Money Changes Everything

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When I look back at the various posts I’ve written about gaming over the past decade, several themes regularly occur. Player toxicity, marketing hype and industry shenanigans are three that never seem to go away. Pre-order culture, fans enthusiasm and launch day disappointment are also perennial bad pennies. However, there is one point that I constantly find myself reiterating. Yet despite its staggeringly obvious nature it is habitually overlooked and ignored. Namely that money changes everything. Regardless of the nature of a situation, be it the cost of an item in the cash store, alterations to a games mechanics or the relationship between a You Tube personality and their audience, if it involves some sort of financial exchange then it fundamentally alters the dynamic of that given situation.

People are motivated to blog, podcast, live stream and make videos for a variety of reasons. Some do it to please themselves, where some like to please others. It is actually possible to achieve both. If you are persistent in your endeavours and communicate with your audience positively, then you will get some traction. But there are consequences to being successful and I’m not talking exclusively about having an audience of millions. Even a modest site such as Contains Moderate Peril can be subject to some basic internet cause and effect mechanics. Audiences, or readers in my case, consume content voraciously. They also foster expectations regardless of whether you’ve directly instigated them. If you create new material daily, your audience will grow to expect it daily. If you significantly deviate from such a schedule there are consequences. In my case, between March and April last year I took a break from writing and as a result my traffic tanked. It has taken a year plus to recover. Interruptions to the podcast schedule also killed the listener numbers.

Now the reason I mention this is because, even before you’ve got to the point of taking money from your audience, you have to deal with their expectations, regardless of whether they are founded or not. I have known several fan related sites that have been criticised for changing direction, deviating from perceived schedules or having the unmitigated gall to cease producing their free service. But the moment you accept money from your audience, then your independent status is lost. You are no longer providing content but a service. Fans are often blighted by a malady which seems to equate support with direct input. Add money to that spurious equation and you will inevitably have problems. It doesn’t matter what route you take or what platform you use to raise capital, paying is perceived by some as buying a share in “You Incoporated”. Thus, we have Twitch streamers who are criticised for how they spend the money they are “given”, fansites lambasted for championing or not championing specific issues. And at present, popular You Tube personality Joe “Angry Joe” Vargas is at war with a faction of his so-called “Angry Army” of subscribers.

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I have in the past toyed with monetising both this site and the associated podcast(s). For a brief period of time, I asked for PayPal donations when the hosting costs were getting extravagant. However, that ended when I was offered a sponsorship deal with Host1Plus. When I moved the site in 2015 to Squarespace I decided it was easier to simply bank roll all my projects myself because it just guaranteed that I could do my own thing free from any external constraints. That’s not to say that I don’t support the notion that people providing content on the internet should be paid, because I do. It’s just that the Huffington Post business model and the fallacy of “exposure” has done a lot of damage. Sadly, Joe Public has become use to getting “free stuff” and it’s very hard to try and overcome that mindset. So, for the present I look upon my online projects as “indulgences” and will fund them myself to maintain my creative control.

If one broadens the scope of the argument that “money changes everything” it is clear that it permeates everything in life and alters are relationship with it. In the UK, university education used to be selective and free of charge. However, now it is more accessible but as more people use it, is chargeable via a deferred loan. Some students no longer see education as a self-determined process of personal improvement but simply as the buying of a service. Thus, academic under achievement is seen not as a personal failure, but as a business dispute. Such a mindset shows how money alters the perception of any undertaking. Thus, some MMO gamers want bespoke content that suits their needs, You Tube subscribers feel that they should dictate what content is posted on a channel and the entire field of crowdfunded projects is rife with complaints, acrimony and misplaced demands.

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Now it is fair to say that there is nothing inherently wrong with the traditional business and customer relationship, as long as both parties accept it as such. The same can be said regarding the free content providers and their audiences. Both are perfectly equitable arrangement as along as everyone understand their respective role. Sadly, the internet has impacted upon this perception. Fans think they’re on the board of director’s, Patreon subscribers fail to understand what “donation” actually means and support for any undertaking in general is seen as a point of leverage. Plus, any sort of financial transaction means some sort of contract. Adding a legal veneer to a situation only adds to its complexity.

As I’m writing this very post, someone on my Twitter timeline has just tweeted about how their patrons can now vote on what they review next. If they are happy with this situation then that is fine but it highlights exactly how “money changes everything”. Contains Moderate Peril is never going to make me rich or even break even. But for the present it is exclusively my platform and that makes the operating costs worthwhile. If you feel the need to tell me what I should or should not be doing on my personal site then that is your prerogative. However, I can also ignore your demands and tell you to fuck right off with a clear conscience. So, my advice to any budding blogger, podcaster or You Tuber, is to think long and hard before you take the proverbial “King’s Shilling”. A source of revenue may well be all fine and dandy but at the costs of your independence?

Social Media and Personal Identity

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I'm fascinated by social media and the way it has been adopted by the wider community. A multitude of people utilise in a multitude of ways for so many different reasons. Therefore, I felt that it was time again to focus and discuss the phenomenon in a blog post.  I have embraced social media, especially Twitter, mainly to promote my writing. I started “tweeting” in 2010 and along the way my use of the medium has become more socially orientated. I enjoy the interactions I share with a broad and eclectic group of people immensely. However, it should be noted that my Google + page, as well as Twitter and Facebook accounts are all based around Contains Moderate Peril and not my specifically my personal life. I like to maintain a distinction between these different aspects of my life. At present, I believe I have found the right balance. 

Now this raises the question of whether my online persona is genuine. How much do readers of Contains Moderate Peril, listeners of the podcast (which is on hiatus at present) and Twitter followers actually see of the "real me"? Well I think they get a measured version of myself. I keep certain aspect of life private while amplifying others. I also think that a certain amount of the "real me" inevitably permeates my writing and online presence by some process of emotional osmosis. Over the last eighteen months I have touched upon more personal aspects of my life, because they are significant aspects of my daily reality. However, I don’t share everything and there is much that I deem off limits.  

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Some people think this controlled flow of information via social media is somewhat cynical and contrived. Yet I think we all do it to a greater or lesser degree in the real world in our day-to-day relationships. As a species, we always strive to present the best possible representation of ourselves to others. In fact, I've noticed that some cultures are far more invested in this idea than others. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this. Speaking your mind all the time could prove problematic; hence we have social niceties and etiquette. However, if you are continuously trying to reinvent yourself for public consumption because you are inherently uncomfortable in your own skin then that is most definitely a problem.

I think age and how you feel about yourself most certainly have an impact upon how you conduct yourself on Twitter and other platforms. People naturally want to be liked and also be accepted. There is an imperative to be an individual and at the same time “normal”, which is a very nebulous concept. I prefer the broader concept of societal norms and knowing when to accommodate them. Social media as many has pointed out, liberates us from social cues and other vital aspects of communication. Then there is the old chestnut of anonymity and the lack of consequences that come with the internet. There is often scope to forget that we are dealing with another individual when using social media. I think most of us have made this mistake at some point and may have regretted what we've said or how we've treated someone. 

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Naturally there are counter points to all the above. As I've already stated, I have set limits and constraints on my online interactions. Others go a step further and live completely different lives online, so it is prudent not to take everything on face value. As in the real world, online friendships need to be approached with a similar degree of caution and common sense.  I think it is important to focus on the positive things that social media and online friendships can achieve, such as breaking down of geographical boundaries perceived cultural differences. Although Twitter is often associated with birds of a feather flocking together and entrenched views, the complete opposite can often happen. Social media is a great way to bypass misinformation and learn about how others truly live and think. Sometimes the similarities between us speak far louder than the differences.

Collecting

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Once again Syp over at Bio-Break has written a post that provides a talking point for other bloggers. This time it’s about collecting which is a very broad church indeed. When I was a child it was a common mantra of adults at the time to “get a hobby”. I suppose from their perspective a busy and engaged child is one that is likely to stay out of trouble and frankly it’s still sound advice. Many hobbies involve collecting and this can tangentially teach positive lessons such as fiscal prudence, patience and learning about that which you enjoy. In his post Syp raises the point as to whether he’s missed out by never having been bitten by the collecting bug but he also reflects on some practical problems associated with such pastimes. I was going to leave a comment on the post but it soon became apparent that it would be a little too long, so this blog post is my response.

When I was young, I dabbled with collecting. Comics, trading cards, action figures are some of the things I doggedly pursued. But often I found that time, money and the practicalities of being a child, IE being busy playing, meant that such enterprises were doomed. It was not until the early nineties, when I had a job and a sizeable disposable income, that I was able to sustain the practical realities of collecting. I think this is an important factor to mention. Collecting requires passion which is something available to all age groups. Money is something that we don’t have continuous access to all our lives and it subtly alters the dynamic of collecting. It is far easier to start your collection while you still live at home and have “spare cash”. Marriage, family and mortgages can radically alter this equation.

Being a consummate film fan and an ardent completist, I started collecting films on what was the best physical medium of the time; LaserDiscs. In the early nineties, VHS sell-through tapes where king. However, if you were a serious movie aficionado, who wanted superior picture and sound quality as well as alternative cuts of a film, then LaserDiscs was where it was at (Daddy-o). At the time, a VHS tape of a popular film such as Terminator 2 would cost about £10. If you wanted the Director’s Cut of the same movie, in the correct aspect ratio with optional commentary by the cast, then it would cost between £30 to £40 on LaserDisc. It was a superior viewing experience all round. Although there were UK releases on this format, they were somewhat limited. A far greater choice was available if you bought US and European imports. Buying internationally also added to the allure of collecting.

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Because of my passion for film, I bought circa 1991 a LaserDisc player that was dual standard (NTSC/PAL) and a new TV that could handles both UK and US picture standards. I think I spent near £750 on both. Over the next few years, I spent a great deal of time and money building up a collection of classic and cult films. Due to prohibitive censorship laws that prevailed in the UK at the time, a lot of the material I bought was technically illegal to import. There was a network of small companies at the time that worked within various legal loopholes to offer a specialist purchasing service. Thus, I owned the Director’s Cut of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead at a time when it was only available in the UK in a pre-cut version. I also had the Criterion version of RoboCop in all its bloody glory. But the jewel in the crown of my collection was the Star Wars Trilogy in their original theatrical versions. LaserDiscs satisfied my needs as a fan as well as a film purist. For about seven or so years, I spent thousands of pounds on my collection. Being twelve-inch discs, they took up comparable space to a vinyl music collection.

However, time and tide waits for no man and it also doesn’t give a shit about collectors. Towards the end of the nineties, DVD became the de facto medium of choice and so I changed the focus of my collecting activities. Due to regional variations, multiple versions and good old-fashioned censorship, DVD proved to be an even more collectable format than LaserDisc. It was round about this time, when my personal collection of movies was over five hundred that I realised there had been a shift in the pleasure I got from collecting. It was no longer just about seeing the best and most complete version of a much-loved movie. I was in the thrall of the “thrill of the hunt”. A fact borne out by the number of discs I had that remained unwatched, still in their shrink wrap. I was also using up considerable storage space to accommodate my collection and it was proving to be somewhat of a drain on my finances. And then Blu-ray appeared on the market and opened up not only a new avenue of potential collecting but a can of worms. Did I really want to replace so much of my precious hoard?

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It’s a curious thing how something that has taken years to amass, can be dispensed with and disposed of in a far quicker time. My Father-in-law was a prodigious collector of coins and medals. He was very proud of his collection and guest were frequently regaled with it. Yet collecting is often very personal and means little to those who do not share similar passions. When my Father-in-law died in 2012, his collection was sold quickly and efficiently to several professional collectors. It was just another asset to be disposed of, once his estate had been settled. And so it was with my film collection. Once I had determined that it was no longer the collection that mattered to me but just the act of acquisition, I felt no reason to continue doing either. The very rare and signed LaserDiscs where sold to a specialist film and memorabilia store. The rest of the DVDs where then sold online, or traded in at game stores. What was left was given away to charity shops.

I’m not sure if I have a major philosophical point to make about collecting, beyond the fact that many people that I’ve spoken to on the subject have had a similar journey. What starts off as a fun undertaking eventually becomes a millstone and possibly a minor addiction. It certainly can become a massive financial drain. I also think that collecting is a very solitary pastime and is not accommodating of relationships and other situations that compete for your time, attention and money. I am now at a point in my life where I have embraced downsizing and decluttering. Technology has also made so much previously rare material readily available. As a film fan, I now live in an age where tracking down high-quality copies of most movies is quite easy. I doubt if I’ll ever collect anything in my life again, yet I cannot totally write off the period of my life in which I did. It was fun initially regardless of where it led and I think it ended up teaching me a lot about myself.

Here's an episode of the Burton & Scrooge Podcast from September 2015. Brian and I have a fairly lengthy conversation about collecting, drawing upon our own personal experiences. The discussion begins at 27:12 into the show.

George A. Romero (1940 - 2017)

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Writer and director George A. Romero will forever be synonymous with the zombie genre and horror movies per se, as his work in this field was pioneering and outstanding. Yet, because of the success of his seminal film, Night of the Living Dead, he also brought a great deal of attention to independent film making and the way film making was financed. He was an intelligent and thoughtful film maker who used the medium of genre movies to explore a variety of socio-political themes. His characters were often flawed but credible and he had a knack for finding humanity in the bleakest of dramatic situations. If Romero had explored such ideas in mainstream cinema he would have garnered far more praise and potentially have won critical acclaim from the cinematic establishment.

I had the pleasure of seeing George A. Romero interviewed at the British Film Institute several times over the last two decades. He was a quietly spoken, thoughtful man who was very cinematically literate. He was also very gracious towards his fans, who were often utterly besotted with him and his work. Yet, he took time to answer their questions in a comprehensive and positive way. It also became very clear that he was far removed from the “auteur director” moniker that he’d been saddled with. He spoke very generously about the talent he’d had the pleasure of working with over the years and he certainly lacked the ego we so often see from certain creative quarters. I think this contributed to the clarity and honesty of his film making.

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In many ways Dawn of the Dead remains George A. Romero’s magnum opus. It is as pertinent today as a social and political commentary as it was in 1978 upon its release. As a personal preference, I would recommend The Extended Mall Hours Cut of the film which is a fan edit that combines all material seen in the Director’s Cut and Argento Cut of the film. It is as close an approximation of Romero’s original rough cut of the movie as you can find. This version delves in to the human element of the narrative further and really does add a somewhat different tone to the film’s final act. Seldom does mainstream cinema get this thoughtful and as introspective, let alone genre cinema. But that was George A. Romero’s gift. Free from studio interferences and financial imperatives, he could focus on credible and honest film making. He will be missed.

What’s My Age Again?

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As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I am a child of the seventies. I was born in late 1967 so my most formative years were from about 1973 onwards. I really don’t remember a great deal of things prior to the age of five. Does anyone? Now the thing about the seventies is that in many ways it was a transitional decade. It had one foot in firmly planted within the post war socio-economic and cultural norms. The other was set in the new era of societal change that came about during the Sixties. Hence, I was raised with a mixture of both old school and modern values, ethics and ideologies. I believe these have provided me with a broad spectrum of “soft skills” (a term I abhor but it serves a purpose in this instance) that have been beneficial.

As I approach the sober age of fifty, I have reflected a great deal upon my own world view and that of my fellow countrymen. In this instance, I’m using the catchall term world view to bundle together thorny issues such as politics, international diplomacy, crime and punishment. Also, let’s throw in prevailing public morals, social etiquette and manners. The reason I’ve placed all these in a figurative “bag” because it then makes it easier to broadly explore them. And the reason I wish to do this is because I feel there has been a major cultural shift in all of these and that the UK no longer has a prevailing consensus regarding many of these points.

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The last few years have demonstrated that the UK is a divided country; politically, economically and socially. There are a broad spectrum of opinions and views abroad in the land and a lot of anger too. The latter is often unfocused, and in certain quarters is based upon perceptions and feelings rather than tangible facts. Frequently, I will read things via social media or traditional newsprint and find myself confronted with ideas, concepts and feelings that are utterly alien to my way of thinking. Now I’m more than capable of accepting the notion that other people may well hold differing views to me. I’m sufficiently old fashioned to even go as far as to believe fervently in their right to do so. However, what I struggle with at present is the binary nature of so many ardently held views. There is no scope for debate, accommodation or compromise, which are the underpinnings, for better or for worse, of any functioning democracy. You are either for or against. Part of the solution or part of the problem. Enlightened or a traitor. And don’t go thinking you can dodge this intellectual cul-de-sac by sitting on the fence. Not having an opinion is just as much of a crime as having a differing view.

I care for my parents, both of whom are in their late eighties. I live in an affluent, white middle-class, London suburb with a high proportion of elderly residents. By that I mean people who have retired and draw their pension. Therefore, every day at shops, clinics and bus stops, I am directly and indirectly exposed to the world views of this socio-economic group. A generation that grew up when the UK still had an empire and was a world power. A time when the country had a more clearly defined class system and set of consensual morals and prevailing social norms. Religion and faith were strong influences upon society. Multiculturalism was an abstract principle and anything other than heterosexuality was “wrong”. Jobs for life existed, along with final salary pensions and affordable housing. IE Homes that could be bought on a single income because they only cost four or five times your annual salary. This is also the generation that had a cultural predisposition towards deference to authority, tradition and maintaining the status quo.

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Because of these factors and possibly many others, this stratum of society tends to have somewhat fixed views and are often discombobulated by the pace of modern life and much of the social change that has happened of late. There is a tendency to look back at the past romantically rather than objectively. Views and opinions from such quarters are often shaped by feelings rather than critical thinking. Now it is not my intent to demonise this particular generation, nor undermine their achievements. I merely seek to highlight that their prevailing world view has been shaped by the politics and culture of the post war years and that it is not necessarily a stance that makes them well equipped to deal with the ongoing global changes that well all now face. One can cogently argue that Brexit and other recent political events are driven by a resistance to globalisation and social advancement. However, such pushback doesn’t halt change. It merely postpones or temporarily redirects it.

My son and his wife are both under twenty-five. They have permanent jobs with as stable an employer you can find at present. Through fiscal prudence and good fortune, they are currently on the property ladder. In these respects, they are very similar to their grandparents and great grandparents. However, when it comes to politics and other mainstream social and economic opinions they have very different outlooks. Traditional party politics and ideologies are not favourably viewed. They’re seen as being outdated, inflexible and inward looking. Pride in one’s country is still present but is not blindly given and is tempered by historical perspective. Equality in all walks of life is embraced and seldom seen as an issue. International travel for both leisure and work, provides a different view of the world, borders and freedom of movement. National rivalries and entrenched tribalism are simply irrelevant to the young because they lack the historical baggage that their elders insist upon carrying.

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Being the age that I am, there are some superficial habits, trends and affectations embraced by the young that I don’t immediately warm to. For example, internet culture and ideas of privacy can be very different. Easy access to credit is something I never had in my youth. I do worry about its proliferation and the impact it has on those born into such a world. Yet broadly speaking the young give me hope. Despite my grouchy demeanour I don’t regard them as whippersnappers. They are often compassionate and motivated. They have no interested in the bloviations of tribal politics. They expect solutions from all politicians, over and above party loyalties. They embrace equality and see beyond the confines of their own geographical borders. And most importantly, they are not yet jaded and cynical. Thus, they are not hamstrung by preconceptions that things can’t change. They dare to dream because life, or more to the point other people, haven’t yet shot them down in flames.

So, as I approach half a century and the world around me becomes increasingly binary, I look at the older generation and their current world view and reluctantly conclude that I cannot condone it. We need to look forward and not backwards. The past can never be restored and nostalgia seldom accurately reflects what actually transpired. Therefore, it is with the young that I believe that I have more in common. Because the world we are shaping now, they will have to endure long after we’ve gone. To ignore their wishes, hopes and aspirations is at the very least selfish and at worst a malevolent act of betrayal. Sadly, I don’t think this is a broadly accepted view at present. The under twenty-fives are simply seen as another subset of the electorate to be courted, rather than as potentially the most important sector of society. History sadly has a habit of repeating itself. Cicero wrote ““Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book". That was over two thousand years ago. Can our divided country move forward with any sort of unity or are we destined to pull in different directions until time simply eliminates certain world views?

NB: Due to the nature of this post I couldn't think of any specific images that were relevant. So I decided to use some fun ones just to break up the text.

How Not to Do Business Part 2: TopWare

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I wrote last week about the surprise DLC for the seven-year-old RPG Two Worlds II and how I decided on a whim to buy it. Well yesterday was the official launch day for Call of the Tenebrae and yet, twenty-four hours later, I’m still not playing the game. So far, I have not received a Steam key for the game, despite the money being deducted from my PayPal account on the 5th of June. So naturally, I have made enquiries as to what is happening and have endeavoured to contact the publishers TopWare. Let it suffice to say that my attempts to resolve the matter have proved fruitless and I have discovered that TopWare are far from the embodiment of German efficiency.

I was initially surprised when I made my purchase last Monday week, that I didn’t receive a Steam key immediately. However not all games allow you to activate and pre-load content and as this is an older title I simply put it down to logistical reasons. However, as yesterday was the official launch for this DLC and I had not been informed of any delay, I went straight to my account at the TopWare store to see if a key had been added. Its absence was conspicuous. So, I decided to use the messaging facility linked to my order and sent a simple enquiry as to where my key was. The website curiously rendered my message into German and then back into English, so what I currently have in my chat timeline is not the exact message that I sent. As of writing this post, that message has not been responded to.

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I next decided to see if I could find out anything further about the Call of the Tenebrae launch in case it had been postponed. TopWare delayed the release of Raven’s Cry several times at short notice, so they have form for such changes. After some checking, I soon discovered that TopWare were not exactly regular users of social media. They have three Twitter accounts (One US, One German and another specific to Two Worlds II) that have no launch day information. Previous tweets date back several weeks. There Facebook page is similarly devoid of anything other than press releases and woefully out of date. So, I opted to send an email via the default info email address. Again, thirty-six hours later I’ve had no response.

As I fast approach fifty, I tend not to get as irate as I did in my youth. That’s not to say that I’m not annoyed by this inconvenience but in the great scheme of things and especially within the context of my personal life at present, this isn’t such a big deal. So, I have decided to use this situation as a writing opportunity. I suspect that there will not be a quick resolution and I can see myself having to get PayPal to claw the cost of this game back from TopWare. In the meantime, it would appear the Call of the Tenebrae has launched on consoles and possibly on Steam. I have seen no feedback yet about the quality of the game itself but the inclusion of a cash store and microtransactions does seem to have caused a controversy. All I can add to the proceedings at present is that TopWare seem to be providing the gaming community with a text book example of how not to do business

Update:

I received an email from TopWare customer support on Sunday 18th June. It contained my serial key but there was no explanation or apology regarding the delay. I now have the game installed.

Caring for the Elderly: Part 2

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In a previous post, written last summer, I mentioned my caring commitments and reflected upon the realities of being a carer. Since then my family’s circumstances have changed considerably and subsequently so have my own. In the UK, social care has become a major political issue and was a key area of debate for all parties in the recent election campaign. Although the UK has an aging population, then NHS broadly manages to deal with its needs. It is the social care that so often follows time spent in hospital, that causes a bottleneck. Too often, the local authorities struggle to find carers and have them in place when requested. This means that many patients are unable to be discharged and have to remain in hospital. Caring is a profession that seems to be greatly lauded and esteemed by politicians in principle but the reality is far different. Overall it is often a poorly paid job, with little or no employments rights or benefits.

My Father had two strokes last summer. To cut a long story short in the space of five months he went from being an active 87-year-old, who would go out shopping twice day, to a housebound invalid. He is now permanently nil by mouth and fed by a PEG tube in his adomen. Although his speech has improved he is no longer the eloquent academic that he used to be. He can’t do basic arithmetic and finds reading extremely taxing. His physical therapy has been as successful as it can be under the circumstances but he moves about the house with difficulty. He's not allowed to travel outside the home without a carer. Nurses call twice a day to give him his medication and he is fed synthetic liquid food, overnight via a pump.

Naturally a change of this nature has a major impact upon a patient and their family. There are many more matters to deal with beyond the immediate physical symptoms. Both my parents are no longer directly in charge of their day-to-day life and have become dependent on others. This upsets them greatly, as they feel “useless”, “a nuisance” and “redundant”. Both my sister and I have changed are daily routines considerably and although are happy to care for our parents, find the situation stressful and very saddening. The complete role reversal between parents and children is difficult to adjust to. I now manage every aspect of my parents lives, from their finances and running the home, to hair dressers appointments and visits from the chiropodist.

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However, there are still many people who wish to help both the patient(s) and the carer. Every day, I encounter kind and compassionate people who do more than just their job. Practical help and the odd supportive words can come from the strangest of quarters. The receptionists at my local Doctors surgery are thorough and understanding. The local pharmacy staff have the patience of a saint and are so obliging. Shop staff will carry, fetch and hold open doors. Black cab drivers provide aid getting in and out of vehicles. The mobile library does more than lend audio books. They listen, chat and smile. As for the healthcare professionals, I simply cannot praise them enough. Their dedication is remarkable. For a somewhat jaded and cynical person such as I, these displays of genuine humanity are moving. And the reason why so many people are nice, often boils down to the fact that they’ve all experienced family illness. Everyone, sooner or later, needs the care of another.

In the last few weeks, life has gotten a little bit more challenging for my family and me. My “significant other” found out that she needs a triple by-pass. She is having surgery next week. Today, after a follow up eye examination, the consultant found evidence that my Mother may have had a stroke a month ago. As a result, she was admitted to hospital tonight. Once again, I will be relying on numerous carers to look after my nearest and dearest. Without them, my sister and I would struggle to cope. So as a sign of gratitude, I’ve been considering what I can do to repay all these peoples kindness. The only tangible thing I can do is write about the situation and promote the concept of “paying it forward”. It’s such a simple idea but small acts of kindness can have incrdibly positive effects.

Caring in the UK needs to remain squarely in the political agenda. It also needs to be a non-partisan issue. I shall be looking to add my voice to several charities that lobby with regard to this issue, in the weeks to come. We also need to change the public perception of caring. It may not require certain academic skills but that’s no reason to arbitrarily pigeonhole it and relegate its financial merit to minimum wage status. Caring is more than the physical and logistical sum of its part. It’s not something that everyone can do, despite what the DWP and the Job Centre may think. It requires, empathy, common sense and dare I say it, love. Considering how all our life expectancies are increasing, surely, we should be making sure there are sufficient resources, both human and financial, to deal with our collective futures?

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The hectic pace of modern life, along with cultural taboo of dwelling on the future, means we often do not consider or put sufficient plans in place for our old age. We neglect our health, our pensions and very much live in the moment. Yet there is so much we can do now to improve things later, if we simply grasp the nettle and address things. Losing weight, quitting smoking, getting adequate sleep all pay dividends.  Addressing coughs, joint pains and eye or ear problems when they happen can forestall other more serious issues later. Then there’s the thorny issue of the way we treat each other. Giving someone a lift to the clinic, checking on an elderly neighbour, or just being civil to a stranger you meet, make a real difference. You never know when someone is at their personal breaking point. The smallest kindness may lift someone from the deepest of despair.

Caring for our sick, elderly and vulnerable is all of societies responsibility. Yet we do not live in a country that fully understands or embraces such a concept at present. As a result many people go on looking after their own quietly, with great resolve and dignity. I spoke to a lady at the hospital tonight, broadly of similar age group to myself. She was also waiting outside the disabled toilets to ensure that a parent was okay. We made some small talk and then she candidly admitted “it’s tough isn’t it”. I agreed with her that caring was. “My husband has recently had a stroke” she said, “and Daddy has dementia”. “You have a lot to contend with” I replied. “Yes. It makes it difficult for me to fit in my Chemotherapy”. She had recently been diagnosed with Leukemia.

Thoughts on the 2017 UK General Election

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Politics is a controversial and emotive subject. It’s also something that a lot of bloggers are very wary of writing about sadly, because it’s seldom debated with any wisdom or civility. You’ll find my thoughts on the poor state of UK politics in this previous post, so I don’t need to reiterate them here. On this occasion, I would like to venture a few opinions on the General Election that was held in the UK this week, the interesting results and the potential fallout. I’m not here to champion any party, ideology or dogma, as I’m a floating voter without any major affiliations. I just merely want to express what I have observed and some of my hopes for the future.

First off, the election has cost the UK tax payer approximately £142million. Despite what the Prime Minister said regarding establishing a mandate from the electorate regarding Brexit, there was no pressing need to call this election due to the fix-term parliament act that was introduced in 2010 by the coalition government. Theresa May prior to June 8th had a working majority of 330 Conservative MPs, which although not substantial, broadly allowed her to push her party’s agenda through the House of Commons. The UK electorate were far from spoiling for another vote, as election fatigue and political exhaustion are very prevalent of late. Brenda from Bristol pretty much summed up a common sentiment when her vox pop with the BBC went viral in April. Theresa May was more interested in quashing dissent in here own party as she had been challenged by back benchers in recent months. The election was simply called out of hubris and party-political gain and had nothing to do with gaining mandates. The country is divided over Brexit so there is zero chance of getting any sort of majority consensus on the matter.

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The Conservative election campaign was ill conceived and poorly run, opting for populist, lightweight TV appearances, rather than public debates and discourse. The Prime Ministers absence from any meaningful discussion with her political opponents just came across as arrogant and just plain rude. The latter is something the UK public still broadly abhors. The repetition of vacuous soundbites and meaningless buzz phrases has finally worn thin and is now being perceived as an insult to the electorate. Also, some of the Tory manifesto, seemed to strike at the very party faithful that usually unquestionably supports their party. The so-called “Dementia Tax” was a staggeringly short-sighted idea that bit the very hand that feeds the Conservative party. The shameless pursuit of UKIP voters over the traditional political middle ground was also a costly error.

Now I’m not saying that the other political parties ran perfect campaigns. Far from it. There were mistakes and faux pas from all quarters. However, the Labour party focused very much on mobilising grass roots campaigners and getting out on the streets and knocking on doors. Jeremy Corbyn was also very much front and centre in the run up to the election. His non-confrontational style and unsophisticated passion for his beliefs, actually seem to chime with those he meets. Furthermore, the continual barrage of petty and spiteful calumny from the UK tabloid press seems to have been rejected by a large share of UK voters. People are fed up being told what to think by a handful of newspaper editors with their own agenda. These papers have effectively made Jeremy Corbyn in to an underdog. We don’t like bullies in this country and it’s funny how the public will turn and champion a person or cause if they feel that spite and malice are involved against them.

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The overall turnout for Thursday vote was 68.7%, the highest since 1997. Much has been made about the youth vote and I am very glad to see the young engaged and getting involved with politics. Democracy is something we live and breathe every day, not something that we briefly enthuse over for a few weeks. There is a very clear difference in mindset and political outlook between the old and the young in this country and although I have a lot of love and respect for the baby boomer generation, too many of its political and cultural imperatives are obsolete, born of a by gone era that will never return. Brexit has clearly highlighted this. In numerous comments sections of various news websites, I’ve seen regular statements about the young’s alleged lack of “wordly experience”. It’s a trite, ad hominem argument that doesn’t wash. Wisdom does not come with age by default. Plus, there is no universal life experience to be had. History shows us that the young have built nations. Their views deserve no less consideration than those of their elders.

Whatever your personal loyalties and views, I think it is fair to say that UK politics just got a lot more interesting in the last forty-eight hours. The electorate have been taken for granted for too long and many are fed up with the status quo. Perhaps we’ve moved on from simple protest voting and are now considering tangible and practical change. Look what happens when we do. Whether you wanted Brexit or not, it’s a reality that needs to be addressed. If it is the most challenging issue this country has faced since World War II then perhaps it should be tackled jointly by all parties. Perhaps it is also time to firmly reject the tabloid press and their shameless interference in UK politics. May be politicians need to cultivate some courage and actually engage with the average voter. If they’re not prepared to do so then show them the door. I sincerely hope that voters of all persuasion are finally going to demand more from the political classes. The tail does not wag the dog and on Thursday the electorate reminded the Westminster of exactly that.

Roger Moore (1927 – 2017)

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Being a child of the seventies, Roger Moore was the James Bond that I grew up with. I was acutely aware of my parent’s generations antipathy towards him, as well as the endless and possibly unjust comparisons with Sean Connery. However, the younger fans embraced him so over the course of seven movies, Moore’s Bond broke all previous box office records. Furthermore, as each successive film in the franchise got bigger and became more of a caricature of itself, Moore tempered this with his self-deprecating humour and quips. His trademark cocksure performances and easy going charm was exactly what UK audiences needed. At a time when the country was losing its way in the world, both politically and economically, Roger Moore still effortlessly maintained the image of the suave, cool and droll English gentleman.

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Beyond the role of Bond, Roger Moore often found himself playing similar composite characters in big budget action dramas. Rather than complaining about such type casting he embraced it and always delivered what audiences expected. Movies such as Shout at the Devil, The Wild Geese and The Sea Wolves all have classic Moore performances. Yet in giving the public what they wanted, Moore was subsequently accused of lacking dramatic range. Moore even went so far as to exploit this misconception, as part of his signature self-effacing humour. “My acting range has always been something between the two extremes of raises left eyebrow and raises right eyebrow” as he famously said. Yet Moore definitely did have hidden depths and could deliver more than expected. In The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) he gave possibly his best performance. North Sea Hijack AKA ffolkes (1980) also saw him play the opposite of Bond. He even showed a flair for comedy, satirising himself and 007 in The Cannonball Run (1981).

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Outside of the world of cinema, Moore was a great raconteur and the embodiment of the English gentleman he so often played. He was introduced to the good work of UNICEF through his friendship with Audrey Hepburn and over the course of two decades lent his fame and lobbying power to numerous good causes, raising millions for charity. He was also a good and loyal friend to those that he knew and worked with. When stuntman Martin Grace and long-time double for Roger Moore was seriously injured while filming Octopussy, the actor regularly visited him in Hospital over the course of his recovery, despite still being tied up with ongoing post production for the film. Then of course, there are the anecdotes from fans that reiterate how accessible and considerate Moore was. One has understandably gone viral in the last twenty-four hours and has now reached the mainstream press. Quite rightly so. It is a lovely reminiscence as well as a fitting tribute to an iconic actor and tireless humanitarian. Thank you Roger Moore. For “keeping the British end up”.

Register to Vote

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A third of registered voters in the UK do not vote in either Local or General Elections. Out of an electorate of approximately 46,200,000 that is 15,700,000. Yet despite this substantial group not participating, it is seldom covered or discussed in the media. It is usually just written off as “voter apathy”, implying that those who did not cast their ballot are feckless, lazy or stupid. Not only is this patently untrue, not voting has major consequences. If this group of people were engaged and voted in the upcoming general election, then it would have a tangible impact upon the results. By not voting you are effectively giving the next UK government carte blanche to ignore your interests and pursue their own agenda. As Leonardo da Vinci famously said, "Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence".

I fully understand why people do not vote and are generally exhausted with the state of UK politics. Political discourse at present is devoid of any depth, substance or intellectual rigour. It is rife with spin and soundbites. False and spurious narratives are driven home by the tabloid press and the subtle complexities of domestic and foreign policy are distilled down to bogus binary choices. Furthermore, the major parties are all beyond their sell by dates and they know it. However, the archaic first past the post voting system favours them and not the electorate, so you’ll more than likely not see a change in electoral procedure for a while. Plus, we also have an ageing population that still cleave to outdated tribal allegiances which also skews matters further. Simply put, UK politics is a mess, especially if you wish to see change driven my intelligent discussion and an ethical consensus.

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However, we are now facing a major crossroads in UK history, with Brexit. Whether you voted for it or not is now arbitrary. The realities of our countries exit from the EU needs to addressed calmly and by those who can genuinely obtain the best deal for the UK. Therefore, whatever government is in power after 8th June, needs to be scrutinised and held to account over every stage of Brexit. Therefore, it is extremely important that as many people turn out and vote on election day as possible. You can choose to vote for a specific party is you feel that they are best suited for the job, or vote tactically if you feel that will achieve a better outcome. If you feel that none of the candidates from the major parties suit your needs, then look to the smaller interest groups. If you find yourself in a serious moral quandary over who to vote for, then you can always spoil your ballot or write “none of the above”. The number of spoilt ballots is always noted and at the very least you have undertaken your duty as a UK citizen and turned up to vote. It’s not your fault that all the candidates are an utter shower.

So, if you are not currently registered to vote in the UK, then I would urge you to do so now. You have until 11:59 PM on Monday 22nd May. You can either contact your local borough council, or register online via the government website. The process is straight forward and takes about five minutes. The only details you need provide are you name, full address (including postcode), date of birth and National Insurance number. You can choose to either go to the polling station on election day or vote by post if you prefer. If you choose not to vote then you are effectively throwing away the only leverage you have as a citizen. Politicians primarily care about remaining in office, thus have an interest in registered voters. It can also be cogently argued that if you don’t vote and subsequently do not like the policies that are implemented because they impact upon you adversely, then you brought it upon yourself. Don’t give the next government a blank. Register to vote and have your say, even if your say is just “sod off”.

The Decline of the British Front Garden

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My parents still live in the house they bought when they got married in 1960. It’s three bedrooms, end of terrace house in a leafy suburb, in South East London. Built in the 1930 as family homes, the street is still predominantly populated by owner occupiers; mainly couples raising families. Yet there is one change that has occurred in my life time that is very noticeable. Over the last forty years the front gardens have all but vanished to be replaced with drives and other kinds of off road parking. Out of approximately a hundred homes in the street, at present only three still have a front garden in the traditional sense. My parent’s house is one of these but this is soon to change.

My Father gave up driving soon after he retired in the late nineties. Up until then he was always content to park his car in the garage that is at the rear of his property, at the end of the back garden. There is a connecting alley way that runs parallel to the road where he lives. However, over the years, many resident found that the pre-war garages were too small to adequately accommodate contemporary vehicles and many also wished to get rid of them antiquated building materials. Thus, over time, more and more households have elected to give up their front gardens and park directly outside their front door. It should be noted that in my parent’s borough, before you build your drive, you must first apply to the local council to have the kerb dropped in the street and the pavement outside your home replaced with asphalt.

Both my parents are now in their late eighties and disabled. My Father had two strokes last year and is dependent on twice daily visits by the district nurse. Health visitors, dieticians and physiotherapists regularly call, so after a family discussion it was decided to finally make the change and after fifty-seven years give up the front garden. Furthermore, to accommodate the dropped kerb, a tree on the grass verge will have to be removed. Technically, the road in which my parents live is an Avenue so it is allegedly supposed to be lined with trees. However, over the years many trees have gone as well as front gardens. Both these situations do not sit well with me. I appreciate the realities of modern life and the nature of change but the decline of the British front garden has wider effects, other than just encouraging nostalgia.

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My parent's road circa 1983

Over the past decade, the number of front gardens in the UK with gravel or paving instead of grass has tripled, now making up a quarter of all houses, a survey for the Royal Horticultural Society shows. This change is a contributory factor to the increase in flash flooding seen in urban areas. Furthermore, the loss of vegetation and grass from our streets also impacts upon city temperatures. The artificial surfaces absorb and retain or reflect the heat, contributing to the Urban Heat Island Effect. There is also a tangible impact upon wildlife and wider biodiversity. Certain species can no longer find a viable habitat with so many gardens gone.

Then of course there is the social and community aspect of this matter to consider. During the seventies, my Mother spent many an hour maintaining the front garden, mainly for pleasure, as she’s always been a keen amateur gardener. However, she also ensured that the lawn and flower beds were in good order due to the prevailing social conventions of the time. I won’t arbitrarily write these cultural habits off as bad things. The street was a lot more pleasing to the eye due to residents Rose bushes and fruit trees. It wasn’t unusual for passers-by to stop and exchange pleasantries regarding a well moved lawn. All these incidental conversations and good will were beneficial for the local community. It brought people together and forged bonds between neighbours. 

However, time and tide waits for no one and the proliferation of cars over the last forty years has forced change. There are currently more than 38 million licensed vehicles on the UK's roads. Fifty years ago, there were only 11 million. Estate agents will often cite that off-street parking is a selling point to potential buyers. In areas where parking is at a premium, it can add substantial value to a property. Plus, people need a storage area for their waste and recycling bins. This is especially true in our Borough as we have two wheelie bins and three recycling boxes to accommodate. Gardening has also been side-lined as leisure activity for many household now, due to increased working hours and alternative, less arduous pastimes. So, we simply have to endure the decline of the British front garden because, there doesn’t seem to be any practical means to bring them back. It’s a shame in many respects because I think the suburbs have lost more than just character as a result.

Crowdfunding Fatigue

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After approximately a decade, crowdfunding has become an established medium for raising finances. Particularly with regard to projects associated with the leisure industry or “geek culture”. Game developers seem to be especially fond of using this service as a means to raise capital for their projects. If you have a dream you wish to realise, the successful crowdfunding campaigns of Star Citizen or Star Trek: Axanar are a strong incentive to look to fans for financing. As a result, we regularly see articles on websites such as Massively OP for new games under development. At first it was novel, even exciting. Then it became ubiquitous. Now it’s just tedious. Consequently, I believe that “crowdfunding fatigue” is a genuine thing and that I certainly suffer from it.

Like so many online practices, successfully crowdfunding has been distilled down to a base formula, just like TED Talks, You Tube videos and podcasts. There is a now a broadly established process that can be applied to any crowdfunding campaign. Although I can see the merit in sticking with what works, it also results in a great degree of homogeny. Thus, we are exposed to a nonstop barrage of hype, spin and hyperbole when it comes to crowdfunding. Furthermore, campaigns often focus only on the positive, resulting in sizeable information gaps. In the absence of facts people tend to fill in the blanks themselves, ending in unrealistic expectations.

However, there is another element to this situation, beyond that of marketing, disclosure and semantics. I believe that fandom often causes a form of “myopia”. In the past market forces and commercial checks and balances meant that products would never get off the drawing board. If the bank said no that was the end of the matter. It can be argued that a lot of good ideas have been ignored due to a lack of vision or risk aversion. Yet I’m also sure a lot of dumb ideas have been legitimately dismissed. Crowdfunding bypasses to a degree, the filters of business acumen and common sense and instead often relies on emotional appeal. Fans and aficionados have love and affection in spades but not necessarily economic sense as well. Hence “internet outrage” over crowdfunded projects that have not cut the mustard is common place.

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 Another contributory factor towards “crowdfunding fatigue” is it’s increasing use by corporate entities that have sufficient financial resources already to develop their product. Again, this is something that seems to happen more with gaming related projects. Why do development studios affiliated to big publishers need to look to fans for money? I find reasons such as “we’re trying to gauge support for the product” to be spurious and consider crowdfunding by such institutions to be nothing more than profiteering. Sadly, such practices are allowed to continue, mainly due to the aforementioned shortsightedness of fans. The desire to have the finished product seems to outweigh all other considerations.

Although I and others may well be weary of crowdfunding per se, I cannot totally dismiss it out of hand. I have contributed to several projects and benefited from the end results. I have backed several documentaries and film related projects in recent years, mainly because the funding has been for very specific goals. Usually the money required is for licensing costs or other legal services. As a result, I have not personally been disappointed by any of the projects I have donated to. I also think that specific term is very important. Contributing does not make you an investor, backer or stakeholder. You are simply a donor who may or may not be granted a reward for your support. You have no creative input or leverage. Until this concept is fully embraced, I’m sure we’ll still see a continual tide of failed projects that have overreached themselves and consequently more “crowdfunding fatigue”.

Christianity and the Easter TV Schedules

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As a child growing up in the seventies, Sundays had a distinctly different feel to the other days of the week. The entire pace was more sedate and there was atmosphere of restraint. My parents would chide me for excessive noise. Activities such as reading or drawing where favoured over playing outside. The TV schedules reflected this as well. At the time, there were three terrestrial channels and only one of them was a commercial business. However, Sunday mornings would always have a televised service and there would often be a show offering some moral or ethical debate around midday. The early evening saw a similar broadcast of worship. Christianity was still an integral part of the television. 

Unlike the US, the UK does not have (and never has had) a direct separation of Church and State. For centuries the Church has had a direct influence over the political agenda and has shaped the cultural landscape. During the seventies, nothing was open on a Sunday, as the trading laws were still subject to a strong Christian lobby. Obviously due to my age at the time, I didn't see or understand the integral role Christianity played within UK society. Yet it was always there, be it at school, on TV or in the newspapers. Any vox pop at the time would always have a member of the clergy contributing. The ubiquitous presence of Christianity was such that it became reflected in popular culture. Most sitcoms would include a vicar at some point. I have fond memories of The Reverend Timothy Farthing (Frank Williams) in Dad's Army.

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Roll on forty years and much has changed. The Church of England is in decline and certainly the lobbying power of the Christian community has diminished. The UK has become a far more secular nation and Sundays feel pretty much like any other day of the week nowadays. As a result of this shift, religious content on terrestrial network TV has similarly been reduced. As it is currently Easter, I made a cursory check of the TV guide for faith based content and apart from a few broadcasts of church services, there is precious little on to celebrate Easter. Even the traditional Hollywood religious epics such as The King of Kings with Jeffrey Hunter or George Stevens’ The Greatest Story Ever Told, with its distinctly Caucasian depiction of the Holy Lands, are missing from the schedules.

Since the advent of digital satellite, cable services, VOD and You Tube, is that faith based programming has moved to these new platforms and has to compete with the sheer volume of alternative TV that is available. Something that many other TV genres has had to do. I will leave it to you to decide whether this is a good or a bad thing. However, I would like to make this point. One of the most important weekly shows for me as a child was Top of the Pops. It featured a selection of artists every Thursday, depending on what was doing well in the UK singles. Due to the lack of alternative shows, viewers would watch thirty minutes of a variety of different music. Not all of it would be to their taste but it exposed the public to a broad cross section of musical genres. Nowadays there are niche market channels that provide audience with just the music they want, thus insulating them from anything else. It is this very proliferation of choice that means that many people are simply no longer exposed to any religious content on TV. 

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I think that it’s beneficial for people to have a broad knowledge of multiple belief systems. There is a great deal of misinformation about the Christian faith and other faiths. The public as well as a lot of Christians themselves are not very well informed about the doctrines and fundamental underpinnings of Christianity. Perhaps at times such as Easter, rather than just showing traditional TV fodder such as church services or re-enactment of The Passion, perhaps it would be wiser to have more documentaries and current affairs programs that explore what it is to be a Christian in the in the twenty first century. What it can and cannot offer.  In the meantime, Happy Easter to all, whether you enjoy it as a public holiday or whether it is the focal point of your religious calendar. As for me, I'm off to watch Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. A challenging and intelligent exploration of Christ's final hours. And don’t forget, chocolate eggs will be half price on Tuesday.

Walking for Pleasure

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Today I visited Emmetts Garden in Sevenoaks. The Edwardian estate located at Ide Hill and is now owned by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty. The garden, which covers an area of about six acres, is situated on a 600-foot sandstone ridge, overlooking the Weald. It is one of the highest points in Kent, offering an expansive view of the North Downs. The garden was laid out in the late 19th century and was influenced by William Robinson. It contains many exotic rare trees and shrubs from across the world. You can explore the rose and rock gardens, take in the views as well as enjoy flowers and shrubs in spring. In autumn visitors can enjoy the vibrant colours brought about by the changing of the season. The main attraction at this time of year are the Bluebells.

Both I and my significant other walk for pleasure as well as the obvious health benefits. We both have targets regarding our daily step counts and try our best to achieve them. The car is therefore often left at home and a lot of trivial journeys, such as those to the local shops are done by foot. As I am also my parent’s carers I find that the various visits to the pharmacy and doctors surgery offer a further opportunity to hit my daily walking quota. Furthermore, the layout of the Greater London suburbs means that walking is frequently an easy option without the have the hassle of having to find a parking space. The county where I live also has a wealth of parks and open spaces. Some are free, where others such as Emmetts Garden, have a modest entry fee.

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Today’s visit not only afford us an opportunity to visit a beautiful garden, rich with exotic flowers and trees but it also allowed us to gently exercise in a beautiful environment. Many of the trails within the grounds are tranquil and free from excessive noise. As I’ve written recently, noise for me is one of the great maladies of this century and any chance to be free from it is welcomed. Today’s walk gave me and Karen some quality time to chat as well as reflect in silence upon our own thoughts as well as the inherent beauty of our surroundings. Walking in such an environment is a great way of relaxing and recharging your “batteries”. Modern urban life is extremely frantic and in many ways, has detached us from the natural world. Parks and places of natural beauty are a great way to reconnect.

Walking is a form of exercise that has few barriers to entry. You just need to ensure that you have suitable foot wear for the environment you’re walking in and to be mindful of things like hydration if you’re out in the heat. It can be done solitary or with friends, in silence or while engaged in discussion. It doesn’t have to be “dead time” as I’ll often listen to the radio or podcasts while out walking. As a writer walking affords a chance to martial my thoughts and consider what I wish to explore through my blogging. Walking, unlike other forms of exercise such as the gym with its culture and poseurs, frees you from the tyranny of other people. Thus. I’m a great advocate. The following link to the NHS website, provides a succinct breakdown of the health benefits of walking and effectively how to start. Plus, here’s a gallery of photos from Emmetts Garden, highlighting why it’s a great day out a fine place to take a stroll.

Noise

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As I’ve gotten older, one of the things I’ve become increasingly aware of and averse to is noise. Ambient background noise that is present in all our day-to-day lives. Perhaps it’s because I’m a child of the seventies and grew up in a time when there wasn’t a twenty-four-hour culture. People were often indoors by ten o’clock during the week and Sundays were a day of rest. There were less cars on the roads, no mobile phones or music on the go and society by and large, was still bound by the unspoken code of being considerate to your neighbours. Parties and social gatherings were occasional and those having them usually informed everyone affected in advance. Many shared spaces were quiet by mutual consent.

Nowadays we live in a culture of noise. You cannot go shopping without being exposed to easy listening music or the instore radio station. Video screens blare out inanities while you queue to pay at the checkout. Even your car, train or bus hectors you with superfluous data while you travel. If you’re on foot you have to contend with the sheer volume of increased road traffic. Then of course there’s the people. The population in urban areas has increased significantly over the last thirty years and people are the biggest and most problematic source of noise. Even if you retreat to your home and turn on your TV, you’ll find the adverts louder than the programs that you watch. And unless you have robust noise insulation, the hubbub of the outside will slowly bleed through. There’s no respite from it all because of the twenty-four-hour society.

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There’s also another layer to this change to the UK soundscape. Not only have noise levels changed but so has societies attitude towards it. Notions of privacy and consideration to others have slowly been eroded. The rise of the individual and “me, me, me” culture means we now have to endure other people’s phone calls on speaker. Listening to music via headphones is obviously a huge violation of a person civil liberties, thus we have to suffer the slings and arrows of someone listening to R&B on an iPhone. Libraries are no longer havens of tranquillity that they were and if you seek solitude while commuting you need to find a designated quiet carriage.

As a culture, it would appear that some have either lost or never learned the value of quiet time and tranquillity. One of the first lesson’s that I was taught as a child was that of being able to occupy myself. The value of silence and either focusing on an external matter or reflecting upon my own thoughts internally. All can be done quietly. Today, there seems to be a mindset of requiring continual external engagement and that being alone with one’s thought’s is something to be feared. It may possibly be because the absence of noise is utterly alien to many because they’ve never known such a world. I remember being on a school trip in Scotland in the early eighties and a friend commenting on the inherent quietness of the countryside. They found it to be unsettling and so they slept with the radio on.

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The current culture of noise, also feeds the divide between introverts and extroverts. I sit somewhere between the two ends of this social spectrum but I do find exposure to incessant noise, especially that generated by people to be wearisome. Pubs, clubs and public spaces are often a sea of overwhelming white noise. Then there is the current societal affectation equating excitement with noise. Enthusiasm is measured by volume. Don’t believe me? Try watching ten minutes of The Jewellery Channel when there’s a sale on. It’s saps the strength from you continually being exposed to such behaviour. It’s like being trapped in The Goonies movie. The downside of such a culture is that it emotionally limits your options. If you become loud over trivia, where do you go when something truly significant happens?

The truly sad thing about noise, if you do consider it a social ill, is that your response to it is very much dictated by your personal circumstances. If you live in a neighbourhood that is noisy twenty-four-seven, then your only option is to move. Peace and quiet is a premium option and like everything in modern life, if you desire it then it will cost you. Thus, noise may be economically inescapable for some. I moved last summer and said goodbye to a very noisy environment. Where I currently live, there are times of tranquillity throughout the day. Yet because London keeps growing and expanding this luxury may vanish over time. I’ve never been a great one for holidays but I’m beginning to understand why people travel, simply to get away from it all. Seven days of near silence sounds like something to shout about to me, if you’ll excuse the pun. 

Is the UK Voting System Broken?

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At present, there is talk in political circles of the prospect of an early General Election in the UK as a means of dealing with several looming political problems. If such a situation were to arise, then it has to contend with the fragmented state of the UK electorate as well as voter apathy and low turnouts. Perhaps the biggest issue is the mechanics of the election process itself. It has its roots in the past when there were two major parties. Things have changed in recent years with more political groups competing for parliamentary seats and the system now seems to be unequitable. So I thought it may be of interest to readers to offer a broad overview of the process. It differs quite considerably from other countries and as you'd expect with anything British, it has more than a few quirks and foibles. This is not in any way a discussion about party politics. I am simply writing about the actual mechanics of the UK First Past the Post system that determines who will form a government. 

There are 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK, each returning a Member of Parliament (MP). For a single political party to form a government they need to have at least 326 MPs duly elected. When UK voters go to the polls, they are not voting for the specific leader of a particular party IE they are not voting who will be the British Prime Minister. They are voting for a specific candidate, who will represent their constituency at Parliament. This choice is dependent upon which candidates are standing for which parties in each constituency. 

The party that wins 326 parliamentary seats or more is then in a position to form a government. The leader of that party then becomes Prime Minister by default. It should be noted that the UK Prime Minister is not also the head of state. That role which is non-political is assumed by the current Monarch.

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At present in the UK, votes in local, regional and national elections are written by hand on Ballot Papers and counted manually. Not only does this reduce potential fraud but it actually makes the counting process easier. It also affords voters a chance to deface or spoil their ballot paper if they see fit. Something you cannot do if you vote mechanically or electronically. Disallowed votes are counted as such and statistics are kept. 

Now here’s the part I and many other UK voters find most frustrating. Out of the 650 constituencies in the UK, approximately 456 are considered to be safe seats IE the current incumbent has a sufficient majority of votes from the local electorate to be able to maintain their position. Only 194 Parliamentary seats are based in constituencies that are deemed marginal. There is no fixed definition of a marginal but it is usually defined as seats with majorities of 10% or less that require a swing of 5% for the incumbent party to lose. Safe seats tend to remain constant. Marginal seats play a key role in elections. 

I live in the constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup, in South East London. It is the embodiment of a white, middle class, residential borough and has been a safe seat for the Conservative Party for years. The electorate is about 65,000 in total. The turnout in the last election was about 69%. James Brokenshire the incumbent MP has a majority of over 15, 000 votes (he actually poled 24,500 votes).

No matter what my party politics and how I personally vote, Mr. Brokenshire is very likely to remain my MP by the simple fact he has an unassailable majority. He may lose some votes in protest but not enough to unseat him. The likelihood of 8,000 plus voters changing their political allegiances, in a constituency that is already socio-economically disposed towards the Conservative Party is highly unlikely. Similar arguments can be made regarding the static nature of all other so-called safe seats. 

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This raises one of the major failings of the current UK voting system and safes seats. If you live in such a constituency and vote against the current favoured incumbent, your vote effectively counts for nothing and has no impact on the UK political landscape. For years the UK has mainly been a two-party country and as a result the political system has evolved to reflect that. In 2010, the UK had a referendum on changing to the AV voting system that had elements of proportional representation. The change was rejected. Since then, several new parties have emerged and gained favour, while the two main parties have waned and lost some of their broad public support. We now live in a multi-party environment but lack a voting system to adequately reflect that.

Presently, the only voters that can tangibly make change in their constituencies are those that live in the 194 marginal seats. Because the incumbent's majority is often low in such situations and there are far more floating or tactical voters, ardent campaigning can yield results and make swings in either political direction. Effectively it is these constituencies and the voters that live in them that determine the UK General Election results. Because of such issues as population density, some of these marginal seats may have small electorates. In some cases, it's simply the floating voter within a few streets that can change things. It is both fascinating and a little concerning to consider that the next five years of government are effectively decided by a small percentage of the electorate. 

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The other issue that the UK faces in an election is the prospect of no party being an outright winner. The prospect of a coalition raises its head. Although coalitions have been effective in many other European nations, the UK is not culturally used to them. Where the younger generation seems to warm to the concept, those of an older age group with more entrenched party loyalties balk at the notion of "forced collaboration". However, I think this change in the UK's political landscape is here for good and if anything, there will be even more new parties in the next decade, especially if the Labour Party disintegrates. In the meantime, the only voters determining the outcome of the current election are those living in marginal seats. According to some political experts, this may be as few as 250, 0000 voters out of a total of 46,000,000 registered to vote.  

To me is seems self-evident that the ageing First Past the Post system is not fit to serve a modern electorate and needs to be replaced by a fairer procedure. It is ironic that UK representatives standing as MEPs in the European Parliament are subject to a proportional representation voting system, as are the devolved parliament in Scotland and Wales. However, to expect a change to be implemented by the very party in government that directly benefits from the current status quo is naïve. In the meantime, we must continue to endure the flaws inherent in the process that is in place. 

A War on Critics

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Last year film director Alex Proyas famously threw his proverbial toys out of the pram, after his fantasy movie Gods of Egypt received universally poor reviews. He labelled critics “deranged idiots” and “diseased vultures” in a heated post on his Facebook page. He went on to accuse critics as slaves to the prevailing consensus. Proyas is not the only film maker to clash with critics. Uwe Boll famously had a similar antagonistic relationship with the press after being accused of being the world’s worst film maker. His solution to the problem was to challenge his detractors to meet him in the boxing ring. Some did so, not realising that Boll has a background in boxing. It did not go well for them.

These are just two examples of how contemporary individuals have chosen to deal with criticism. As the film industry is synonymous with egos and self-indulgence, at first glance these responses do not seem so unusual or odd. However, upon mature reflection I believe it is indicative of a broader corrosive mind-set that is growing in modern society.  Consider the way that modern politics has become far more adversarial of late. In the UK, those who are opposed to Brexit or at the very least concerned about it implementation are branded “enemies of the people” or traitors in the tabloid press. In the US, the President himself has question the legitimacy of his countries own legal infrastructure, referring to the judiciary as “so called Judges”, in a pejorative fashion. It would seem that there is no interest in tackling criticism in an intelligent and measure fashion. The best way to counter it is to simply try and shut it down.

You Tube is fast becoming the most important platform for criticism and reviews of consumer products. The shift away from traditional print media and even long-form criticism on websites, means that high profile You Tube personalities and streamers can have a major impact upon sales and more importantly pre-sales of a games. This has proven challenging for the publishers who now have to “wine and dine” a broad cross section of independent individuals, rather than mainstream publishing businesses, if they want to gain any traction. We’ve already seen what happens when a PR company foolishly tries to control the flow of information and impede critics and reviewers from doing their job, as the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor debacle from 2014 demonstrated.  Sadly, we now see what happens when negative reviews are published and do not meet with corporate approval. People simply sue or spuriously use the online tools designed for legitimate disputes, to try and control criticism.

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Jim Sterling recently quashed the outstanding lawsuit that had blighted his You Tube channel for the last year. A judge dismissed the case with prejudice, effectively ending the bogus suit brought by video game developers Digital Homicide. Unfortunately, Mr Sterling appears to have become a magnet for such actions. He is currently involved in another dispute with small independent developer, Sti Cli Games, who have gone down the route of using a trademark dispute as a means to try and silence his criticism of his work. The company has even gone so far as including caveats in their products EULA, trying to prohibit any use of their content in videos without prior written consent. EULA cannot enforce such rules. They also seem to think that they can legally refuse refunds on a platform such as Steam, which they cannot.

If we look beyond gaming, you’ll find similar stories about hoteliers and small bed and breakfast owners trying to stop customers from leaving poor reviews on trip advisor and similar websites. One individual had the gall to make a further charge against a customer’s credit card for allegedly “defaming” their business. Furthermore, you’ll find stories in the newspapers about parents suing other parents because a child was not invited to another’s birthday party. The more you look the more absurd stories of this nature you’ll find. It would appear that the chronically thin skinned, the duplicitous and the downright dodgy are now happy to use any legal weapon in their arsenal to prevent criticism or more to the point exposure. This in itself raises a wealth of other issues about the state of our society. Are we as culture becoming less emotionally sophisticated, less confident in ourselves and generally too obsessed with others perceptions of ourselves?  Or is this just a matter of Divas, crooks and scammers just acting in accord with their true nature?

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While the social scientists ponder the reasons for such behaviour, I certainly think that those who do not approve of such behaviour need to do more than just condemn it. We need to actively challenge it. Therefore the artist who throws a hissy fit should be firmly countered and their rhetoric and hyperbole exposed for what is. The politicians more than ever, need to be robustly countered for any sort of misinformation, ab hominem argument or abuse of power that seeks to stifle debate. And those that choose to abuse the terms and conditions of social media platforms such as You Tube to prevent scrutiny of their own iniquities, needs to exposed and denounced for exactly what they are; namely calumniators and thieves. Furthermore the institutions that facilitate these abuses need to take greater responsibility. Apply leverage with both your wallet and your social media presence.

The internet is still a great medium with many positive aspects. It continues to give a voice to many who previously did not have one. It allows the public to express themselves which is their democratic right. However, freedom to speech is a two way street and if you wish to express an opinion in a public forum, you have to accept that fact that others have an equal right to dispute, criticise and refute your views. Attempting to by bypass this status quo is most overt repudiation of democracy I can think of. Furthermore, we need to ensure that those who embark upon such a route are shown that there are direct consequences for such a decision. We cannot allow this toxic mind set to become the “norm”. Because if we do this will go beyond being a war on critics, criticism and dissent. It will lead to a reality where the loudest and most obnoxious, who can afford the best legal counsel, simply win by default.

Where Have all the Bloggers Gone?

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I’m a creature of habit. I don’t mean “if it’s Wednesday, it’s Pork Chops”, I’m referring to simple routines that help me organise my days. One example is my morning ritual. As soon as I wake, I get straight up, shower and dress. I then sit myself down at my computer with a mug of coffee and catch up with my emails, Twitter and Feedly. I also get a flash news briefing from Alexa. These things appraise me of what is going on in the world and often give me potential writing prompts. Feedly has been invaluable source of inspiration in the past. I subscribed to half a dozen professional gaming and movie news websites and a further thirty of so blogs, written by my peers.

I wrote a post last year for the NBI about the importance of blogging. The sentiment still holds, more so than ever at present. The world is changing and not necessarily for the better. Therefore, it is important for people to build communities, exchange ideas and interact in a civilised capacity. Not only do we need to get along but to tolerate and coexist with those who hold differing views to our own. Sadly, this appears to be “asking the impossible” at present. The world is becoming binary, tribal and aggressively territorial. This is reflected in the blogging world. Opinions are not to be debated but shutdown.  There is no rooms for dissent. “You’re either with us or against us” seems to be the prevailing attitude. Facts and intellectual rigour are seen as unfair barriers to having an equal say.

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As a result of this cultural shift, I find that the blogging community that I am apart of has greatly diminished in the last eighteen months. The thirty or so blogs, written by my peers that I mentioned are now either updated irregularly or virtually abandoned. The podcasting network that I am a member of still endures but has no aspiration to grow or expand. Apathy, disinclination and a sense of even defeat seems all too common. I should know, all of these things blighted my writing agenda last year. Then of course let us not forget that we are all getting older and people simply change. Life makes many demand on are time and even fandom has to bow before the school run, redecorating the bathroom and getting that promotion. Plus, perceptions of the internet have changed. The Frontier Town community spirit has given way to corporate formalisation. Being connected to other people from all round the world is no longer a big deal. Familiarity does have indeed breed contempt, or at least indifference.

Another thing to consider is the personal nature of writing. It also requires a modicum of skill and effort. A well penned post about EVE Online or the iniquities of pre-order culture can take a surprising amount of time to draft and publish. Maintaining a regular writing schedule requires discipline. Coming up with engaging content needs thought and creativity. Constantly writing takes its toll on the author eventually. For some, it’s too much of a “big ask” to begin with. Hence, you’ll find many people relegate their writing aspirations to forum comments. It easier to be reactive than proactive. It’s a shame. I see some really good ideas among the comments of a site such as Massively OP. Material that would make a good blog post in its own right.

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Aaaron from Don't Fight Ducks. An enjoyable LOTRO streamer.

Although I do feel that You Tube and Twitch do provide a useful service and have a role to play within the gaming community, they are still primarily entertainment mediums. Live streams are often about the social interaction between the streamer and their audience. It’s a more ephemeral experience to writing. You Tube let’s play videos are a double edge sword. The pace of the video dictates the dissemination of information. Often, I can read an explanation of a game’s mechanics far faster than the ten-minute video that shows me. Plus, not everyone is a good or engaging narrator. Improving your writing skills is possibly easier than fixing your video presentation skills. However, that is not to say that there isn’t an audio/visual equivalent of long-form writing, because there is. It’s just hard to find among the internet white noise. Overall, the democratisation of online broadcast mediums has fragmented the potential audience. Couple that with the current mindset and each niche seems to stay on its own turf.

I decided in the New Year to return to writing daily and one of my motivations was to try and encourage others. I endeavour to leave comments on blogs and retweet other people’s work. I’ve also persevered with streamers and You Tubers and I’ve found several that meet my expectations. Upon mature reflection, I don’t feel that the community that I enjoy so much, is totally in decline. It’s more of a case of natural ebb and flow. However, I still think that the blogging scene needs a shot in the arm. If the veterans can’t continue to carry the torch, then maybe it’s time to pass it on to others? Which raises the issue of events such as the Newbie Blogger Initiative. People have asked me whether they’ll be another this year. The answer is it’s depends on whether someone wants to run it, because it really is an event that needs a core group or an individual to drive it forward.

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I have a lot of demands on my time. I’m a carer with two disabled parents. I write as much as I can and do not have the time to be in the driving seat of a community event such as the NBI. However, I am happy to strike the following bargain. If someone wants to seriously run the NBI this year in an organised fashion and with clear goals, I’ll resurrect the Gaming Blog Nexus. This was a website that indexed gaming blogs, aggregating content and driving traffic back to the source sites. In 2014 it had over one hundred contributors and was an invaluable means of finding new writers. It was and can be again a good community resource. So, it now remains to see whether anyone wishes to seize the day and get the ball rolling. Is there any interest in an NBI 2017? Would people welcome a return of the Gaming Blog Nexus? Or am I spitting in to the wind? 

The Importance of Internet Access

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There are many factors that contribute to deciding where you live. Price and location are primary considerations. If you have a family then schools are a major factor. Then there are other issues such as council tax, local facilities and transportation. If you use any of the major property listing websites, then you’ll find data on all of these points. However in recent years an additional factor has been added to this list of requirements. Internet access now plays a role in deciding whether a property is right or not. Having a fast and stable connection not only improves our leisure time but also play a part in many peoples work life. Self-employment and working from home are becoming more common, as is a culture of working outside of traditional hours. For many, internet access is now as essential as any other utility service.

Sadly, the UK still remains a country where the digital divide is clearly apparent. High speed, fibre based internet access is still only economically viable to rollout in major business and urban areas. Thus it is still only available in the major cities. 4G coverage is also patchy in rural areas, so offers no real alternative service. You may find a few wireless options here and there throughout the country along with other innovative providers. However the digital aspirations of successive UK governments have failed continuously over the last fifteen years.  Trite buzzwords such as “superfast broadband” are still bandied about by politicians with no real technical background. You only have to look at the finer points of the current Digital Economies Bill, as it passes through The House of Lords, to see that it woefully misses the mark with regard to serving the needs of consumers and business alike.

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I live in South East London, in a proverbial “leafy suburb”. Residents of the borough are in the core demographics for Netflix, Amazon Prime and other leisure services. Self-employment and home businesses are common too. Therefore, the major telecommunications companies see fit to provide suitable home and business internet services. For example, British Telecom (of whom I am a customer) offers fibre internet services from the local telephone exchange to cabinets in the streets. Connections to the home are then bridged by use of telephone landlines, providing speeds of 50 or 75MB. Virgin Cable is currently being rollout in my area offering 200MB connections in direct competition. Most packages have an unlimited download option. Yet the contrast with the rest of the UK is stark. Large parts of the country still have to make do with ADSL 2+ services providing connections of between 2 and 8MB. Often those living in such areas have no alternative vendors to go to.

Until last year when I became a carer, I relied upon the internet for the provision of my work. I would log into a secure site to collect my technical writing assignments and once completed, return to upload them. Prior to then, I would often store backups of client’s data on my own home servers. I’ve been working from home in some way or another since 2002 and have therefore always had a need for a robust and fast connection. Since my early retirement, I still find that the bulk of the administrative duties I do for my disabled parents need to be carried out online. In fact, given the choice I prefer to do most things that way. I can make quick purchases for my parents such as medical supplies, directly from my phone. I can do my accounts and file my tax return from my desktop PC. Pretty much all the day to day household administration that we all face, can be done via the internet at our own convenience.

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Sadly, many in the UK can’t consider such a move to online services, finding themselves on the wrong side of an ever-widening digital divide. Which raises the question as to whether internet access should be seen as more than a luxury and effectively a necessity? Certainly, business has embraced the concept of free wi-fi as a means to keeping customers in certain retail industries happy. Should society and possibly government go beyond this and ensure that internet access is guaranteed in specific circumstances? For example, I frequently visit a major hospital in Kent with my Father. Because of the geography of the area, a mobile phone signal and thus internet access is unavailable within the hospital grounds. If you wish to speak to family or order a taxi, you have to walk for about five minutes or more to be able to do so. However, you can purchase internet access as a patient or a visitor for a fee. I have found myself on several occasions at this location in the early hours of the morning and have thus been forced to pay to get online, to return home. Considering that people at hospitals are frequently under pressure or in distress, should internet access be gated in such a way?

In the UK family incomes within certain demographics have fallen in recent years. In light of the forthcoming economic changes the country faces, it is likely they will continue to do so. Combined with a skills shortage and a decrease in social mobility, we are seeing a clear distinction between the haves and the have nots. The digital divide clearly reflects this. If you find yourself living in specific post codes, unless you find a means to leave, you may well find yourself excluded from adequate internet access. With further services and resources going online, there is potential to further marginalise specific groups of society. Internet access is too important to be driven by just market forces. Is it not time for this matter to be dealt with in a more socially responsible way? Because I suspect that if it is not, it may come back to haunt us in a decade’s time.

Why is the Fantasy Genre So Popular?

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I was watching an episode of The Trews recently during which Russell Brand mentioned that the most popular movies at the box office last year were mainly science fiction or fantasy. He had some thoughts on why this was so and then proceeded to talk about escapism, personal faith and spirituality.  Now I didn’t necessarily agree with all his points and I don’t believe in his views on higher powers but I did concur with some of his ideas discussed. As a result of the subject being raised, I have pondered of late why the fantasy genre seems to dominate cinema (and television), literature and gaming. Is it simply a case of providing a narrative vehicle that is universally flexible and accommodating, or are their deeper psychological and sociological reasons.

First off, escapism is perhaps the most obvious factor to consider when exploring the fantasy genre. It provides narratives that you can immerse yourself in, with its universal themes and conventions. In an age when people work long hours within an increasingly complex world, the notion of escapism as a means of relaxation seems eminently practical. A few hours spent in an MMO or watching Trollhunters on Netflix allow us to forget the rigours of the day and the iniquities of our place of employment. Losing yourself in a good book can have great restorative powers. I can think of several occasions during difficult times in my life in which a solid fantasy novel has allowed me to rest and maintain my emotion stability.

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Yet escapism is not always a good thing, particularly if the respite it provides then becomes a crutch or worse still, an escape from reality and the problems one faces. Alcohol, drugs and the like can offer escapism to a degree and if their use is tempered with moderation, then they can be beneficial. Sadly an excess of these is far from good. The same can be said about spending large amounts of your time in a game, if it is done to the detriment of other aspects of your life. I remember as a teenager, how I use to struggle to do all the things I wished and would find myself getting up incredibly early to watch movies I’d rented from Blockbusters, yet had failed to because I’d been out socialising instead. Such habits were naturally unsustainable.

Another interesting facet of the fantasy genre is that it provides a means to process difficult subjects, that we may well avoid or recoil from in real life. Couching complex social issues or problems in a fantasy setting and exploring them via proxies that may have skills and abilities beyond that of mere mortals, can make the bleak, the abhorrent or even the tragic more palatable.  A Monster Calls which is currently on release in cinemas is effectively just a tale of a boy having to come to terms with imminent death of his Mother. A difficult subject to be sure, yet the visually expressive way the film explores the story, via the use of allegory, helps audiences connect to the central themes.

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Fantasy also offers us the opportunity to envision aspirational worlds that are better than the one we currently inhabit; worlds where deprivation and suffering are no more and people can meet their full potential. I believe a certain Gene Roddenberry may have had some views on this. Fantasy can also provide a virtual environment in which different social, political and philosophical models can be tested and explored. Within gaming, the genre brings likeminded individuals together and helps form communities. Charitable events such as Child’s Play have their roots in such groups and can do a lot of good in the real world. Fantasy can be a means to unite people, especially those who may find themselves marginalised in real life. It can bring a sense of belonging to those who may not feel that way already.

However, it would be foolish to only focus on the positive aspects of fantasy. We should at least consider other reasons for its popularity. As mentioned earlier, we live in an increasingly complex world. The pace of change has accelerated in the last thirty years and many of the social conventions and institutions we look to for stability have proven unsure. Life for some at present is unequal, highly fluid and bleak. Fantasy offers a means not just of escape but to refute the failings of a world we cannot control. Then of course there is the concept of “bread and circuses”. Are certain establishments happy to see the wider population immerse themselves in non-existent worlds and stories, thus allowing the status quo to be perpetuated and abuses of power to go unchecked?

Not all popular fantasy tales offer positive visions or foster egalitarian principles. The writings of Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft and John Norman however entertaining are somewhat dated in social and political terms. Many RPGs and MMOs are still accommodating to those who wish to indulge in stereotypical power fantasies. Equality in terms of race, gender and sexual orientation are still sadly lacking. It can also be argued that the very communities that are allegedly so beneficial can become echo chambers and inwardly facing pockets of elitism. Fans of fantasy are not always associated with positive social interaction. Consider gamergate and the recent outrage against the Ghostbusters remake.

For me the most interesting theory regarding the popularity of fantasy in the twenty-first century is the idea that it is a surrogate for religion and a variation of personal faith. Traditional religion has certainly declined in the UK and parts of Europe, yet many still yearn for a sense of spiritual growth and fulfilment. Fantasy can provide a framework of similar ideas to Christianity, without the need to embrace more difficult theological concepts and requirements. Within gaming our avatars can at times be presented with opportunities to be virtuous, that we may not have in real life. We can have a positive impact upon our fan communities, help others and feel we are empowered and making a difference. Are these not fundamental tenets of faith and evangelising? The parallels between religion and fantasy are many and whatever your perspective the subject is intriguing.

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Like most rhetorical questions of this kind, there isn’t a single definitive answer. For me fantasy provides a platform for films, games and literature to explore beyond the confines of the real world. Those who create within such parameters to be bold and visionary, unconstrained by the rules of physics. Yet fantasy as genre does have its weaknesses. Narrative conceits such as “Deus ex machina” and predestination paradoxes can be very lazy and such a cop out. However overall I think there is a link of some sorts between the popularity of fantasy and the current political climate in the western world. Epic tales are often about restoring that which is lost or righting a wrong. These are questions that we are searching to resolve in our lives at present, yet seem to be failing to achieve. Perhaps we look to fantasy for potential answers? Who can say? May be in the future we will look back upon these times with a clearer understanding.