Friday 14 December 2012

Gun laws


RIP to the innocent victims of the Newton, Connecticut shooting.

This is just the latest in a long and unnecessary line of mass shootings in the United States. When is the US government going to wake up and realise that it shouldn't be about an individual’s right to bear arms, but about a society’s right to be safe. Their job is to protect their people, create a country in which everyone can live with the right to be safe and treated equally. Yet time and time again they prove that the antiquated right to bear arms is more important than the right of an entire nation to safely leave their house and take part in day to day activities that a lot of us around the world take for granted and don't think twice about. The Constitution was created in the 1700's. This is the 21st century and it's high time that the US government stopped treating this document like the be all and end all and understand that like anything else it has to evolve with the times. Just because something was relevant in the 1700's does not make it relevant in the 2000's. Move forward; don't get stuck in the past to the detriment of society and their safety.

Yes it is people killing people, but they are using guns and it’s high time that ease of access was removed. In Australia on 28 April 1996 one of the darkest days in our recent history occurred in the form of the Port Arthur massacre where 35 people lost their lives and 23 people were wounded. The Australian government made it their mission to ensure that this could never happen again and gun laws in Australia became strict and civilian guns were recalled. The Aussie people voluntarily gave up their guns and tight licensing policies were put in place. Cops, military and farmers are allowed to own guns and last I heard if a farmer leaves the land they must forfeit their gun and their license. Australia has not seen such an event since these laws were put in place. Laws put in place by a government who understood that society as a whole were more important than the individual beliefs of those who think that they should have a right to have a gun. In Australia you cannot just walk into a shop and buy a gun or ammunition and you most certainly cannot just get your hands on an automatic weapon. That is simply unheard of.

I don’t want the right to own a gun. I have never met anyone in Australia who wants the right to own a gun. In fact as a kid my brother and I were not even allowed toy guns and nor were we interested in them. So why is it that there are still enough people in the United States in the 21st century who’s belief it is that they have a right to bear arms that they can basically control and manipulate the government into not making a decision that is necessary and beneficial to the safety of its people. Governments need to stop listening to individuals on certain issues and instead put society’s interests, safety and rights first. That’s their job; that is why we elect these people into a position of power, to do what is right by us. And what is right by society is that they can safely leave their homes without the fear that some gun wielding maniac with a grudge is going to open fire. That they can go to school, the shops, the cinemas, etc and not have to wonder if someone is going to kill them. I can’t imagine living in a country where I didn't know if doing these every day activities meant it could be my last day. Welcome to the 21st century America, please join the rest of us.  

Thursday 25 October 2012

Respecting Celebrities

The Internet allows us the opportunity to communicate with people all over the world. It provides us the opportunity to connect with people in the public eye; an opportunity that is often taken for granted. Those in the public eye are not obligated to communicate with us; it is an honour not a right. They generously give of their spare time or down moments to do so and some people repay them by treating them like property, demeaning them, harassing them or generally being disrespectful and inappropriate.

What some of you seem to forget is that celebrities are real people with real feelings. They are entitled to private lives and down time and do not have to justify their absence to us, we don’t own them. Their professions may be in the public but their private lives are just that: private. What they choose to share with us is entirely up to them, what they don’t is none of our business. We do not have a right to their personal lives any more than anyone in our own lives has a right to pry into our own personal business. And just because someone is in the public eye doesn't mean that their children and families are. They should be free to be online like any one of us, without fans swarming. They did not choose the public life and we should respect that. If someone introduces their family members and states that it’s ok to interact with them than that is a different story.

Celebrities are not your girlfriends/boyfriends. Finding someone attractive and complimenting them on their looks is on thing. Making sexual comments online, particularly in their mentions is perverted. They are people, not meat and deserve to be treated with dignity not reduced to body parts. Would you really talk the way some of you do to/about celebs to someone you were actually dating? Because some of the comments, twitter locations, banners, DPs, and things that make it onto tumblr are downright disgusting. And just because you are a teenage girl does NOT make it cute. If a guy said some of the things I see teenage girls put out there they would have their heads bitten off. Double standard much!? How would you feel if someone said such things to you or your daughter/son as if you/they were nothing more than a sex object?

Just because we are fans of someone’s work doesn't mean they have to work on our timeline. It is their careers, their talent and visions that they generously share with us. They should be free to pursue the paths they choose on their own schedule, within the bounds of any professional contracts they may have. I for one would rather see something that they are proud of and that is meaningful to them than something they just churned out for the sake of it or to meet demands. Asking something over and over again isn't going to change the outcome. We don't know what is going on behind the scenes so why harass celebs over something they may have no control over. We are not the only people in the equation, have you ever considered how it makes them feel to see the repetitive questioning to things we don’t know the whole story on. Consider how you feel when someone constantly nags you about something. Being patient doesn't mean that you don’t admire someone’s work, but it does show respect for their feelings. If they have news relevant to the public they will share it in time, not on demand.

If you have the privilege of meeting someone in the public eye or receiving a DM from them the information that you receive as a result of such interaction is private. It is not a bragging right to share with the world at large. You have been entrusted with information, honour that trust and keep it to yourself! If a friend or family member shares something privately with you do you not honour that trust? How is it different if that trust is bestowed upon you by someone in the public eye? Just because they are famous doesn't mean they don’t have the right to be respected and their trust in you upheld.

Many celebrities have asked bluntly or more subtly for people not to spam them. They have so many mentions and to have to scroll through all the spam must get old. It also means the rest of us get lost in the onslaught and makes it harder for them to reply to people should they wish to. There are also boundaries that need to be respected. Their private lives are not our personal jungle gyms and to act as though they are is disrespectful and inappropriate. Like everyone else they are entitled to their opinions. If you don't like something they have to say you don't have to reply. If you don’t like someone’s work that’s fine, everyone has different tastes, but that doesn't give you the right to slander them online for it. There is constructive criticism and then there is bashing. The world really doesn't need more hate.


Celebrities are not pawns in your sick games of pit one person against the other. Everyone is entitled to have their favourites and everyone is entitled to make comments on someone’s talent. Nobody is right or wrong. If everyone liked the same things the world would be a boring place. However, trying to prove that your favourite is the best by slandering other celebs and their fans is disgusting. These are again real people you are bashing in the name of your own favourite. They have feelings. And you are hardly being a proud representative of a fandom when you assume that the person you are barracking for would be alright with you putting down their friends and co-workers in their name. Respect each other and those who are generous enough to share their talents with us. 

For people who claim to respect, love and admire these people some of you sure have a bizarre way of showing it. Just because you have the safety of a computer screen or other such device between you does not give you the right to be hurtful, disrespectful or inappropriate. Online persona is not an excuse. You are still choosing to act that way. There are boundaries and some of you run right on past them and don't stop for anyone or anything. People often talk about such behaviour ruining things for everyone else, and while this may very well be true I am personally more concerned about the feelings of those who are subject to such things on a daily basis than my own enjoyment of interacting with these wonderful people. I would not blame some of the celebs if they pulled away from social networking altogether with the endless crap that ends up in their mentions and only intensifies at the smallest of things. Mountains are made out of mole hills on an increasingly regular basis and at the brunt of the speculation, demands and gossip are real people with real feelings, people who don’t deserve to be treated this way. Like everyone else they have the right to feel safe online and if minimising their interaction online is what they need to do to avoid such things their happiness is more important to me than their continued generosity to communicate with us.
  
So before you go mentioning someone in the public eye put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself how you would feel if someone treated you like that. I’d like to hope that you would not wish to be treated the same way.


Saturday 22 September 2012

Bullying


It is a sad world we live in if someone considers being asked nicely to consider the feelings of others bullying. It should not be an imposition on anyone to be respectful. It doesn't take long to put yourself in someone else's shoes before saying something you can't take back or posting something without thought to how others will feel.

Freedom of speech never has and never will be the right to say whatever you want, to whomever you want, whenever you want and damn the consequences. It’s a right to information. Nobody is saying you aren’t entitled to an opinion; but why is it so cumbersome and why do people act like they are being victimised when asked to consider people’s feelings other than their own. We live in a community, be that our immediate one or the global one of the Internet.

Everyone is entitled to an informed opinion, but nobody is entitled to hurt others. Everybody’s opinion is important to them but nobody’s opinion is more important than someone else’s on a global scale so why is it that difficult for some people to be considerate of other’s feelings. It is not hypocritical to suggest that everyone's opinion is important. Some people don’t seem to realise how much words can hurt. How being bullied leaves scars that no matter how much you try to deny them are there and live with you every day of your life. That they affect decisions you make, who you choose to trust and what you choose to share with people. Life isn’t high school; we all did that stint, so why do some people continue to make us feel like we are reliving that experience all over again.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected. Respect has always been extremely important to me. I would never intentionally make someone feel the way I’ve been made to feel at various times in my life, and if I ever do it’s completely unintentional and I’m deeply sorry. However I will not be treated like crap for standing up for the right to be treated with the same respect that you yourself would wish from those around you. Attacking my character is uncalled for and threatening to unfollow me is unnecessary. If you don't like my polite requests for equal consideration maybe you should consider why you don't like them instead of attacking me. Maybe you just don't like the reflection you are seeing in my words. Either way don't take it out on me, or put words into my mouth; I'm not looking for a fight. I'm not interested in arguing; all I'm interested in is people treating others the way they would wish to be treated. And I for one wish to be treated with respect.

I take the time to respect your right to your opinion. If respecting someone’s opinion means not doing or saying something around them than I am happy to do that because I can’t conscionably ask the same in return if I am not willing to do so myself. Is it really too much that I ask the same in return? 

FYI I believe this regardless of the topic in question. For example I don't drink but would not tell someone else they can't. I don't like spoilers for certain shows, but even if I did I would remind people to tag for those who don't. I believe within the bounds of the law everyone is entitled to live their lives their way and that nobody has the right to say otherwise. I believe everyone should be born to the same base rights regardless of gender, race, sexuality, religion or political leanings. I always try to consider others before I act. There are many topics that if they are broached with me online I will take to a private conversation because I don't want to offend others reading it. Some people may see this as over the top or unrealistic but this is how I choose to live my life. I'm not however asking or expecting others to live by my rules; just to show basic common courtesy. We do after all have to share this planet.

~*~
***Star Trek Voyager: Message in a Bottle***
Seven: State your reasons for making these modifications.
B’Elanna: “State your reasons, please." lt's not what you say, Seven. lt's how you say it.
Seven: l don't understand.
B’Elanna: You may have noticed that some of the crew seem a bit...on edge when you're around.
Seven: l was Borg. l elicit apprehension.
B’Elanna: No, that's not what l mean. We're not afraid that you're going to assimilate us. We're just not used to... You just... You're rude.
Seven: l am rude.
B’Elanna: Yes. Yes. You order people around; you do things without permission; and whether you realise it or not, you come off as a little insulting. You don't even say "please" or "thank you." Look, l don't expect you to change overnight, but try to remember that we are not just a bunch of drones.
Seven: Your attempt to recalibrate the interface is ill- advised. The risk of disrupting our link is too great.
B’Elanna: ln your opinion. That is exactly what l'm talking about. You haven't even been listening to me.
l don't know why l try to talk to you if you don't even...

Thursday 20 September 2012

Tagging Spoilers


Member of the Castle spoiler free club!

I have long ago lost count of how many times I have politely asked people in the Castle fandom to tag spoilers on twitter. It is not that difficult to type #spoiler at the start of each tweet about an episode that hasn’t been released yet. As for Facebook have people considered creating a group or page where people can discuss spoilers and post pictures so that they don't end up on everyone's timelines through personal posts. 

The Internet forms a community and like any community there are people with varying opinions. Not everyone likes spoilers, so please be considerate and respectful and tag anything relating to an unaired episode. Also please don't use spoilery pictures as your display pictures.

I did my stint in high school and I don’t like being made to feel like I am back there because people can’t think beyond their own concerns. I am tired of being ostracised from using my social networking accounts because I’m worried of being spoiled. I have just as much right to be online as the rest of you. Excitement is not an excuse. I’m excited and yet I still tag my posts (with something distinguishing) when I watch the episodes because I know not everyone can see them at the same time as me. When you claim that excitement is an excuse not only are you ostracising the spoiler free by not tagging spoilers you are now also insinuating that we are not as excited because we don’t like them. Those who enjoy spoilers do not have more right to be online than those who don’t. And it doesn’t make you a better fan because you want to know every little detail you can get your hands on. We are all fans regardless of our feelings about spoilers. It takes less than ten seconds to type #spoiler and it only uses up eight characters. Quit being inconsiderate and acting like you are more important than the rest of us. I’m sick of being made to feel like I’m a second class citizen in this fandom.  





Saturday 8 September 2012

Sexism



How can someone compare the most violent and personal of violations to changing a tyre!

Women are not just afterthoughts to be dealt with like a menial chore. Our safety and rights are not something to be set aside like a contingency for a rainy day. Rape is a serious issue and yet some of these American politicians act as though its victims are a burden to society. They come across as unsympathetic and totally lacking in any compassion; like they’ve never met a women in their lives. They act as though rape is something that just happens and should be dealt with. But women are not second class citizens and rape is not some nothing issue to be swept under the rug. The victims are not the ones who should be made to feel like they did something wrong and women should certainly not have put money aside in case of rape.

It’s deplorable the comments concerning rape and women that are coming out of certain American politicians at the moment. The fact that even one person thinks like this is disgusting. The fact that people make the choice to leave their house and voluntarily vote for these people, because yes voting is a choice in the State, not mandatory like in Australia, is downright scary.

For those who haven’t noticed we live in the 21st century, not the dark ages. Women are not second class citizens and our bodies are not your property to decide the fate of. Stop vindicating these monsters and start protecting the victims. Stop treating women as though they caused the issue and start dealing with those who actually do. Get out of your old fashioned headspace and realise that women have just as much right as men to be safe, productive members of society. This is not a man’s world and women are just living in it. This is everyone’s world and it’s high time everyone realised this. 

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Rape is rape. Choice is personal.




We live in the 21st century and yet it may as well be the dark ages when people like congressman Todd Akin come out and claim “a women’s body can block an unwanted pregnancy during rape” in what he has termed legitimate rape. Deplorable and inhumane don’t even begin to describe these claims. The words ‘legitimate’ and ‘rape’ should never appear in the same sentence. The idea that someone asks to be raped is disgusting. No means no regardless of who it comes from. A person’s body is not property; nobody has a right to use or abuse it as they please. 

Nobody except those who are victims of rape know what it feels like to have their entire world turned upside down. Or understand that regardless of how you think you may react you will never know until in a situation nobody should ever find themselves in. Rape is quite often a silent crime in that the victim is too young, scared or even ashamed to come forward. It is a crime that happens more often than any of us can comprehend. And it is never, under any circumstances legitimate. 

And if these claims are not offensive enough there is also the debate over whether a woman has the right to abort a child conceived as a result of a rape. Is it not enough that these women have been violated in the most personal and violent way possible; but a portion of society also believes they have the right to tell said women that they must carry, deliver and possibly raise their rapist’s child? Nobody, especially a man, has the right to impose such a personal choice on a woman. This lack of ability to choose only adds to the disrespect and violation they have already experienced.

There is a lot of talk about anti-abortion on religious grounds. However religion is as individual and personal as our bodies and should not determine something for everyone. Why is more value placed on one set of beliefs over another? Why do the beliefs of one religion get to make decisions for society as a whole when one religion does not represent society as a whole? We should all have the right to choose our own destiny; decide what happens to our own bodies based on our own beliefs. Beliefs and rights are two completely different things and the former should not have an impact on that later. Everyone has their own moral code. Everyone is entitled to those moral codes. But nobody is entitled to impose those moral codes on someone else. The right to choose has nothing to do with our own personal beliefs and yet everything to do with our own personal choices. The right to choose not to impose. Our lives, our bodies, our choice.

There are way too many circumstances to take in consideration to say that one way is suitable for all people. It's not about science; it's about law. It's not about religion; it's about choice. It should only be about choice. Pro-life & pro-choice are two different things. Everyone should have the right to choose; how they exercise that right is up to them.

When discussing the rights of society why does it matter what you or I individually think. The rights of society are about representing everyone and protecting the greater good. The option should be there for everyone to make their own decisions on issues that relate directly and specifically to their own lives and bodies. What each of us believe individually is important to us but it is not relevant to whether or not as a society we should have the right to choose. How any of us feel about, in this case, abortion is not the issue. The issue is whether or not we have the legal right to our beliefs. Currently not everyone does have that legal right; not everyone’s beliefs are represented and therefore they do not have a choice over the destiny of their own bodies.

There is this fear of speaking out about such issues because they are controversial and there is such a definitive voice already established in the debate. However if the right to choose is not discussed publicly and rationally; if people don't fight for this right, then nothing will ever change. If the victims of rape are not given a voice; the safety to speak out when their very definition of safety has been shattered then perpetrators will continue to walk free and victims will continue to suffer the additional pain of knowing they are out there.

“All right, think of it this way. Every time you talk about yourself, you use the word we. We want this, we want that. You don't even know how to think of yourself as a single individual. You don't say, I want this, or I am Hugh. We are all separate individuals. I am Geordi. I choose what I want to do with my life. I make decisions for myself. For somebody like me, losing that sense of individuality is almost worse than dying.”
~Star Trek: The Next Generation – ‘I, Borg’~

Monday 20 August 2012

NOH8




Love is not a right, it’s an emotion. We don’t choose who we love, love chooses us. Nobody should have to fight for the right to human emotion. Marriage is not homosexual, it’s a union. Love is not homosexual, it’s an emotion. A percentage of people are homosexual, but that is only one part of who they are, not what defines them. What defines a person is not who they love, but how they treat others and live their lives. Sexuality, gender, race, religion or political views should not be characteristics that hierarchy people and determine which rights they are and aren’t entitled to. Everyone should be born to the same set of rights. If someone chooses to forfeit these rights that is their choice; but we should not be denied them simply on the basis of what we are.

People too often hide behind ‘freedom of speech’, but this is not a right to say whatever you want, to whoever you want and damn the consequences. “With great power comes great responsibility.” People may have the broader right to a freedom of speech but we are not the only ones on the planet and with that right comes the responsibility to consider how your comments affect others. Freedom of speech is not a right to hurt or belittle others just because you can. I do not find an informed opinion different to my own insulting. Everyone has a right to an informed opinion. People do not however have a right to enforce an opinion rooted in ignorance on someone who is living their lives to the best of their ability and harming nobody. There are legal activities that I don’t partake in but am hardly going to deny people the right to choose to take part in those activities for themselves. Nor am I going to turn away a potential friend because they do not live up to my life choices. We would be a planet of lonely people if we only let people in who agreed with us. My life is mine to live and yours is yours; THAT is the beauty of freedom.

Those who are homosexual are part of the same society as those who are heterosexual. They breathe the same air, they need to eat and drink to survive, they go to school, have jobs and whether some people like it or not they fall in love. They have the right to marry, start families and be represented just like straight people do. Rights that the heterosexual members of community are born to and take for granted.

Marriage:

Nobody is asking the generic you to marry someone of the same gender or even attend a wedding between a same sex couple. To those who say that gays are ruining the sanctity of marriage; take a look at the divorce rates among the heterosexual community before you make judgement on what defines and takes away from the sanctity of marriage. Sure people grow apart, and for these people to end a marriage or relationship is the right decision. But consider that there are people marrying and divorcing not only years later as they grow apart but in the course of months, weeks and even days. It is these whirlwind unions that make a mockery of marriage and commitment. If two consenting adults are in a loving, committed relationship it is this, not the gender of the couple in question that matters. Marriage is a commitment between people who are in love with each other. Nobody says ‘straight marriage’ so why should anyone say ‘gay marriage’. Hopefully one day marriage will be a single rather than segregated term.

Families:

Just as everyone should have the right to marry the person they love they should have the right to start a family with that person if they wish. Same sex couples may not be able to procreate in the most commonly accepted manner; but neither can all heterosexual couples. Does this mean that they are not entitled to start a family either? There are sperm donors, surrogate mothers, IVF and adoption: all options freely open to heterosexual couples or even single people wishing to start a family. These options should be equally available to same sex couples wishing to start a family.

To those who say that same sex couples ruin the sanctity of family; would you prefer a child grow up in an abusive heterosexual household or a loving homosexual one? To those who think that a child growing up with gay parents will ‘turn’ them gay: 1/ you don’t choose your sexuality, you are born to it; and 2/ where do you think gay people come from (generally straight parents).

Would you turn away your child or a long-time friend because you find out they are gay? They are the same person you have always known; only difference is who you now know they love. Words leave scars and these scars are often the hardest to bear. Your hate may be what pushes someone, be they someone you know or a complete stranger reading your words online, over the edge and ends with them taking their lives. Put yourself in their shoes: how would YOU like someone to tell you that you weren’t allowed to marry the person you love because it makes them uncomfortable.

“Sometimes we're strong, sometimes we're weak
Sometimes we're hurt and it cuts deep
We live this life breath to breath
We're all the same, we all bleed red”
~Bleed Red: Ronnie Dunn~

Sunday 29 July 2012

#10FavouriteLyrics





In no particular order 

“You're gonna fly with every dream you chase | You're gonna cry but know that that's okay | Sometimes life's not fair but if you hang in thereYou’re Gonna Be by Reba McEntire

“She handed me a heart shaped locket that said | ‘To thine own self be true’” Fancy by Reba McEntire

Be yourself everybody else is taken | And no one else can do the things you do” Be Yourself by Melinda Schneider

“You don't know it's right until it's wrong | You don't know it's yours until it's gone | I didn't know that it was home ‘til you up and left” Come and Find Me by Josh Ritter

“You say I’m complicated & tragic | Well you see what you want to see | I just don’t get it why you’re so sympathetic | Cause I couldn’t feel more like me | No I don’t want your pity | Hunny keep it too yourself | You might be heading right | But I’m still turning left” My Own Thing by Jasmine Rae

‘Some of the greatest stories get told when there’s nothing left to defend.’ & ‘Some of the bravest stories get told because of life’s ups & downs.’ Just Because of Me by Aleyce Simmonds

“Shadows scatter in the morning | Stars shine brighter in the night | I just need to hear you whisper it’s alright | It’s alright” The Man Across the Street by Amber Lawrence

 “You got it going on | Everything about you | Is everything a shallow girl would wanna cling to | You got the money, got the car, got the real estate, | The bluest eyes in the world | Right moves, right words, right now | Wrong girl” Wrong Girl by Dianna Corcoran

 “What doesn't kill you makes you stronger | Stand a little taller | Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone” Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

“And life makes love look hard” Ours by Taylor Swift



Monday 23 July 2012

Is sci-fi like Schrodinger's cat?





Science fiction > sci-fi > SyFy > SF > ???

To me a television station is a television station. As long as someone broadcasts the shows I want to see I'm happy. The exception to this rule is the Sci-Fi channel. The Sci-Fi channel is a place where imaginations soar, where the unbelievable becomes its own reality, where we can imagine a better world and a brighter tomorrow.

Science fiction is a genre that brings people together in a way no other genre has done before. Long before social networking took the world by storm sci-fi fans have been attending conventions; meeting not only the people behind their favourite shows, but fellow fans. They have been forging friendships and sharing interests. Sci-fi fans have become a community, one that bands together, one that gives back to the community at large. We are loyal and we are generous. It is only in more recent years that other genres have started taking their shows to conventions and with the help of the internet fandoms have flourished across genres. People across genres have come to learn the joys that sci-fi fans have known and understood all along; that fandom is powerful.

And yet despite the millions of devoted fans who attend conventions every year all over the world those in the sci-fi industry are not satisfied. Those behind the Star Trek franchise dumbed down Enterprise, ignored elements of established canon, introduced the first non-instrumental theme song and dropped the identity Star Trek from its title; all in the hopes of drawing in a new audience. Four seasons later Enterprise was cancelled; three seasons short of the lifespan of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine & Voyager.  Those behind the Stargate franchise decided that the fan base they had was not enough so in creating Universe went for darker, edgier and very unlike its predecessors SG1 and Atlantis. After alienating a large portion of its fan base in the desire to expand Universe went for two seasons; as opposed to SG1’s ten year and two movie run and Atlantis’ five year (self-cancelled) run. Love or hate Enterprise and Universe there’s no denying these two shows saw the end of their respective franchises in terms of new material. And now the sci-fi channel; known as SyFy (siffy) in the United States and more recently SF in Australia are jumping on the bandwagon.  Not content with the loyal fan base that has enjoyed sci-fi for decades the networks have changed their names to appeal to the general public. There are now more reality shows and wrestling on Syfy than there are new sci-fi shows. Popular shows are being cancelled to the pain of cast/ crew and fans alike. Awarding winning theme songs are being cut because it’s assumed we don’t have an attention span bigger than a gold fish and show runners are constantly fighting the networks desire to dumb down shows because apparently we ‘won’t understand’.  This broader audience the network are seeking have either no apparent interest in sci-fi, no understanding of its power, or an often ignorant belief that it's nothing more than some nerdy genre for people living in their parent’s basements. Apparently having learned nothing from the Star Trek and Stargate franchises the network itself is now looking to drive itself into the ground in the quest for a broader audience.

Having grown up on Star Trek I am from a sci-fi household and it saddens me that the genre that has always been there for me, and that I refused to abandon even through the years of bullying, is slowly dying because the networks don’t wish to maintain this thought provoking, wonderous genre. I have made some of my closest friends and had some of the most amazing and memorable experiences thanks to science fiction. And as much as I love this genre I am coming to the realisation that those behind the networks don’t care about its fans nearly as much as we care about the shows and everything they represent.

I don’t normally like to air such grievances in public, but surely there are enough bullies and simply ignorant people out there already putting down sci-fi fans; labelling us as geeks, which FYI we proudly own. Does the very network that is supposed to imagine greater and house our dreams also have to give the sci-fi viewers a collective wedgie. Are we really that lacking as a group that we are not good enough for you, that you have to change and abandon what we all love in order to reach out to those who don’t get it or simply don’t care? Why are the non-fans so much more important to you than the millions of loyal fans you already have? Don’t we cop enough grief from the community at large without being further ostracised by the network who house the shows we owe so much?
  

Friday 20 July 2012

Movie night becomes real life horror


What is the world coming to that we aren't even safe watching a movie... Going to the movies is supposed to be an enjoyable or moving experience; for many a chance to escape reality for a time. It should be a time to laugh, or feel inspired or learn something new. The only fear should come from a good horror movie or the inevitable scare when something jumps out or makes a loud noise unexpectedly. Going to the movies should not equal fear for your life, looking over your shoulder or wondering if you’ll make it home to see your loved ones.
A long established and much loved movie franchise has now become for some people associated with a night of terror; something many once enjoyed is now soured by pain and loss. A night when they witnessed some of the worst society has to offer. A night when many lost loved ones or were seriously injured. This is not what anyone should take from a movie going experience.
And what puts it even more into perspective is that last night 'RIP *insert twitter name here* got retweeted onto my timeline. I followed the link to the person's account and the last thing they tweeted was trying to convince a friend to join them saying that the movie doesn't start for 20 minutes. An account that will never be used again. One minute conversing with friends about a movie the next gone because of the senseless acts of a gun wielding maniac.
Such terrifying and heartbreaking news. RIP to all those whose lives were lost in the Auroa Colorado shooting and a speedy recovery to those who were injured.