Johnson's Sucky Logic.

Johnson begins his essay by perpetuating the myth of the “trench coat mafia” at Columbine, a canard which author Dave Cullen exposes in his brilliant award winning book on the massacre. Neither Dylan Klebold nor Eric Harris was a member of this trench coated group. They did not in fact begin wearing trench coats at Columbine until long after doing so had lost its cachet at the school. There is no connection between school yard limericks and shooting up a school, not even a tenuous one. It’s like he is trying to assert causation into the mix without actually having the balls to back it up. This is because he lacks the evidence to make that connection. Soon after he asserts that Peter Elbow has an interest or belief in magic through incantation. Having not read the piece referred to I can only guess that Elbow uses the term figuratively. One of the central arguments of his essay is the Sophie’s Choice dilemma on academic vs. individual voice. His argument is of the either or type and so will not come to any sort of agreed to conclusion. Who the hell are these young Satanists he refers to and what exactly are the blood rituals they partake in? I think he pulled that one directly from his ass. I especially like where he decides to refrain from any over simplistic explanations when that is sort of what he has been doing throughout his essay. Trench coat mafia indeed.  His final assertion? It is a miracle that more of us do not become trench coat garbed assassins due to our adverse reaction to writing pedagogy. School can suck at times, but for the most part it is an intellectual adventure with hopefully a little fun on the journey. School doesn’t suck, but Johnson’s logic does. Oh, and Math. Math sucks too.