2am ramble rant. But I did my homework. *self high five*

Both Ashton and Kelly brought up Pirsig as a black and white thinker, but I don't think that's the case. I think black and white is merely his starting point, or a beginning tool he uses to analyze conflicting or contrasting ideas. Because Pirsig is so analytical, I can't picture him truly seeing things in such a narrow minded way. Rather than thinking in terms of black and white, I argue that he thinks in black, white, and every shade and color. To me, Pirsig seems to search for blurred lines, for the unclear, and he aims to bring the subject into focus. He's searching for truth and analyzing every facet of potential answers. The problem with this is that it continues to send Pirsig into rhetorical loops, and unsatisfying answers. I think that's what drove him crazy. In my attempt to understand him, I'd say Pirsig is someone who likes to be control. He's not power hungry unless that power is knowledge and insight. To top it off he seems very determined and stubborn. So when Pirsig gives every rhetorical thought his complete dedication and is left with little more than he started with, I think that attacked his ego, and his ego caved in on itself.

I really like your use of the yin and yang to describe quality and reason's relationship. This was an easy bandwagon for me to jump on because upon reflection the two aren't that different or alike, but can be seen as a part of one broader idea. But what exactly is that broader idea? Rhetoric?

It was really satisfying to finally read the afterword and forward and I had a weird connection with the line "Degeneracy can be fun but it's hard to keep up as a serious lifetime occupation". Pirsig is talking about hippies here, and it resonated with me because it was ultimately very relatable. I took it as a quality of life statement. It seems from this that there is an inkling of longing to run off and be a hippy for Pirsig. He thinks it'd be fun, but it's not a lifetime occupation. Considering hippies just floated around and talked about life (....and did a lot of substances...) I imagine the idea appeals to a less rational part of Pirsig, but his fear of degeneracy(what he sees as a non-quality life) reigns him in. Like Pirsig, I was reminded of my own fear of degeneracy and how my view of what a quality life is has changed my course. Without this fear, I wouldn't be a student. I'd be a drag queen. Seriously. Doing drag impersonation comedy is my favorite thing to do. However, doing drag is my degeneracy. It's not a stable career, it's not something my parents would be excited about, and it's also not too likely to pay the rent. So I'm here. I'm putting my passion second searching for quality. A life where I can be secure, and safe in my approach to my dreams. Pirsig wanted to think rhetorically about the world, but he didn't become a hippy (I seriously think hippies are kinda the most rhetorical people ever) he became a professor in search for quality. I'm not sure if this realization really offers much to the conversation, but it gave me a personal revelation about my choices. Rhetoric: changing one life at a time.

I also have a lot to say about Pirsig's rhetorical meanings on death, but I'm tired and not in the mood to think macabre thoughts. If I'm awake for class tomorrow I'll try and share. ;) zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Why are z's a representation of sleep? I have never met a single person who made buzzing sounds in their sleep.