Robert Fripp's Diary

Apologia Pro Vita Sua

Arguments, agreements, advice, answers…

 Chris Fleming: It’s unclear to me why Robert Fripp is posting this…
Djogo Patrão: Why Fripp answers internet trolls? He is around since ET so he should know better.
RF: Two or three clicks away… https://www.dgmlive.com/news/why-publish-negative-posts

Why Publish Negative Posts?

I
To refine my personal practice

1. To develop equanimity, to find a Still Point within the swirlingness of a life mostly conducted in public view.

In traditional practices, such as Buddhism, this Still Point tends to be cultivated through meditation. In my practice, may I find equanimity within the (frequently hostile) conditions of my professional life? These are “three winds” of musicians, audients and industry players.

2. To see myself more clearly.

This by monitoring my affective-response to whether any comment “lands” in my feelings. If so, what does this tell me? If not, what does this tell me?

A real Friend will tell us what we need to know about ourselves. Conventionally, few friends will risk their friendship by being honest about our shortcomings and achievements. So, it is easier to receive clear feedback from our “enemies” than our “friends”, wishing and hoping that both enemies and friends are impartial.

3. To see ourselves as others see us.

4. A pointed stick.

There have been times when Fripp has been fashionable: these are times of danger.

As a young man in his twenties, going home to Wimborne, Dorset served as a useful reminder of status. As a young man in his thirties, living in NYC, the three criteria were:

i) ride on public transport wherever possible;
ii) do your own grocery shopping;
iii) do your own laundry.

5. To extend to others the courtesy required of human beings in dialogue; and where this is beyond me, to be polite.

6. To know directly the poverty of my being.

7. To remind myself: at a certain point, we are all the same person.

What is highest in me is not far from what is highest in you. What is highest is you, is not far from what is highest is us all. What is highest is us all, is close to what is Highest.
Whatever we understand by Highest.

II
To refine my professional practice

1. To develop an ethics of musical engagement where the relationship between music, musicians and audience is mediated by commerce; ie to negotiate the terms of Performance Practice in a market culture.

2. To develop criteria for interaction between musicians and audients where the relationship is mediated by music; ie to negotiate the terms of Performance Practice in a musical culture.

3. To engage with those who have taken a specific interest in my work.

4. To report on the professional life.

5. To hold up a mirror.

6. To hold to account. We are all accountable for our actions; and publicly accountable for our actions in public.

7. To demonstrate that our actions have effect; even where these appear to be small; even where we believe these will make no difference.

III
What have I learnt?
(inter alia)…

1. What we see in others is what we know most deeply in ourselves.

2. If our head is placed where sunshine never falls, better not to go out in public and comment on the weather.

3. Nothing is possible in The Basement.

4. A reasonable person might despair.

5. Goodwill is not enough.
But it is a very good beginning.

6. Act with courtesy.
Otherwise, be polite.

7. The centre of discipline: the level at which we are able to maintain control in the face of a challenge.

So, all in all, part of an excellent liberal education for that young man who set off from Dorset to London in 1967.

Thursday 16th. April, 2020;
Bredonborough, Middle England.

Djogo Patrão: I am too well versed on the interwebz but could not find the answer in two or three clicks as promised…
Robert Fripp… has been known to respond to internet trolls in a way that’s thoughtful, witty, and sometimes cutting. There are a few reasons why he might choose to do this:

1. Protecting His Legacy: Fripp is deeply passionate about his music and the artistic integrity of his work. Trolls often spread misinformation or disparage him, and responding allows him to set the record straight and defend his legacy.

2. Engaging with Humor and Wit: Fripp has a sharp intellect and a dry sense of humor, which he often uses to turn trolling into an opportunity for clever engagement. By doing this, he can defuse negativity and show the absurdity of some comments.

3. Respect for Dialogue: Fripp has often spoken about the importance of discourse and authenticity. Responding to trolls might be his way of participating in the conversation, even when it's critical, as long as it’s done respectfully.

4. A Philosophy of Interaction: Fripp has a philosophical approach to many things, including how he engages with the world. He might view trolls as an opportunity to teach or provoke thought, rather than merely ignoring them.

5. Playfulness: Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, have a playful relationship with their online personas, as seen in their quirky YouTube videos. Engaging with trolls could be another outlet for this playfulness, turning negativity into a creative act.

His approach exemplifies how someone can handle criticism and negativity with grace, intelligence, and sometimes humor, without sinking to the level of the trolls themselves.

RF: An excellent summation, and generously so. Thank you. Also two or three clicks away…

APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA
3november2024
To engage with others requires that we are available to engage.

How to deal with Basement engagements?

From my own experience…

Run away.
Decline to engage.
Block.

Seek to raise the frequency level…

One technique is to present a shock to the person making a demand, to “loosen up” the fix on what they believe they want (when something far more valuable may be available).
The application of reason: to present arguments as to why the demand is inappropriate.
To behave otherwise.
To make a gesture.
To give a look.
To make a joke.
To make an unexpected comment.
To challenge the reason for the demand.
To call out the assumption.

Sometime this has had (what I would subjectively judge as) a beneficial effect: human contact became available, if only for a moment.

Is inappropriate conduct “forgivable”? Every hour of the day, every day of the week.
Is inappropriate conduct excusable? Rarely IMO.
Is inappropriate conduct defensible? Rarely IMO. Although frequent in my professional life. There seems to be a process:

1. Seeking acknowledgement in various inappropriate forms which militate against engagement.
2. The form of acknowledgement is declined.
3. Outrage accompanied by self-justification. Fripp dissed me! The creep.

Outrage may persist for years, in recent online examples, even some for 35 years.

An alternative viewpoint…

Erik Neuteboom Prog Reviewer Posted: July 26 2006 at 05:59
Robert Fripp is a passive-agressive, very demanding personality. If things doesn't work as he wants he starts to behave very rude like disqualifying, ignoring, provoking and often making rude of humiliating comments. For example, he annoyed people around him by playing scales on his guitar for hours or didn't speak to the other band members on tour for days because he was upset about a small thing ...

I suggest to read In The Court Of King Crimson by Sid Smith (I have reviewed it on this site), you will be astonished how rude Robert Fripp can be …

RF:         Not astonished at all.

Chris Fleming:… A Progress Report: In line with the suggestion, I used my initiative and clicked the recommended number of times and found Robert Fripp Declaiming in Capitals. It was very enjoyable.

However - and it’s a dreadful thing to admit - but there are some things a long, dull, formal education will ruin in a person well beyond anaphylaxis in the face of typographical idiosyncrasies.

As such, I chose then Option B, the music, and found here a satisfactory reply - which shouldn’t be surprising. (Some might even say that looking to Mr Fripp for conceptual precision or philosophical sophistication might be akin to looking to Kant for an outrageous guitar solo - or one which would at least sound good to a musician, and not just other philosophers. (I, of course, would *never* say such a thing.)

In short, I appreciate the reply and consider my curiosity both well-chided and well-satisfied. I am in Mr Fripp’s debt. (I am indebted here not just for his initial reply, but for the generous provision of entirely unexpected fun.)

RF: Gratitude to Dr. Fleming https://chrisfleming.academia.edu/research#books for his interest and comments. Thank you also for Why Did Slavoj Zizek Become So Popular?

Option B, always the best way IMO and only one click away. This ripped my guts when I played the guitar line in 1975, and it ripped my guts, powerfully, beginning in my heart and moving out through my torso, when it loaded two minutes ago…