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2002-05-22
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Cuenta Michael Shermer, de
The Skeptic Society, entidad en la que colaboraba Gould, que éste tenía preparada una carta estándar para contestar negativamente cuando se le solicitaba algo que no le venía bien hacer. La transcribo tal cual, a modo de homenaje...
I can only beg your indulgence and ask you to understand an asymmetry that operates cruelly (since it produces tension and incomprehension) but that leads to an ineluctable (however regrettable) result. The asymmetry: you want an hour or two, perhaps a day, of my time--not much compared to what you think I might provide (exaggerated, I suspect, but I won't struggle to disillusion you). From that point of view, I should comply--not to do so could only be callousness or unkindness on my part. But now try to understand my side of the asymmetry: I receive on average (I promise that I am not exaggerating) two invitations to travel and lecture per day, about 25 unsolicited manuscripts per month asking for comments, 20 or so requests for letters of recommendation per month, about 15 books with requests for jacket blurbs.
I am one frail human being with heavy family responsibilities, in uncertain health and with a burning desire (never diminished) to write and research my own material. Thus, I simply cannot do what you ask. I can only beg your understanding and extend to you my sincere thanks for thinking of me.
¿Conseguiría Gould quedarse tranquilo así diciendo amable y razonadamente no? Igual él había llegado a ese estatus -acaso porque, como comenta, las solicitudes eran obviamente excesivas. Lo comento porque cada vez que digo que no a alguna solicitud que me hacen, me quedo con mal cuerpo. No sé decir que no, o me cuesta mucho porque siento que defraudo a quien me la hace.
2002-05-22 07:55 Enlace
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