I was thinking of using some of the very nice tributes people wrote about Julie here on the board in “But I Digress.” My assumption is that no one will object (they will naturally be fully credited). I don’t need a chorus of “Yea’s.” If anyone has a problem, just drop me an e-mail; otherwise I’ll just figure it’s alright with all concerned.
PAD
Apparently some stores were late in getting their copies, so I waited a little bit to let everyone have a chance to read it.
Whad’ja think?
PAD
A shout out to Noel Thingvall for bringing to my attention that OBLIVION II: BACKLASH comes out today on DVD. I feel fairly confident that there will be little to no bonus material whatsoever. Still, of the two OBLIVION films–two films I wrote for Full Moon that are literally cowboys and aliens in outer space–I think this one’s better. Certainly my script is more consistent, less heavy handed, and more fun than the first (although the first is still a hoot and I recommend it, if for no other reason than George Takei’s gloriously scene-chewing performance as town drunk Doc Valentine, and Carel Struycken (hope I came close to getting his name right) as the towering and somber Mr. Gaunt.)
It’s on Amazon. Quick, everybody order it (I think it’s about ten bucks) and watch them scratch their heads in wonderment as to why it’s their best selling DVD. Not that I get so much as a dime of the DVD income, but hey, it’s a pride thing.
PAD
GH Update: Actually, if you order it by clicking on this link, we do get a dime or so. It’s not much, but we can promise that we won’t spend the proceeds on eBay the way Mark Evanier does. And did we mention you can buy Oblivion there too?
Went to Julie’s funeral today. A number of DC folks were there, including Bob Greenberger, Bob Wayne, Dan Didio, Murphy Anderson, Patty Jeres, Mike Carlin, Andy Helfer and others. Radio guy Howard Margolin was also there, as was our own webmaster, Glenn Hauman.
It was low key and somber, as is typical for a Jewish funeral service. I didn’t go to the cemetery. I didn’t know Julie’s family all that well–or at all, really–and felt I’d be intruding somehow.
In addition, I’m reasonably sure I’ve got bronchitis. I’m coughing up some charming yellow stuff. I made sure to scrub my hands upon arrival so I could shake people’s hands with a clear conscience, while sucking down Riccola as if they were going out of style to keep the cough under control.
I hate being sick. Then again, as I saw this morning, it beats the alternative.
Ðámņ. I-Con and Dragon*Con are simply not going to be the same.
PAD
I’ve been informed that comics legend Julie Schwartz passed away over the weekend. He had been in ill-health recently, but always seemed to bounce back somehow. This time, he did not.
I do not have any more details at the moment, although I’m sure they’ll be turning up on the web in short order.
He was a wonderful guy, and I don’t really feel up to saying much more than that right now. More information will be posted as we know it, either here or at Harlan’s board.
PAD
The discussion as to whether I have the right to ban people from this board has been stimulating and, judging by the thread length, exhaustive. Unfortunately, my rights to do so as the one whose name is on the board was never in question; sure, I have THAT right. But I’ve always believed that just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do something.
I was also amused by the people who jumped up and waved their arms, announcing with determination and repeatedly that they were the ones I was talking about when I was referring to people who show up just to cause problems and insult others. It was kind of like “Spartacus,” but without the nobility.
But the buck does stop here, and in my own ruminations, I couldn’t get past the famous phrase that was written–apparently not by Voltaire–but by Beatrice Hall in an essay entitled “Friends of Voltaire” (which was not created to thwart the endeavors of an organization called “Enemies of Voltaire,” but that’s another subject.) Ms. Hall, in summarizing Voltaire, stated that his philosophy was “I disagree with what you have to say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire voiced similar sentiments, but the oft’ quoted wording is Hall’s. No matter how I tried to justify it in my own mind, I couldn’t square that quote with my desire to eliminate the few for the peace of mind of the many (Mr. Spock notwithstanding.)
So I’m not going to ban anybody. I’m not going to shut them up
However, I am not going to open the door for this forum to become a dumping ground for toxicity, either. Moreover, I don’t want people who are reasonable, intelligent individuals to feel they can’t come here because they can’t stand dealing with a handful of disruptive influences.
So here’s what’s going to be. Everyone starts off with a clean slate. Past is past. However, I anticipate there will be more political discussion as this incendiary election year proceeds. Here’s what’s going to be for the future. People have been saying that I should set the ground rules for this place. Here’s the groundrule:
We will be civil to one another.
That’s it.
Now that’s more a guideline than a rule, because I don’t expect perfection. I don’t expect that no one will ever slip up. Me, you, anyone. And I sure don’t need a thread to devolve into, “Hey! You weren’t civil! You violated the groundrule of this board! Get ‘im!” I do expect, though, that everyone is going to try. The simplest way to do that is to focus on what the person says rather than the person himself.
I think one of the best examples of proper comportment was the way my father handled himself a few months back. A whole bunch of opinions were flying about regarding Israel. Many were speaking from ignorance. My father shows up. First thing he does his introduce himself. Gives his full name. Next thing he does his gives his credentials as to why he’s qualified to speak with expertise about the subject. At which point he does so, without insulting others who hold different opinions.
One other thing, for the sake of convenience: At my instruction, Glenn is going to be reversing the order of name-to-post. Until now, the name has been at the bottom of the post, like a signature. No more. Now the name will be at the top. That way, if there’s someone who you just don’t want to deal with, you see his name and know to skip to the next post.
I have thoughts as to what to do if someone becomes exhausitively, relentlessly abusive. But what I’m hoping is that the preferred level of discourse will discourage that ilk from showing up or staying around.
If not, well…there’s other ways.
So that’s what’s gonna be.
PAD
See, I’ve got an interesting conflict here.
Several years ago, I did a store appearance in England, and this guy showed up. He did so solely and specifically to berate me and my work, informing me loudly and repeatedly that everything I wrote sucked. He then proceeded to stand there and berate people standing on line, challenging their intelligence and taste because they were fans of my work. This went on for about twenty minutes, with the store clerks being either too polite or too afraid of the guy to do anything, until I personally threw the guy out because he was bothering the hëll out of people.
I find myself in a similar situation now. On the one hand, I am a firm believer in free speech. On the other hand, some folks have been e-mailing me privately and asking me to make certain individuals on this board go away, arguing that having them around is akin to having a guy walk into the middle of your living room and lighting his own farts.
So the question is: Does throwing people out of this website because they’re obnoxious and insulting (and apparently come here solely to irritate people since they clearly don’t like the opinions of the vast majority of posters) present a conflict with my commitment to free speech?
If you vote “yes,” I’ll let them stay. If you vote “no,” we’ll try to find a way to boot them permanently. Not quite sure how, but it’ll be interesting to try and find a way…and I bet we’d have *lots* of people volunteering to help find it.
You guys decide if I should vote people off the island.
PAD
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