Infinite Jest by D.F. Wallace, WEEK 7

[John]

Nicola wrote: "Why is that funny? "

Well, the way it was built up throughout the chapter: There was one mention of the EPA "stumbling over" a dump while playing softball...then another mention, and another. It's obvious that the softball is a ruse, and the feds are "finding" dumps that in reality they already know about. That last headline is the punchline to the joke.

[Ami]

Nicola wrote: "Ami wrote: I finally have some vindication, in that I'm not the only one, because Gately too has a hard time Identifying with anybody getting in enough trouble with weed to leave his job and condo...."

Sure...To less than 10% of pot smokers. Also, there's no real hard evidence that shows a physical addiction to marijuana is possible. High-resin pot, which is what the characters in this book are smoking and are forming an addiction to, does not exist. Let's shed some light on the fact that this book is a satirical piece, so high resin pot could very well be spoken of in jest because of the absurdity behind its premise. LoL.

[Nicola]

Ami wrote: so maybe this is a way of showing us how Orin might have treated Mario.

How do you think the relationship might have been?


I don't have anything more to go on than what we've already been told. There was something from Joelle (?) saying that Orin didn't like his brother, there is the avoidance of Orin speaking to Mario on the phone and there have been several references to physical cruelty. I don't think it's as horrific as sexual abuse but I can see parallels.

Orin is clearly physically gifted, Mario clearly not. But Mario wouldn't have been less cherished and to a spoilt first child now having to share attention with this 'retard' it has obviously enraged him. I don't think Orin liked sharing his moms affection...

[Nicola]

Linda wrote: And we see that Hal and Mario are so close as brothers, I wonder if Hal perhaps was able to act as a buffer between Mario and Orin and protect Mario when he could? Hal was Mario's safe zone, and that is one reason why Mario loves Hal so much.

This is all speculation, of course. :) ."

Yes, I can definitely see that.

[Ami]

Nicola wrote: "Ami wrote: so maybe this is a way of showing us how Orin might have treated Mario.

How do you think the relationship might have been?


I don't have anything more to go on than what we've already ..."

You mean Orin is physically gifted compared to Mario...Orin has deformities as well. Also, Mario is not considered retarded, by any means, he has delayed mental recognition, he has greater physical handicaps than mental.

I don't think Orin liked sharing his Mother either.

[Nicola]

Ami wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Ami wrote: so maybe this is a way of showing us how Orin might have treated Mario.

How do you think the relationship might have been?


I don't have anything more to go on than what..."

Yes and I meant that Orin might think of his brother as 'retarded' because he's a %$^£.

[Nicola]

John wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Why is that funny? "

Well, the way it was built up throughout the chapter: There was one mention of the EPA "stumbling over" a dump while playing softball...then another mention, an..."

Ohhh, I thought it might be a softball reference joke that I totally missed cos I know nothing about the game. Or it was a 'dump' joke ;-)

[Nicola]

Ami wrote: Sure...To less than 10% of pot smokers. Also, there's no real hard evidence that shows a physical addiction to marijuana is possible. High-resin pot, which is what the characters in this book are smoking and are forming an addiction to, does not exist. Let's shed some light on the fact that this book is a satirical piece, so high resin pot could very well be spoken of in jest. "

I understand what you are saying and I also had heard that this was the case. However mental addiction is probably no less debilitating. For the 10% or so and the even fewer % who really get addicted it is obviously no joke...


Marijuana Addiction Is Rare, But Very Real

Most people can use marijuana without becoming addicted. But for users with vulnerabilities like stress, mental illness, or a genetic predisposition, the risk of dependence is real.

....

Millions of other Americans are like George — they can pick up and put down marijuana relatively easily. But that’s not the case for everyone. For an unfortunate few, marijuana poses a substantial risk of addiction.

and

"It's so bizarre to me," Pinsky replied. "The political energy around cannabis is such that we can't be truthful or rational about it. I've been treating cannabis addiction for 20 years. When people are addicted to cannabis, cocaine and alcohol the drug they have the most difficult time giving up is the cannabis. It is extremely addictive...for some people. I think that's where people get confused. It's not very addictive for many people. It's a small subset of people with a genetic potential for addiction. But for them it is really tough. You only need talk to them, they'll tell you how tough it is."

[Linda]

Ami wrote: ""Ami wrote: "I wondered if the nicotine (dip) transpired due the side effects from pot smoking, i.e. cottonmouth-Doesn't the dip promote salivation?"

I don't have my book with me right now, but I t..."

Excellent, if he did...Makes sense to me. If you happen to find this passage, let me know :) at your convenience."

So, 800+ pages is a lot to flip through! But...I found this that I remember reading, so I might have had it a bit backwards, thinking that Hal chewed because it created saliva. But this makes his chewing as a reason to spit.

page 114: Hal usually gets secretly high so regularly these days this year that if by dinnertime he hasn't gotten high yet that day his mouth begins to fill with spit - some rebound effect from B. Hope's desiccating action - and his eye start to water as if he's just yawned. The smokeless tobacco started almost as an excuse to spit, sometimes.

[Ami]

Linda wrote: "Ami wrote: ""Ami wrote: "I wondered if the nicotine (dip) transpired due the side effects from pot smoking, i.e. cottonmouth-Doesn't the dip promote salivation?"

I don't have my book with me right..."

Got it, thank you! :)