Filterd to Autumn, Roxy, Timothy, Spectre, Chiara, Peter, Flynn and Quinn

[this_is_vienna]

I didn't write a column this week as such. But London College did get me to thinking. And I had things I wanted to say without necessarily referencing it at all. Of course, my publisher wouldn't print it, so it's going on tomorrow's opinion page. Which means I can show you it now. I hope it makes sense...

Comments

[in_spectre_mors]

I think the eighties were my salvation. I don't think any decade previously had the strength of spiritual freedom to allow me the escape from my parents that I eventually took. I'm sure people did it, because there were still many great libertarian thinkers in those days, some highly evolved tracts, but I don't feel that I would have had the weight of a decade shaking off the yoke of imperialism the way I did. Of course, by the time I was thinking such things, it was well and truly the nineties, but as Timothy pointed out, all the greatest aspects of the nineties were built on the eighties anyway. And the eighties had a huge influence on my life, particularly the early eighties and the music that grew out of that time. Real punk, the stuff that developed in the late seventies and reached its zenith in the early eighties. Everything from the Sex Pistols to Joy Division, the Buzzocks, the Clash... It was all good. It was all freedom

[this_is_vienna]

Ah, music. Something I use to inspire me every day. No one should underestimate music's ability to free one's soul. I believe you stand for freedom, Spectre, and that your music does the same. I've no time for music with no feeling behind it. No emotion or experience, just empty words set to a beat so some person who's body is 80% false can wow the audience with their dance moves. I want feeling in there. Thank you for being someone who provides it.

[in_spectre_mors]

I love that I can be someone who inspires people, especially when young people write to me here, or on my forums, to tell me how I've helped them. People like young Geordie, who I've been able to help feel better while he recovers from the fire at Digital Anachronism. I'm glad to have created something with feeling behind it, that even after everything, he can still connect to. That so many people connect to. I don't know if any one person has ever managed to speak to everyone in the entire world. Maybe Jesus, but probably post-humously. I think I've found a good way to talk to a lot of them, though.

[this_is_vienna]

I think you've found an excellent way to talk to a lot of them and I think it's incredible that you take the time to really hear them as well. That's hard to do posthumously. So you're one up there.

[in_spectre_mors]

Well, I'm very glad you think so. It means a lot. And I must say, I'm perfectly happy to one up old JC, there!

[this_is_vienna]

I'm perfectly happy for you to do so as well!