Editor’s Prologue – cont’d

Just a few more notes before we really disappear into the void.

The three of us have never met face to face, our partnership being a strange and oft confusing collaboration. It’s a zen sort of thing conducted entirely through The Roving ‘I’ with rules still not quite clear and constantly changing. As a new post is added by one of us, we each take a shot at integrating ourselves into it until there are no more additions, deletions, or modifications. Then the original author either leaves it alone or not, whatever feels right. And, of course, we always reserve the right to add individual comments. Yes, don’t forget to check out the comments that accompany each posting. They are sort of like the John Madden commentary in a football broadcast.

Sometimes, it’s hard to remember who’s added what to whom. And now with your participation in the creation process giving meaning to everything that follows, reality will be even more complex. Synergy run amok so to speak. But that’s the fun of it, eh? It just is what it is and what it grows into. However it is also quite clear that energy is changing mode right before our eyes and under our fingers, that more is being produced than would be the case on our own, and that, obvious cliches aside, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. (I personally, for example, would have never used such a chestnut, but under the groundrules what can I do?)

As the only one in the group with experience as a professional editor, I bear ultimate responsibility for the continuity and coherence, though not the content, of what you are now reading, difficult as that may prove and unenlightened as I may be as to whether I am actually doing anything of value or not. Dr. Andrej says not to worry, one day the light will shine. I trust him. ag says nothing and that’s good because I don’t trust him.

Finally, though it may not be immediately obvious, we actually share a genuine affection and mutual respect for each other’s life experiences, visions, personal baggage, and intelligence, if not the content of that intelligence, doubts concerning moral and ethical standards and the ability to tie one’s own shoes. (This last sentence, by the way, is typical of one that has had many editorial hits from all quarters, though I’m sure it's hardly necessary to tell you that. I won’t warn you again.) Enjoy!