Having mentioned my land raider related beating I'ld like to say I protected the geek fraternity when I was in sixth form but that would be a lie. I stayed in the geek closet through out school terrified I'ld be outed by a mislaid fightinmg fantasy book or wrong sided dice. I liked rugby and beer , understand? The shame.
I know how you feel. Comics and sci-fi are the interest that dare not speak its name. I know a bloke at work who I found out reads comics as well: We must speak of our mutual interest in hushed tones, in darkened rooms.
Oh well, I'm into lots of other things too, I swear.
I wouldn't mind if their was a reason to take the piss but i know a lot of blokes who are looking forward to Star Wars and watch shite on TV but a comic? I was called sad by a 40 year old man i later saw doing an Ali G impression. Hmmm .
I know a barrister who is mortified by the thought of the fact he roleplays would get out. Another friend did his best to hide his collection of rpg books from his girlfriend, so she would think he was normal.
I still don't understand why it is respectable to watch soap operas instead of talking to your neighbours and why to read or watch something escapist is so bizarrely wrong. Well, I think it maybe that if there isn't something wrong swith us, most people have a suspicion something is...
When I started my current job 18 months ago I used to get get strange looks when I brought in my weekly 2000ad. Gradually more and more people in the team started picking it up from my desk when they thought no one was looking and now I get howls of protest if I turn up on a wednesday without it. It is usual for my colleagues to take it from me before I even get a chance to read it.
My nine preacher volumes have now done the rounds of about nine people varying in age and gender and I also get asked to bring in anything else I might have. In fact, some bastard nicked my Ranxerox books and then left.
The sad reality is soap operas are considered serious drama, what, being set in the real world an' all.
And just how is Liberatore these days? Still 'scraping the sick underbelly of the world'?
>I still don't understand why it is respectable to watch soap operas instead of talking to your neighbours and why to read or watch something escapist is so bizarrely wrong.
c.s. lewis (author of 'out of a silent planet' the narnia chronicles, amongst others) once remarked that those who are against escapism are jailers.
i've wet my knickers!
steven l'enfant terrible
Liberatore's doing a section in Neil Gaiman's forthcoming "Sandman: Endless Nights" book.
*J*
There was a Bix Barton tale wot I read recently about a geek (Nigel?) taking over the country.
And very unpleasant it was too - quite put me off my lunch, it did.
Roy