Tin Soldiers

• Responses to First Learning about Affect Theory by Jim Duffy a.k.a. J.C.D., 2/28/97
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    • We're Getting Closer by Vick Kelly, 3/16/97
      
      

Vick, Thanks for the well thought out response. I was a SDS centrist (never did understand those peskily Maoists). I am beginning to suspect you are performing a sort of mystical behavior modification program with me. Here again I see little disagreement. You are suggesting that both the cognitive and the affective components are on the same footing and it is my position that cognition is primary. It appears that you believe that the affective is primary. This may be a moot issue. I don't see how one could exist without the other. Iam suggesting that the cognitive is the conduit through which the affective flows but I may be off in positing that it thus becomes primary. As you may have discerned I tend to be overly dependent on the cognitive in itself. ....................................................................Let me present some history that may be helpful to both you and me and that is something Iam becomming more aware of as I grow older. My father and my Uncle (Tom),his brother, both enlsited during WWII for the duration (as millions of other Americans did also). My Uncle Tom was found under an ammo truck (which he drove) at Iwo Jima cringing and in the fetal position. He was sent back to the states and bounced around by tne VA for a few years only to be taken in by my uncle John (oldest) and cared for . He never fully recovered. My father was in the Navy and made first class petty after only eighteen months (please bear in mind Iam piecing some of this together). He was in charge of recon for the Battleship Massacheusettes and supervised ten men. He was under a lot of pressure but was able to perform with valor for twenty eight months at sea in Halseys fleet. He was finally sent back for R&R. He became an instructor at Bannana Bay (now Cape Canaveral) and recieved furthe orders but, fortunately, Trumann had the NADS to utilize the Atomic bomb which led to a quick end to the Pacific Campaign. As anyone who has been in war or who has had family or friends at war knows "no one returns home whole from war". Win or lose there is a price to pay. I believe that my father , due to repressing affect (emotions) in a sustained fashion for such a long period never fully recovered his affective side. This played out in his relationship with me in a more pronounced fashion for I was the only son. This is simply an existential fact that impacted on the father/son relationship and probably has left a fwe scars on me. In my estimation, a small price to pay, but I think you may be picking this up in reading my script. You have good observational skills (assumedly, clinical skills also). Bravo!..........................................................Iam getting long winded but I would like to address one more thing here. I like the use of the word "joy" or enjoyment relative to affective integration. I do mark (code) those experiences that bring me joy or allow me to enjoy myself. Finally, you may have already answered this but Iam going to repeat it and ask you for another response. I look at the cognitive as the reciever and the affective as a marker, if you will. This may be conpensatory consciousness based on the aforementioned or it may be the way phenomena is in itself. I would enJOY continued input on this aspect........Ed

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