The Inkster

A quick bit of Equal Marriage research.

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:15 -0400

Right, I have around 600 followers, odds are that some of you are opposed to gay people getting married. But, I’ve never heard a defence of this position that I agree with. So, if you’re an opponent of equal marriage, I want to know why.

Tell me, in as much length as you like, why you believe gay people should not be permitted to get married.

When I have all the answers, I’ll put them together and see if there’s a theme. I want to get as many responses as possible, so if you want to reblog this, I’d be grateful.

(A quick note, a common answer to this question goes something like this “Gay people already have the same rights as straight people, they can marry a member of the opposite sex.” If that’s your position, please clarify why marrying someone of the same sex is a problem.)

Lord Tebbit...

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:25:12 -0400

Lord Tebbit in the news today, hugely unhappy because he believes equal marriage will contribute to the downfall of human civilisation. His “arguments” are as follows.

1: If gay people can marry, we could have a lesbian queen (gasp) and an heir conceived through artificial insemination.

The fact that Tebbit thinks a lesbian queen would be a bad thing in itself shows you exactly what his problem is. Furthermore, we could have an heir conceived through artificial insemination under the current system and it doesn’t seem to be causing any problems.

2: If gay people can marry, Tebbit could marry his own son to avoid inheritance tax.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that super-rich old left wingers will do a lot to avoid paying tax, but I don’t think this is very likely. I mean, Mothers can’t legally marry their sons, why would we suddenly create a loophole for Fathers and Sons with the introduction of equal marriage?

I suppose it’s true, anyone can be a lord.

Because I was asked.

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:53:00 -0400

Written on an iPad. Please forgive a few typos.

“This would probably spawn an essay, but how do you hold Moffat to RTD in New Who as a writer. Note: I have not seen the last 4 episodes of the current season of Doctor Who. I am Swedish, so my acquisition methods are non-standard shall we say.”

Well, I have written a LOT about this over the last few days so I’m not going to go into it all again but I do have some things to offer. Basically, the show in’t about adventures in time and space anymore. It’s about the next big twist in the Doctor’s life.

I haven’t said much about the race, gender, LGBT issues in Moffat’s writing because there are a lot of people who can communicate those problems better than I can. Suffice to say, while RTD had his problems, Moffat’s Who is a lot less inclusive and a lot more problematic. Personally, I find it hard to get past Moffat’s astonishingly bad storytelling.

I griped about RTD during his era, but there are a few things I think he got right. He established the 45 minute format for the show, the post-Time War setting that sets the show free from a lot of the continuity issues and he seemed to have a good handle on what the show was about and the values of the character. What RTD did best, that has been lost after Series 5, was produce a show in which 10 out of 13 episodes were usually strong, well paced, well structured and could be appreciated by a very wide section of the audience. I very rarely enjoyed RTD’s season finales, which I found to be self indulgent and over dramatic. Little did I know, Moffat would adopt this model for his tenure.

My problems with Moffat, as I’ve said, are varied, but I think that the biggest problem is that he has sacrificed the format of 13 mostly self contained episodes in favour of increasingly convoluted plot arcs. This was particularly bad in Series 6, but hasn’t improved much in Series 7. While the episodes this year were being pitched as all being self contained, they aren’t really. The entire show I written right now with a philosophy of contsructing every scene to advance, not the plot of the current story, but the series arc, and the “epic” nature of the Doctor.

In summary:

Under RTD the show had problems, but every episode stood alone and was enjoyable. Even the worst of his era are, at the very least, internally consistent, reasonably paced and of some enjoyment.

Under Moffat the show has moved from being largely plot driven, to being entirely centred around building up the Doctor’s character. No individual episode stands alone, every 45 minute block is crammed, every scene is the Doctor’s finest moments, every line is the Doctor’s most important, every emotionon Matt Smith’s face is a Rare Dramatic Turn TM.

People downplay Moffat’s changes, but even if you take away the problematic elements, the show’s very core has been altered.

How can a person get over their biggest fear?

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:06:00 -0400

You’re asking the wrong person, I’m not much of a fear overcomer. When I was a kid I hated going down escalators, I “overcame” it by forcing myself to go down them over and over but I still only use them when I have no choice.

The best thing to do, I would imagine, is to take it in stages.

Firstly, is the fear worth overcoming? I don’t like Rollercoasters, but I don’t particularly want to ride them. I probably could overcome my fear of Rollercoasters by forcing myself on one and riding it all day, but personally I don’t find value in overcoming a fear for its own sake.

Secondly, once you’ve decided you do want to overcome your fear, try to understand what it is you are afraid of. If you’re trying to overcome it, it’s probably not hazardous to your health. You probably know it’s nothing to be afraid of. Listen to that rational part of your mind and trust it.

Lastly, expose yourself to your fear. Force yourself to do whatever it is your afraid of until the initial gut fear dies down enough that you know you’re capable of doing it and you could do it again. The rest is time and practice.

I'm coming to a rather difficult part of the first draft of my story, a part where I must link together more awesome parts with less awesome ones and its a bit difficult. Its not that the scenes are that bad, they're necessary, I just don't like writing them. Have you ever dealt with something like this? If so, any tips?

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:59:00 -0400

A few. For next time, don’t write like you’re cherry picking lucky charms, picking all the nice bits and leaving crud left over in the box. It’s hard to find motivation to go back and finish those dregs. Besides, there shouldn’t be awesome bits and not-so awesome bits. A good story flows from scenery scene, each building on the last until it reaches a satisfying conclusion. If I were you, I’d put all the bits you’ve written in order and start your second draft from there. Rewrite, adding only what is absolutely to the structure of your story, focusing on a smooth, seamless flow from start to finish.

What is the first thing you think when you see a star?

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:55:00 -0400

I don’t notice stars much these days. I think it’s because I grew up in the Outer Hebridies in Scotland where there’s very little pollution and the stars are brilliant. In the city where I live now they’re very muddy and hidden by comparison.

When I do notice the stars, I’m struck by the knowledge that their light has travelled so far, most stars are dead and gone by the time we see them. That they died so long ago but continue to provide such beauty is the amazing thing about stars to me.

What are ten songs you think everyone needs to love?

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:52:00 -0400

Leonard Cohen: Hallelujah

Colin Hay: Waiting for my Real Life to Begin

Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone

All Along The Watchtower (Hendrix Cover!

Aretha Franklin: House That Jack Built

Dusty Springfield: Son of a Preacher Man

Caetano Veloso and Lila Dawn: Burn it Blue

Motion City Soundtrack: Hold Me Down

Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson: Say Say Say

Tilly and the Wall: Fell Down The Stairs

That’s about it.

Do you have any advice regarding low self-esteem when it comes to writing? Also, is it warm outside?

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:09:00 -0400

Separate your writing and editing process. Low self esteem and confidence issues should be kept for the rewriting stage. When you’re working on your first draft you should just write as audaciously and as enthusiastically as you can. You’ll probably have something totally over the top by rewrite time, but they you can let your cautious side take over and tone it down. Don’t even think about quality while you’re drafting.

It’s been a petty warm day all day today here.

Ask me anything, peoples...

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:52:03 -0400

I could use the social interaction.

Yawn Time for a bit of early morning Have I Got News for You. #hignfy

Sat, 18 May 2013 04:02:22 -0400

*Yawn* Time for a bit of early morning Have I Got News for You. #hignfy

I would just like to reiterate to that anon that everyone has the right to their own opinions and can voice them. After all, we live in a society with freedom and speech. No opinion is wrong - opinions are subjective things.

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:42:16 -0400

Consider it reiterated.

Just because you have bad taste doesn't mean the rest of us have to have it too. Also on that note, you may have an opinion but it's the wrong opinion and you're not entitled to share them, even if you are entitled to have them. So keep them to your self.

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:30:26 -0400

Oh my, where to begin.

Firstly, I don’t really care if you think I have bad taste. This is, after all, my tumblr. If you don’t like what I have to say, there is an ignore function. Though, if you want to ignore everyone who doesn’t share your tastes, the Internet probably isn’t for you.

Secondly, unlike yourself, I’m not threatened by people with different ideas. I don’t care if people share my taste or not. In fact, the most educational conversations I have ever had have been with people who disagree with me. If you are so insecure in your own tastes that you can’t hear an opposing point of view without getting angry at the source, then I feel sorry for you.

Thirdly, I’m entitled to have and opinion AND to share it. Any opinions I have are posted on MY tumblr, MY twitter, MY blog etc. etc. etc. What I post in my own space, and how I reply to others (others who disagree more politely than yourself, by the way) is my own business. Like I said, if you don’t like it, tumblr has an ignore function.

Fourthly, I have never been rude, aggressive or deliberately unpleasant in expressing my views here. I have only ever posted replies to people who replied to me. I fail to see how this is forcing my tastes on others.

And finally, I think it’s remarkable that you can accuse me of trying to push my opinions on others, while you are sending out vague, anonymous messages, trying to bully those you disagree with. I don’t like bullies, especially those who daren’t even put their name to their self obsessed crap.

OK, I've been picked up on this a couple of times...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:05:00 -0400

A couple of days ago I made a post about shipping characters in gay relationships, and how I found it a little creepy in the way it fetishised gay couples etc. etc.

First post here: http://owenadams.tumblr.com/post/50573848604/i-cant-be-the-only-one-who-finds-these-homoerotic

And I had a few responses criticising that post, and I think they’re right. I didnt consider the dearth of LGBT representation in the media when I wrote it. Which, for obvious reasons, is pretty dumb. I wrote the post without really thinking, and was pretty careless.

My bad. Sincere apologies.

More on Moffat's Who...

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:20:00 -0400

Ok, tumblr is really awkward with replies so I’m just going to paste this is here.

Originally from: http://roryslair.tumblr.com/post/50604655899/re-i-wish-people-would-stop

This is a fairly long post with a lot of points in it, so I’m going to leave my responses in bold within the original text. Because of the way the original post was phrased, I’m placed in the awkward position of comparing and contrasting RTD to Moffat to make my point. However, I would like to say that I didn’t think RTD was perfect, he made a lot of decisions I wouldn’t have made. I think the key difference, however, was that under RTD the show was (ususally) solid, well plotted and consistent.

“I’m interested in your viewpoint, so I’d like to discuss this.

(I’ll be responding to your rebuttal to that anon as much as this post, incidentally)

It’s a common misconception that Moffat does not like the classic series.This stems from a few places, but I’d say that it mostly comes from an interview he gave quite some time ago, where he said that most of the classic series didn’t hold up. That’s often taken out of context, and he later clarified that he meant the production values and much of the writing didn’t hold up to modern standards, which, as a fan of the classic series, I agree with. The money just wasn’t there for the visual effects and sets they needed at the time and there were several periods where the show struggled to find good writers, and the quality of the series suffered as a result.

(I think there’s a difference between “like” and “respect,” obviously he wouldn’t be a Doctor Who writer if he didn’t like the show, but he rarely showed much respect for it before ‘05. This is sort of irrelevant to my point though, which is less about how much he enjoys Old Who as a viewer, as it is about how he treats the material as the new showrunner. Personally, I don’t think the sort of lofty reverence of the classic era that a lot of fans seem to hope for, would even be a good thing.)

But to claim that Moffat has no respect for the classic series (or RTD’s run) is absurd! He grew up with the show and it’s made his career. He wouldn’t have written for the EU back in the nineties if he didn’t genuinely love the show. Likewise, he is good friends with Davies, so of course he respects his friend’s work.

(He didn’t really write for the EU in the Nineties though. He openly didn’t care for the Virgin New Adventures and his contributions were limited to a couple of short stories and the comic relief sketches. Again, it’s irrelevant, I’m not questioning Moffat’s personal feelings towards the show in the 90s, but his role a showrunner.)

Yes, Moffat throws in lots of references and winks. Isn’t that what RTD did? The Cyberman head in Dalek, the Macra in Gridlock, and the reference to the UNIT dating controversy in The Sontaran Stratagem were pretty much identical to the kind of references Moffat makes. They’re little winks to the fans that don’t have any plot relevance, and both are guilty of putting them in.

(I don’t think this is what RTD did at all. Firstly, to take your examples, The Cyberman head is a really good example of a good reference to the past. The characters are well established by that point, they’re in a museum of Alien artefacts, the Doctor needs to see one and comment on it. It makes just as much sense no matter how familiar with the series you are. I like the Macra in Gridlock a lot less, but I understand the decision. It adds nothing to the plot, I’d even say it detracts in the place of an original monster, and they aren’t even like the Macra from the Macra terror. However, they are just used in place of any other original monster that isn’t key to the plot. In the same way they use an Ood in The Doctor’s Wife. It isn’t a terrible decision in Gridlock, it just doesn’t work. UNIT Dating controversy is a throwaway reference that you’d miss if you weren’t a fan.

Contrast these with the way, for example, Moffat shows the past Doctors’ faces all the time. It never adds to the plot, it’s needless fan service. As I said last time, it’s not utilising the past, it’s trotting it out for a cheap thrill. Moffat’s references are endowed with such importance when they’re said, the call attention to themselves without adding to the plot. There have been nice ones, Susan’s voice in Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, Jelly Baby reference in The Rebel Flesh <a trick which was repeated almost identically in The Silver Nightmare and didn’t entertain me at all.> RTD included references, sure, but they were either subtle, or in service to the plot. When Moffat’s appear, they are neither.

My problem, however, is not about what type of references you make to the Doctor Who of fifty years ago. It’s about producing a show that feels consistent with its immediate predecessor)

There’s a key difference between Davies and Moffat in their approaches as showrunners, one that you’re clearly aware of, and that is how they deal with the past. Russell is clearly content to revel in the past, both the past of the greater show and the past of his involvement in it, as his last two years on the series demonstrated. He brought back classic villains all the time and continually resurrected his own plotlines.

(I’m sorry, but I really don’t understand this assessment of RTD. He did have a problem when it came to big season finales, Journey’s End is a particularly cringeworthy example of ‘bringing the whole family together’ BUT Moffat has been equally guilty of this. See: River Song, The Pandorica Opens/Big Bang, Most of Season 6 and it’s been just as cringeworthy. The difference is, when RTD did it you had a disappointing season finale, when Moffat does it you get 13 episodes worth.

To say RTD revels in the past of the greater show seems totally wrong to me though. When the show returned in 2005, RTD took the basic elements of the past; Doctor, TARDIS, Companion, Time and Space and basically nothing else. He kept a strict rule of one classic monster returning a year, and he very rarely made over references to the classic series. It took three years before they mentioned Gallifrey by name!)

But Moffat seems eager to move forward and do his own thing first, looking back on the past second. He’s been very keen to say that the fiftieth anniversary is about setting up the next fifty years instead patting ourselves on the back over the last fifty. And here’s the important part.

He is not obligated to use anything from the RTD era, and I actually commend him for not doing so. This is a show about change, so it makes no sense for him to keep using the Davies characters storylines. I think him creating a clean slate with series five was the right direction to go in. Giving Matt his own TARDIS and screwdriver and companions was a better idea than to keep all of Tennant’s stuff so people could call Matt a second-hand Doctor. Like referencing =/= respect, not referencing =/= disrespect.

Moffat just doesn’t want to live in the past, and he doesn’t have stories he wants to tell about Torchwood, which is all but gone, or Marth or Donna or Adam or Allonso. He’s writing his Doctor who, not RTD’s Doctor who Part II. Honestly, if you got this job, would you prefer to write fanfiction of the previous writer’s stories or shake things up and tell the stories you always wanted to tell? But you can’t say that he’s wanted nothing to do with his predecessor’s era, since Jack was meant to be in A Good Man Goes to war, and Ten and Rose are coming back. Really if any era has a problem with continuity it’s JNT’s.

(Ok, here’s where we get to my big problem with Moffat. He references to classic series no more or less than Davies did, but he references the first five years of the modern series even less than that. The point I was making in my first post on this wasn’t that Moffat doesn’t like Who, but that he doesn’t respect the contributions of others. I think, quite simply, he wants his tenure on Who to be as impactful as RTDs. He wants his own revival, and that’s what we get, a product that feels like a new show rather than Series 6/7 of a hugely popular TV series. The reboot approach is necessary when the show has been off the air for twenty years, when you take over during the show’s most successful period, it comes off like a snub. And the only reason people would accept such a change is because it’s disguised behind a regeneration. All the people who don’t like it get lumped in with the “missing David Tennant” crowd.

I have no problem with a new Doctor, a new TARDIS, a new screwdriver and new plotlines. The problem I have is a showrunner that seems so desperate to make his mark on the show, that he creates an enormous disconnect between the two periods. It’s not about bringing Rose back or making Bad Wolf references all of a sudden, it’s about keeping the show consistent and high quality.

On a side note, perhaps Jack was originally going to be in A Good Man Goes To War, but since that’s easily the worst episode of Doctor Who that I’ve ever seen, I doubt it could have helped much.)

Lastly, I very much disagree with the assessment that Moffat does not care about character or story consistency and pacing. Yes, those are a problem, but I believe those are not his fault. Series 5 was probably the best season of the revived series, and it had the best paced and most consistent story arc of them all, while his character development was great. Only after that, once he’d used up his best ideas that he’d had the entire time since he got the job to plan out, his flaws began to show. He didn’t have the time to polish his stories anymore. It isn’t that he values spectacle over character, it’s that he can’t refine his five episodes and the season arc in twelve brief months, so he relies on big ideas and other writers to cover him.

(Well, this goes more into what I don’t like about Moffat’s writing these days. I could talk about this for hours, so I’ll have to limit myself.

I’m sure Moffat does care about character, story consistency and pacing. No writer would say they don’t, but the sad truth is that he’s in charge, and we aren’t getting any. Who are we supposed to blame? His big ideas aren’t covering his problems, they’re causing his problems. Moffat’s big season arcs have gone completely out of hand, to the point that an individual episode has no value now. I agree that Season 5 is wonderful, but Season 6 is the worst season since the show returned, 7’s better but not by much. The entire show is geared around surprises, plot twists and cheap thrills now. Moffat care about more than spectacle, but it doesn’t matter because that’s all he’s providing.

I think this is partly because Moffat’s individual episodes were so good during RTD’s time. He built a deserved reputation as the show’s finest writer, but writing one memorable, standalone story a year and running the series are two very different jobs. I’d rather watch The Empty Child 13 times than watch any of Series 6 again.

Whatever the reason, be it time, effort, talent, Doctor Who is not very good at the moment and it hasn’t been good since Series 5.)

Feel free to respond or not respond. I’m just curious as to your opinions on certain things.

Well, they you go. My thoughts. I’v probably said all I have to say on the subject now, but I’d welcome a response.

i poop on your face :3

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:12:07 -0400

Best. Anon Abuse. Ever.

So guys, I need book recommendations...

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:44:39 -0400

I need something to read this evening. Recommend me some good books, a few requirements though. They have to be available on the Kindle store and less that £5 / $7.

I like Science Fiction, Stephen King type horror, anything Time Travel related, but I’m not much into YA. Top me up, peoples.

(Also, reblog this sucker. I want lots of suggestions.)

I spent years sulking because I hadn't seen Dinosaur...

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:20:38 -0400

…Only to discover that it’s a very boring rehash of Tarzan!

“iatethepomegranate said: I don’t have a problem with it when it’s done respectfully,...

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:13:25 -0400

“iatethepomegranate said: I don’t have a problem with it when it’s done respectfully, especially considering there are fandoms that have little to no LGBT representation. As long as it doesn’t step over into fetishizing, I don’t see anything wrong.”

(I really need to work out a good system for replies on tumblr.)

Yes, I suppose that’s true. There’s an element of “what if…?” that’s probably OK. Particularly if we’re dealing with a TV Show / Franchise that has a dearth of LGBT characters. But I do see a lot that, to me at least, go beyond “It would be more inclusive and nice if these characters were gay” and wanders into “OMG! Aren’t gay people cute!”

I can't be the only one who finds these homoerotic fandom posts creepy, right?

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:54:51 -0400

It’s nothing to do with actual gay people or characters. I don’t like this odd practice of pretending that straight characters and people are actually gay / adorably cute couples etc. for one’s own entertainment.

I find it really unsettling the way it treats someone else’s sexuality as a plaything, malleable to an audience for their pleasure. Even with fictional characters, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I'm not hating, but I politely disagree with your last text post. Moffat does have respect for the RTD era, and the rest of Classic Who. RTD had Sarah-Jane. That's it, his only proper link back to the past. Moffat has had tonnes of classic who references and some stuff about RTD era woven in too. Jack isn't in the 50th because he isn't an important character and isn't needed, we have David and Billie back which is far better. Honestly, Moffat has much more respect for the past than RTD ever did.

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:11:00 -0400

I see your point, but I think you’re confusing referencing with respect. Moffat makes an awful lot of in-jokes, particularly in this last series, but that’s about it. In the past he’s made no secret of his dislike for most of the classic era of the show, that isn’t what bothers me. The problem is that he creates no sense of continuity between RTD’s era and his own (besides quick references.)

When RTD brought the show back, he stripped a lot of the continuity heavy stuff to reintroduce the show, and avoid a repeat of the TV movie. Moffat wasn’t orchestrating a revival, he took control of the show at its peak, with the widest audience it ever had.

As for Jack, I’m not talking about why he isn’t returning for the 50th, I’m talking about why Jack, Torchwood and just about every other character and organisation established during RTD’s period no longer seem to exist now.

Yes, Moffat includes tonnes of classic Who references, but that in’t respecting the history of the show. It’s trotting the history out for a cheap thrill. That’s the problem with Moffat Who in a nutshell. It’s crammed full of nods and winks to the fans, full of twists and surprises we’re all suppose to squeal at, but at the end of the day he isn’t interested in a strong, consistent narrative. He’s only interested in climax and spectacle, this comes at the expense of characterisation and pacing.

(But kudos to you for both not hating and disagreeing politely. You’re my kind of fan.)