Failing Better
The first time I’ve ever been interviewed, and it’s out now.
You can read my witterings about how the state of modern SF is affected by the times in which we live in this month’s issue of SciFiNow, available from all good newsagents.
Every time I think about it, I still get slightly surprised.
So, apparently Internet Petitions aren’t worth the photons they’re written with.
Which might be considered a shame if, like me, you’d signed one recently in an attempt to get a second series of Being Human commissioned.
Oops.
This phenomenon is known as Slacktivism.
It’s like activism, only it doesn’t require you to get your hands dirty, and it doesn’t work. It’s the warm fuzzy feeling you get from forwarding an email to help collect first names for a school project or not buying petrol on May 15th, despite the fact that these things absolutely will not work.
Isn’t it great? You can make a difference, without actually having to do anything! Give yourself a big hug! You deserve it!
Well, if you really want a place to go and ask for a new series of Being Human, here’s how to do it:
Unfortunately, it takes a few more clicks than signing an Internet Petition.
On the plus side, it’s guaranteed to be read by someone at the BBC, and a summary will be forwarded to the channel executive.
That would be Danny Cohen, the man who actually has the power to make a decision whether or not it gets recommissioned.
I’ve made up for my earlier slackassery.
So if there’s some feedback you want to give the BBC – about anything – door’s open.
Jonathan Coulton is playing his first ever UK gig at Dingwalls in Camden this coming Thursday.
If you don’t know JoCo, he’s behind some classic tunes including Re: Your Brains, a rather fine cover of Sir Mix-a-lot’s Baby Got Back and the, frankly, heartbreaking love song Code Monkey.
Not to mention the fact that he did the magnificent closing song for Portal.
A lot of people on the Internet right now are talking about the 1,000 true fans that, when you have them, enable you to give up the day job and make a living from your art. Well, JoCo is living proof.
If you hurry, there are still a few tickets left.
Just bought my ticket for this years Screenwriters Festival.
There are 15 Early Bird tickets left as I post – save yourself thirty quid by picking one up now!