where a troll has appeared that various attempts have been
made either to substantiate the reality of the troll ("who are you,
really?") or to banish "it" altogether: in either case, to stabilise
identities, to provide a discourse that is irritating or unpleasant in
various ways (abject or "not serious", for instance), with an accountable
author, a set of extra-discursive credentials.
One of the problems I have with pseudo-Sue et. al. is that there is a
persistent evasion of this sort of accountability. If I offend or speak out
of turn, I may be addressed by others in the confidence - which might always
be misplaced, hence some of the anxieties about authorship that pseudo-Sue
et. al. exploit - that there is someone behind my signature who can be
called to account for his behaviour. Trolls are not accountable; they
frustrate the demand for accountability. It's one of a number of
frustrations they excel at producing.
So far as poetics is concerned, I do believe that there are valid and
interesting discussions to be had about a lot of these questions. I also
doubt whether carrying on in the "pseudo-" register favoured by trolls is
likely to do much to stimulate such discussion. Many of us, myself included,
find it difficult to maintain concentration and goodwill in the face of
continual uncertainty about whom we are talking to.
- Dom
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