Sunday, December 11, 2005

Not supporting PBS makes me feel so good!

I chanced upon a show called "Rick Steve's European Christmas" tonight; and although I generally avoid "Christmas specials" like the Bird Flu during Advent, and usually avoid PBS, I decided to stay and watch. And, no surprise, it was a quality program.

But then, of course, I discovered why PBS was having something actually good on: pledge week!

And so, the usual unctious attempts to induce guilt and educe gelt: "you're enjoying this show; someone paid for it; you should pay." Ennnh! Logical fallacy! In the nice times of the year, I walk down the street, and enjoy other people's gardens; I feel no compunction whatsoever to pay for it, and I would have to restrain a guffaw if the owner of the garden tried to convince me of it.

"It makes you feel good to support PBS." No -- the exact opposite is true. It makes me feel bad that I am coerced into supporting "public" (there's a great, propagandistic name) TV and radio; and it makes me feel GOOD that I refuse to send money to these stations.

Of course, if you feel otherwise, and you send money to PBS et al., that's your business; more power to you. But if you think I have an obligation to support these folks? No offense, but you're smoking something you probably shouldn't be.

8 comments:

Fr. Larry Gearhart said...

"induce guilt and educe gelt" would be a great phrase if the etymology of educe were more appropriate to your need. It might make sense if you could educe gelt from the donor's pores or from the donor's imagination, rather than from the donor's wallet.

Fr. Larry Gearhart said...

Sorry to be such a stick-in-the-mud.

Fr Martin Fox said...

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

educe
One entry found for educe.


Main Entry: educe
Pronunciation: i-'düs also -'dyüs
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): educed; educ·ing
Etymology: Latin educere to draw out, from e- + ducere to lead -- more at TOW
1 : to bring out (as something latent)
2 : DEDUCE
- educ·ible /-'dü-s&-b&l also -'dyü-/ adjective
- educ·tion /-'d&k-sh&n/ noun
synonyms EDUCE, EVOKE, ELICIT, EXTRACT, EXTORT mean to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved.

Fr. Larry Gearhart said...

It's not often someone takes the trouble to agree with me in such detail.

Fr Martin Fox said...

Very funny.

I'm not agreeing with you.

I used "educe" to mean "draw out," which is its Latin origin, as well as to mean "to bring out" -- i.e., to bring out the money.

I point out that synonyms include: elicit, extract and extort, which lend credibility to my usage.

I realize that's not how the word is usually used, but so what?

Fr. Larry Gearhart said...

You're taking "draw out something hidden" in too literal a sense.

I need to change my photo to one with a smirk.

Fr Martin Fox said...

Father, I think we're allowed to do such things with words in English. After all, we are not in France.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if you guys save the really good homilies when your fundraising for your parish or for the Bishops fund. I'm just a proleteriat parishoner but I suspect your parishes are no different than mine in that 20% of the congregation usually pay 100% of the bills and an even less percentage actually do the work of the parish. The rest simply walk by the garden and enjoy. Being an italian boy I'm no stranger to the induction of guilt, but I do and will always love my mother so. (smile) Also as a life long devoted Catholic I have to admit that I have seen my fair share of educed gelt in a few Churches.
Needless to say, my post is not intended as a shot as I respect both of you and your service and the Church as a whole. I suppose it was just a thought.
Blessings,
Eric