This is a Journal entry by Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.]
Two Kinds Of Person
Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] Started conversation Jul 3, 2002
There are two basic kinds of person: Kenneth Williams, and everybody else.
Two Kinds Of Person
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted Jul 12, 2002
I would like to contend that Frankie Howerd was more likely to fall into the "Kenneth Williams" category than the "Everybody else"... 
Two Kinds Of Person
Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] Posted Jul 12, 2002
But he WASN'T Kenneth Williams, was he?
Therefore my original categorization of people stands, and is an edifying lesson to us all in human behaviour.
Just like the people who say there are those who do, and those who watch. Or think the split is most usefully driven twixt men and women. Or like some other pair of categories which fit that person's preoccupations. My preoccupation happens to be with showing that all people are fundamentally similar in almost all respects -- EXCEPT Kenneth Williams, who wasn't.
(Forgive me, Kenneth. But I'm sure you'd agree with the point I'm trying to make.)
Two Kinds Of Person
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted Jul 12, 2002
I think the point I was trying to make was that, in almost every respect, Frankie Howerd was much more like Kenneth Williams than anybody/everybody else... 
Two Kinds Of Person
Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] Posted Jul 12, 2002
Sure, I realise that ...
... the point I was trying to make is that all these "there are two kinds of person" debates invariably miss the point (in that they encourage generalization at the expense of, well, anything really), which is why dividing people into two categories like "Kenneth Williams" and "Everyone else" is fun, because you can't draw any generalizations from that and it confounds the usual kind of "there are two kinds of person" pontificating, which is what I wanted to do.
Sorry. You're right that they were very similar; it's just that finding a category of people LIKE Kenneth Williams was almost the opposite of the aim of the exercise.
Kenneth Williams once said something which will be my favourite quote once I can find it. Hang on ...
Two Kinds Of Person
Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] Posted Jul 12, 2002
...ahh, here we are!
When the atheist says, "What if life's pointless - what if it's all a joke?", it has to be answered by the comedian, "Well, if it is a joke, let's make it a good one!"
Two Kinds Of Person
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted Jul 12, 2002
"Ooooooooh Maaaaatron!" 
Two Kinds Of Person
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted Jul 12, 2002
Sorry, simpost...
That's a good quote. More thoughtful than I would usually have given him credit for...
Two Kinds Of Person
Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] Posted Jul 12, 2002
"Your mail, doctor."
"Yes! I am! And I can prove it, d'you hear? PROOOOVE it!"
Two Kinds Of Person
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted Jul 12, 2002
"Frrrrrrying Tonight!!!" 
Two Kinds Of Person
Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] Posted Jul 12, 2002
I am a civilian, and I have a civilian's rights.
Carry on Sergeant is still one of the very best ....
Key: Complain about this post
Two Kinds Of Person
- 1: Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] (Jul 3, 2002)
- 2: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (Jul 12, 2002)
- 3: Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] (Jul 12, 2002)
- 4: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (Jul 12, 2002)
- 5: Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] (Jul 12, 2002)
- 6: Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] (Jul 12, 2002)
- 7: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (Jul 12, 2002)
- 8: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (Jul 12, 2002)
- 9: Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] (Jul 12, 2002)
- 10: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (Jul 12, 2002)
- 11: Andrew Wyld [kt:'Burning Pestle', kp:'Mutamems, Ideodiversity', Zaph.] (Jul 12, 2002)
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