I agree Rishi, Watson is not absentminded. As a doctor, Watson's
deducing abilities may stretch as far as diagnosing the correct
disease but when talking of detective work outside of the confines
of the human body, he fails. Holmes has the advantage both of
intellect and practical knowledge and also of the history of every
criminal act ever committed. He does not have distractions like
family (he meets with Mycroft rarely and almost everytime concerning
with a case), friends (other than Watson) or an alternate job. He
lives night and day for his detective work and wastes himself with
cocaine when he is idle. Watson on the other hand, has all of the
above distractions and is not able to think objectively. He tries
Holmes' methods but fails (EMPT) because of all the above mentioned
handicaps and disadvantages. The theory that ACD made him slightly
stupid to appease the readers' ego, may be correct. But as you said,
he *is* a common ordinary man like most of us. Many of us may have
come close to the truth while reading the canon but the majority of
the readers were left wondering till the end of the stories. Watson
is not too different from R K Laxman's Common Man. He is our eyes
and ears while reading.

After reading the canon I too tried to (consciously or
subconsciously) apply Holmes methods in small things. Watson, living
with Holmes himself and encountering actual criminal cases had more
of an opportunity and temptation to do so. Alas, his failure has
become the matter of amusement, both for Holmes and the readers.
Then again, a little humour is always a necessity.

And yes, the misconception that Watson is a bumbling fool was
started by the flawed portral in theatre and movies to make them
more comic and entertaining.

Manraviel



>
> I don't think Watson is "absent minded"; he's a doctor with a
> successful practice, after all. But I think you're right that he
> doesn't display much capacity for abstract thought. And I agree
that
> he isn't so much of a "bumbler" as is often made out. I suspect,
when
> set against Holmes, most of us[or any ordinary person, such as
> Watson] wouldn't come across as that smart. ;)
> The image of Watson as a bumbler, I would guess, is partly because
of
> the many representations in movies and/or pastiches.
> Finally, let's not forget what GB Shaw said[or words to the effect
> thereof]: "Holmes is unbearably conceited. Watson is a decent
> fellow".