On Bill Moyer's new show on PBS, "Moyers & Company", the Poet Chis Wiman said that he hadn't written a poem in two months and he doesn't feel like a poet. He said that when he writes a poem, then he feels like a poet and then he is a poet. But in between those times, he is only a person like anyone else. Prose, he said, you can do anytime, but poetry is something that comes only on those occassions when you are tapped into something special.
I think that is an important and salient point.
Many people like to say they are a Writer. There are many ways for people to be whatever they like now. You can write a book and throw up a first draft online and say you are now a writer. You can talk about writing and never do it, and tell people you are a writer. You can write not a letter and claim you are a writer.
But what makes you a writer? More importantly, when, are you a writer?
Are you a writer because you write? Or is it about the quality, or the volume of your writings? Is it if you get paid for your writings? Is it if you are given a lot of money by a single entity, a company, a corporation? Is it if you are paid individually by the individuals who read your writings? Is it by peer review, or by critique by knowldgeable other writers who designate you, a Writer?
If you want to be a Writer, get up in the morning, and put pencil or pen to paper and write. Put your fingers on the keyboard and write. Lift them when you have to. Any less than that slows and decreases the speed at which you will achieve your goals.
Of course you have to eat, work, clean, have a family, rest, relax, make love and be loved. But it is a fine balance. The more of one, the less of another. You decide what your priorities are. Would you prefer that TV show? Or produce a piece of writing? Enjoy time to play, or become what you want to become, sooner?
I liked what Mr. Wiman said about being a poet.
When I write, I am a writer. But further, it has to have some quality to it. Surely, a bunch of letters written, is not writing. So, when I am producing a piece of writing that has a quality that is above what anyone can do; when it is above the quality of most writers, then I am a Writer, and especially so.
When it is accepted as good enough for me to be paid for it, I am a Writer. When I am given praise by readers who spend their hard earned labors turned into currency, that they transfer to me for what I have produced, then I am a Writer. When I write a piece that touches my own soul, even if I show it to no one else, then too, I am a Writer.
But as Mr. Wiman indicated, I am first and foremost a writer when I write. That, is the first step. You have to write first, to be considered a Writer. You have to continue being a Writer, to continue being considered a Writer. If and when you do that, only then can you consider yourself, a Writer.
And when you stop? Then you are no longer a Writer. So if you want to be considered a writer....
Write.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Gender Bender article
I was recently in a writer's group on LinkedIn and was contacted by another writer about something I had posted regarding a story of mine, and Rutger Hauer. She was very curious about the story that Mr. Hauer had liked so mcuh, and I ended up sending her the story and another I had just finished.
She found the whole story about Rutger and my story intresting and asked if I minded if she posted an article she had in mind. I pleased to hear what she had in mind and told her to please feel free to write and post it. She has. It was fun and very pleasing to read.
I thought you might find it entertaining too and I wanted to share it with you. If you go to her aticle Gender Bender, on IndiesUnlimited.com, you can read what she wrote and see my reply posted beneath it. The two stories of mine that she references will be in a book I'm preparing this week to release, so if you are really curious, it won't be long before you will be able to find out what all the fuss is about.
As posted in her article, the stories in question are "Poor Lord Ritchie" (short title) and I had also sent her "The Fall". Both stories will be out in my new book any time now.
It's a very nice article. I hope you check it out. I've been on IndiesUnlimited for a little while now and it's a pretty cool site.
From the IndiesUnlimited.com About page:
She found the whole story about Rutger and my story intresting and asked if I minded if she posted an article she had in mind. I pleased to hear what she had in mind and told her to please feel free to write and post it. She has. It was fun and very pleasing to read.
I thought you might find it entertaining too and I wanted to share it with you. If you go to her aticle Gender Bender, on IndiesUnlimited.com, you can read what she wrote and see my reply posted beneath it. The two stories of mine that she references will be in a book I'm preparing this week to release, so if you are really curious, it won't be long before you will be able to find out what all the fuss is about.
As posted in her article, the stories in question are "Poor Lord Ritchie" (short title) and I had also sent her "The Fall". Both stories will be out in my new book any time now.
It's a very nice article. I hope you check it out. I've been on IndiesUnlimited for a little while now and it's a pretty cool site.
From the IndiesUnlimited.com About page:
We are at the beginning of a technological revolution in how books are written, published, marketed, purchased, and read. This site is dedicated to the independent authors, publishers, reviewers and readers who are on the cutting edge of that technological revolution.
A major challenge for any indie author is the lack of established infrastructure in place to market indie books. It can be challenging and time-consuming to get the word out about your book, to find reviewers, and to drive traffic to your website or Facebook page. As a new author, I was delighted to discover a very high level of mutual support and camaraderie in the indie author community. This platform is born from that spirit of mutual aid and support.
Please make Indies Unlimited your home for engagement with others who are interested in the Indie Author Movement. Be sure to “play nice” with others. Write informative, educational, or opinion minded comments, guest posts and other contributions. You can promote your books or yourself by participating in discussions and providing valuable content. Please do not spam us or use this system to send unrequested self-promotion, marketing, or sales materials. Instead, please use this platform to engage, inform, discuss, and build quality relationships.
I hope you will find this site both entertaining and informative and you will make a visit to Indies Unlimited part of your daily routine. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Sincerely,
Stephen Hise
It's okay to write
Someone was just pointing out that perfectionism stifles writing and creativity.
I hadn't really thought about it that way, but I think that years ago, between that and a kind of fear of exposure or being called out as being substandard in various ways, it made it almost impossible for me to write.
I loved to read when I was young. To be a writer was the highest goal I could think of. But I didn't really consider it. I "believed" I wasn't capable. But in 10th grade, my English teacher recognized my ability and tried to get me on the school newspaper. But I came up with reasons not to out of fear and a belief I was unworthy, incapable, or just too stupid. See, I had a step-father who told me that on a regular basis, "You're stupid." he would say when I was frustrating him. So I believed him. I don't believe him anymore.
When I started college, my first English comp teacher told me that of anyone in our class, I had to be a writer. He said that I had a skill and passion for it whether I knew it or not. He could see it in my class assignments. He had said that I had an energy that was undeniable; I had ideas that jumped off the page. I remember the lighthearted gleam in his eye, the energy he had for me to go on writing.
But I told him that I knew I didn't have a good, conscious comprehension of the rules of grammar. He smiled knowingly at me and said, "Look, just write, don't worry about all the mechanics and peripheral things; just write. Then go back and worry about all that later."
Once I heard that from someone I respected, that it was okay to throw caution to the wind, and just write, I tried it. It felt like dipping into a cold lake, naked at first, but after a while, the waters began to warm (or I to it) and it got easier, and easier. That stage lasted for me for a few years. But it allowed me permission to continue with the practice of writing, for it to happen more frequently; and more importantly perhaps, for it to happen more enjoyably. Until and so that eventually, the quality of what I wrote began to increase.
If not for that one English teacher giving me permission to write horrible prose, I may never have gotten past that initial fear of not being perfect. The rest really just took practice-- and listening productively to criticism.
He made it clear to me that it wasn't that hard. If I just did that, "listened", I would get better. He took the fear of writing, almost completely away for me, so that I could simply enjoy doing it. I didn't have to be perfect. I could just enjoy myself; and of course, try to become better over time. No matter how long it took. Because the other element in being a writer is, perseverance.
The fear of outwardly being perceived by others in a negative light, took a different kind of practice to overcome. I don't think it was so much growing a thicker skin as it was learning to accept people's criticisms. To recognize that criticism was a tool, something to divert from my feelings and instead over to making changes during rewrites. Then incorporating those learned components into future writings. One should also be aware and recognized that some criticism should be thoroughly discarded.
It is important to learn to recognize useful criticism as useless criticism. Some people are either mean spirited, or are fools and simply don't know what they are talking about. They are certainly out there and sometimes they can be emotionally close to you. They either have standards far higher for you than are useful to you; they want you to fail; they simply believe you will fail; or THEY fear that you will let THEM down. Because as we all know, with those types of people, it's all about them, right? Just ignore them. Move on. Instead zero in on those who are useful to you, to move your writing along, onward and upward
Criticism isn't about your feelings. It's about using comments on your writings as a tool. Use that tool to forge your current and next writings into a far better piece of art, or production. The trouble is, like in learning to ride a bike, it's scary, sometimes painful; but if you keep at it, you will get through it. Every professional writer, or rider, has had to go through that painful period.
They just had to learn how to make it through to where they finally ended up. To turn things around to where they buoyed themselves up and carried them forward, instead of impeding their progress, which can be all to easy to let happen.
Perhaps most people, most of the time, give up. Since most people do not seem to continue on after initially being shot down; and we're almost all shot down by someone in the beginning, This is especially true for writers, artists and musicians. Sometimes we get stuck in that first stage of fear and pain. Sometimes, we deny ourselves our own greatness.
Of all those people who will tell you that you can't, don't be one of those who believe them. There are enough people out there already who will tell you that you can't. Can't make it, can't do it, that you can't be what you want to be.
At this point, let me say that I've finished editing my new book, Anthology of Evil and we are working on the cover art. It should be out soon. Very quickly after that will be a second book which has an interesting connection to the first. I have recently gotten my first work up as an epublication, on Amazon and Smashwords.
It's been a long time from my first short story in 10th grade to now with this short story "Simon's Beautiful Thought" and it is a very rewarding time for me. I'm not even quite sure how I got to this point, except to say that it took a lot of hard work and immersing myself in what I love to do.
For yourself, if you wish to write, or anything you think you would love to do, just remember that it's okay. Work through that first stage and work hard to make it be as short a period as possible. And don't forget that the more you ride that bike, the faster you pass that painful and scary training period.
So-- write. Do you Art.
I hadn't really thought about it that way, but I think that years ago, between that and a kind of fear of exposure or being called out as being substandard in various ways, it made it almost impossible for me to write.
I loved to read when I was young. To be a writer was the highest goal I could think of. But I didn't really consider it. I "believed" I wasn't capable. But in 10th grade, my English teacher recognized my ability and tried to get me on the school newspaper. But I came up with reasons not to out of fear and a belief I was unworthy, incapable, or just too stupid. See, I had a step-father who told me that on a regular basis, "You're stupid." he would say when I was frustrating him. So I believed him. I don't believe him anymore.
When I started college, my first English comp teacher told me that of anyone in our class, I had to be a writer. He said that I had a skill and passion for it whether I knew it or not. He could see it in my class assignments. He had said that I had an energy that was undeniable; I had ideas that jumped off the page. I remember the lighthearted gleam in his eye, the energy he had for me to go on writing.
But I told him that I knew I didn't have a good, conscious comprehension of the rules of grammar. He smiled knowingly at me and said, "Look, just write, don't worry about all the mechanics and peripheral things; just write. Then go back and worry about all that later."
Once I heard that from someone I respected, that it was okay to throw caution to the wind, and just write, I tried it. It felt like dipping into a cold lake, naked at first, but after a while, the waters began to warm (or I to it) and it got easier, and easier. That stage lasted for me for a few years. But it allowed me permission to continue with the practice of writing, for it to happen more frequently; and more importantly perhaps, for it to happen more enjoyably. Until and so that eventually, the quality of what I wrote began to increase.
If not for that one English teacher giving me permission to write horrible prose, I may never have gotten past that initial fear of not being perfect. The rest really just took practice-- and listening productively to criticism.
He made it clear to me that it wasn't that hard. If I just did that, "listened", I would get better. He took the fear of writing, almost completely away for me, so that I could simply enjoy doing it. I didn't have to be perfect. I could just enjoy myself; and of course, try to become better over time. No matter how long it took. Because the other element in being a writer is, perseverance.
The fear of outwardly being perceived by others in a negative light, took a different kind of practice to overcome. I don't think it was so much growing a thicker skin as it was learning to accept people's criticisms. To recognize that criticism was a tool, something to divert from my feelings and instead over to making changes during rewrites. Then incorporating those learned components into future writings. One should also be aware and recognized that some criticism should be thoroughly discarded.
It is important to learn to recognize useful criticism as useless criticism. Some people are either mean spirited, or are fools and simply don't know what they are talking about. They are certainly out there and sometimes they can be emotionally close to you. They either have standards far higher for you than are useful to you; they want you to fail; they simply believe you will fail; or THEY fear that you will let THEM down. Because as we all know, with those types of people, it's all about them, right? Just ignore them. Move on. Instead zero in on those who are useful to you, to move your writing along, onward and upward
Criticism isn't about your feelings. It's about using comments on your writings as a tool. Use that tool to forge your current and next writings into a far better piece of art, or production. The trouble is, like in learning to ride a bike, it's scary, sometimes painful; but if you keep at it, you will get through it. Every professional writer, or rider, has had to go through that painful period.
They just had to learn how to make it through to where they finally ended up. To turn things around to where they buoyed themselves up and carried them forward, instead of impeding their progress, which can be all to easy to let happen.
Perhaps most people, most of the time, give up. Since most people do not seem to continue on after initially being shot down; and we're almost all shot down by someone in the beginning, This is especially true for writers, artists and musicians. Sometimes we get stuck in that first stage of fear and pain. Sometimes, we deny ourselves our own greatness.
Of all those people who will tell you that you can't, don't be one of those who believe them. There are enough people out there already who will tell you that you can't. Can't make it, can't do it, that you can't be what you want to be.
At this point, let me say that I've finished editing my new book, Anthology of Evil and we are working on the cover art. It should be out soon. Very quickly after that will be a second book which has an interesting connection to the first. I have recently gotten my first work up as an epublication, on Amazon and Smashwords.
It's been a long time from my first short story in 10th grade to now with this short story "Simon's Beautiful Thought" and it is a very rewarding time for me. I'm not even quite sure how I got to this point, except to say that it took a lot of hard work and immersing myself in what I love to do.
For yourself, if you wish to write, or anything you think you would love to do, just remember that it's okay. Work through that first stage and work hard to make it be as short a period as possible. And don't forget that the more you ride that bike, the faster you pass that painful and scary training period.
So-- write. Do you Art.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
"Simon's Beautiful Thought" cover art reworked
Update: My brother kindly reworked the cover art on my Sci Fi short story, "Simon's Beautiful Thought" both on Smashwords and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. And this was a good reason to mention it again....
FYI [Tuesday 2/21 - 11:15AM] It looks like uploading the new cover graphic last night put the Amazon KDP version into draft mode which may take a couple of days to come on line. But the Smashwords version is still available. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Check it out. It's visible on Smashwords, Amazon is taking their sweet time replacing it the graphic.
I worked massive hours this weekend on my Anthology of Horror and have 100 pages left to get through, then I will be getting it out to be published. I was slowed down by a birthday party on Sunday and ensuing events, as well as the short story in the anthology titled, "Andrew", which is written in a difficult to edit style but I believe to be a good work.
Once I finish the Anthology, then I will finish up my book and get it out to the public and then it's back to my "America" screenplay that I've been working on with Producer Chris Soth.
Have a great week and for those of your who only have a four day work week, congrats and enjoy!
Cheers!
FYI [Tuesday 2/21 - 11:15AM] It looks like uploading the new cover graphic last night put the Amazon KDP version into draft mode which may take a couple of days to come on line. But the Smashwords version is still available. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Check it out. It's visible on Smashwords, Amazon is taking their sweet time replacing it the graphic.
I worked massive hours this weekend on my Anthology of Horror and have 100 pages left to get through, then I will be getting it out to be published. I was slowed down by a birthday party on Sunday and ensuing events, as well as the short story in the anthology titled, "Andrew", which is written in a difficult to edit style but I believe to be a good work.
Once I finish the Anthology, then I will finish up my book and get it out to the public and then it's back to my "America" screenplay that I've been working on with Producer Chris Soth.
Have a great week and for those of your who only have a four day work week, congrats and enjoy!
Cheers!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Lying to get a job
First of all, I try never to lie to anyone about anything. It's my thing. :) The only place I've lied is on a resume and in an interview and honestly, I probably wasn't lying, but it was close enough to me, that I felt like it was. But I got the jobs, I succeeded, they were always very pleased with me and my results. Win, win.
It takes more intelligence to always tell the truth than it does to lie. Unless you are a professional liar which is a conman, but I've found few who could keep track properly and they aren't people to be around; unless you're a conman, too.
I was once told that you're a fool if you don't try to sound better than you are in the interview / resume process, to strive to get a job as far above you as is reasonable and possible. How close to a lie or beyond is up to your credentials and skills.
You can lie to get a job, you cannot get caught in the lie; so the easiest way is not to lie. Plus in some jobs, you can find serious repercussions if getting found out. I'm not saying break the law, I'm saying use your discretion and shoot for the sky. And if you do lie (or stretch the truth which is much safer), you'd better be able to perform when tasked to do so.
I understand people want to be better than what they are and I praise that effort. I know some people can do more than they have been and just need the chance to show what they can do. I like when people who are striving to rise. I don't hold a resume against someone as long as 1) they succeed in what they have claimed and 2) that is the only place they are being so inaccurate. That being said, you have to check out that resume, check their skills. If it all proves true (even if it's not) you may be getting a good employee that will be a plus for both you and them. Win, Win.
Now, all that being said, it can be a fine line, you can end up with a very questionable employee who will lie to get the job. Like that woman we hired that time. If she had fooled me, quickly learning, showing what an expert she was, fine. As long as I didn't notice, I don't care. Good for her!
But she failed and therefore had to accept the consequences (but wouldn't); and she was questionable in many other areas aside from work. Funny, if she had succeeded in her lie, I would have respected her and her skills. There are geniuses out there who can do or quickly pick up almost anything and you could luck into that. And others who will lie and walk all over anyone to get up that ladder. So in her lying and failing, I lost all respect for her.
Just being honest here. :)
It takes more intelligence to always tell the truth than it does to lie. Unless you are a professional liar which is a conman, but I've found few who could keep track properly and they aren't people to be around; unless you're a conman, too.
I was once told that you're a fool if you don't try to sound better than you are in the interview / resume process, to strive to get a job as far above you as is reasonable and possible. How close to a lie or beyond is up to your credentials and skills.
You can lie to get a job, you cannot get caught in the lie; so the easiest way is not to lie. Plus in some jobs, you can find serious repercussions if getting found out. I'm not saying break the law, I'm saying use your discretion and shoot for the sky. And if you do lie (or stretch the truth which is much safer), you'd better be able to perform when tasked to do so.
I understand people want to be better than what they are and I praise that effort. I know some people can do more than they have been and just need the chance to show what they can do. I like when people who are striving to rise. I don't hold a resume against someone as long as 1) they succeed in what they have claimed and 2) that is the only place they are being so inaccurate. That being said, you have to check out that resume, check their skills. If it all proves true (even if it's not) you may be getting a good employee that will be a plus for both you and them. Win, Win.
Now, all that being said, it can be a fine line, you can end up with a very questionable employee who will lie to get the job. Like that woman we hired that time. If she had fooled me, quickly learning, showing what an expert she was, fine. As long as I didn't notice, I don't care. Good for her!
But she failed and therefore had to accept the consequences (but wouldn't); and she was questionable in many other areas aside from work. Funny, if she had succeeded in her lie, I would have respected her and her skills. There are geniuses out there who can do or quickly pick up almost anything and you could luck into that. And others who will lie and walk all over anyone to get up that ladder. So in her lying and failing, I lost all respect for her.
Just being honest here. :)
Friday, February 17, 2012
"Simon's Beautiful Thought" now on Kindle Direct Publishing
My story "Simon's Beautiful Thought" is now on KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing.
Please feel free to pick it up and if you like it, or not, leave a review. If you prefer Smashwords, well, it's on there too.
It's been a long haul to get here. And I'm just getting started. This, is only the first. Two books are coming pretty quickly after this. Well, an Anthology and a book.
I started trying to get published back just after I got out of the University and simply never got anywhere with it. It's odd too, because if you knew what I went through and how close I came to things taking off several times over the years, well, it's suprising it never happened. Once I get things going, if someone says, "overnight success", I'm going to shoot myself.
Years later, I tried again and spent a lot of money (it was a lot to us, new family, working two half time jobs) to get one story finally published in a magazine. But sometimes our biggest hurdles are the ones closest to us. We didn't have much money back then and my wife (at the time) was annoyed at my spending money and time on sending out stories, making copies, postage and all that. So I stopped at the time. Every so often over the years, I would try again.
Sometimes good things came of it, however. For two years, I got an unpaid position working with a production company as a writer and although I never got anything on screen, I got experience working with Producers and well, that was indeed valuable. It's good to get used to feeling your guts torn out by work that is considered unacceptable. One has to remember in that situation, if you are qualified, it's not that it is bad work, just the wrong work, or not what they are looking for. You pick up, and continue on. But it only lasted two years for reasons with in the studio and not me.
The internet has been a great help now a days. Three years ago I started writing full time again (working around my full time job) and I've made a lot of new friends and connections and gotten published again a few times.
And this time, I'm not going to let anything stop me. This, is just the beginning.
I'm working on my anthology this weekend. I'll let you know when it is ready. My writings are different (or so I've been told), someone said I have a unique style (one can only hope). That works against you too, until you get enough people who understand where you are coming from. So, we will see how that goes. And, I'm still writing my screenplays.
Thanks to those of you who have been so supportive.
Cheers!
Please feel free to pick it up and if you like it, or not, leave a review. If you prefer Smashwords, well, it's on there too.
It's been a long haul to get here. And I'm just getting started. This, is only the first. Two books are coming pretty quickly after this. Well, an Anthology and a book.
I started trying to get published back just after I got out of the University and simply never got anywhere with it. It's odd too, because if you knew what I went through and how close I came to things taking off several times over the years, well, it's suprising it never happened. Once I get things going, if someone says, "overnight success", I'm going to shoot myself.
Years later, I tried again and spent a lot of money (it was a lot to us, new family, working two half time jobs) to get one story finally published in a magazine. But sometimes our biggest hurdles are the ones closest to us. We didn't have much money back then and my wife (at the time) was annoyed at my spending money and time on sending out stories, making copies, postage and all that. So I stopped at the time. Every so often over the years, I would try again.
Sometimes good things came of it, however. For two years, I got an unpaid position working with a production company as a writer and although I never got anything on screen, I got experience working with Producers and well, that was indeed valuable. It's good to get used to feeling your guts torn out by work that is considered unacceptable. One has to remember in that situation, if you are qualified, it's not that it is bad work, just the wrong work, or not what they are looking for. You pick up, and continue on. But it only lasted two years for reasons with in the studio and not me.
The internet has been a great help now a days. Three years ago I started writing full time again (working around my full time job) and I've made a lot of new friends and connections and gotten published again a few times.
And this time, I'm not going to let anything stop me. This, is just the beginning.
I'm working on my anthology this weekend. I'll let you know when it is ready. My writings are different (or so I've been told), someone said I have a unique style (one can only hope). That works against you too, until you get enough people who understand where you are coming from. So, we will see how that goes. And, I'm still writing my screenplays.
Thanks to those of you who have been so supportive.
Cheers!
DVR taking our control?
I just experienced something very disturbing. I VOD'd the show, "Who do you think you are?" (NBC) The season three premiere (thought I never heard of this show, or never paid attention, probably). I just wanted to check it out. Zip through it, see if I wanted to watch the series or not. But that's not going to happen.
The first thing I see is a black screen with the statement that I may not be able to use fast forward during the show. That is one of the main reasons I OWN a Tivo DirecTV DVR. I mean, Excuse me? This does not bode well for viewers. This is half of the functionality of DVR that I have it for. Not just to skip the ads, but to zip through the boring crap, the filler, the banal, the irritating.
Some peopel have said you can use the page up and down buttons but that doesn't work for me. Nothing is working. It's disabled. Plain and simple. Below, at the end of this article, I have added some comments from people about this.
I want to hurt something small and fuzzy and stuffed with sawdust.
I should also mention that yesterday I VOD'd this program. I also VOD'd the very funny, quirky, "An Idiot Abroad" (Science Channel), Ricky Gervais' show. I can FF on this, no problem.
If this is the beginning of a trend, we're screwed. Is it? We'll have to start building our own DVR's with all the functionality we want in them. This is an issue I knew was a trend back when DVD burners first came out and they were not allowed to hit the market until the manufacturers agreed with the film and TV industry to fix it so you cannot burn copies of prerecorded DVDs.
Sure, they should protect their intellectual property, but then they should remove that Damned FBI warning, or at least, put it at the end. PUT IT AT THE END! You can't zip past it. They should also, on the functionality of DVDs, give us control. Ever try to fast forward or skip the commercials on YOUR DVD that you paid for and got a note that this function is not available at this time? Why NOT? Pretty annoying.
I don't have any solutions here, just notification on this matter. We are being abused as consumers. We need to pay attention. Speak out. Get mad as Hell and not take it anymore. All that kind of stuff. Does it have to be this way because THEY have all the power? No. Not if we demand better treatment. Will we? Probably not, but then if this continues, we will only have ourselves to blame in the end.
---
On a side and more entertaining note, check out my quirky little Sci Fi story, "Simon's Beautiful Thought", available at Smashword's minimum price of 99 cents. I won't try to control how fast you read it. The written word is still wide open to its reader.
---
UPDATE: I looked around and found some discussion groups who had posted last year about this. Some said that FOX demanded FF be disabled because you have to watch the adverts. Some said on some shows you can skip forward (I just tried this, it said you cannot fast forward, it's not FF it's skip, but, whatever). Someone said, you shouldn't pay again for what you are paying for to begin with, then someone said the VOD are free and separate so they can do this. So it appears to be an ongoing controversy I'm only now becoming aware of.
I just found this:
ComcastKeisha
10-05-2011 02:01 PM
http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Video-On-Demand/Fast-Forward-on-quot-on-demand-quot/td-p/1000757
The first thing I see is a black screen with the statement that I may not be able to use fast forward during the show. That is one of the main reasons I OWN a Tivo DirecTV DVR. I mean, Excuse me? This does not bode well for viewers. This is half of the functionality of DVR that I have it for. Not just to skip the ads, but to zip through the boring crap, the filler, the banal, the irritating.
Some peopel have said you can use the page up and down buttons but that doesn't work for me. Nothing is working. It's disabled. Plain and simple. Below, at the end of this article, I have added some comments from people about this.
I want to hurt something small and fuzzy and stuffed with sawdust.
I should also mention that yesterday I VOD'd this program. I also VOD'd the very funny, quirky, "An Idiot Abroad" (Science Channel), Ricky Gervais' show. I can FF on this, no problem.
If this is the beginning of a trend, we're screwed. Is it? We'll have to start building our own DVR's with all the functionality we want in them. This is an issue I knew was a trend back when DVD burners first came out and they were not allowed to hit the market until the manufacturers agreed with the film and TV industry to fix it so you cannot burn copies of prerecorded DVDs.
Sure, they should protect their intellectual property, but then they should remove that Damned FBI warning, or at least, put it at the end. PUT IT AT THE END! You can't zip past it. They should also, on the functionality of DVDs, give us control. Ever try to fast forward or skip the commercials on YOUR DVD that you paid for and got a note that this function is not available at this time? Why NOT? Pretty annoying.
I don't have any solutions here, just notification on this matter. We are being abused as consumers. We need to pay attention. Speak out. Get mad as Hell and not take it anymore. All that kind of stuff. Does it have to be this way because THEY have all the power? No. Not if we demand better treatment. Will we? Probably not, but then if this continues, we will only have ourselves to blame in the end.
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On a side and more entertaining note, check out my quirky little Sci Fi story, "Simon's Beautiful Thought", available at Smashword's minimum price of 99 cents. I won't try to control how fast you read it. The written word is still wide open to its reader.
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UPDATE: I looked around and found some discussion groups who had posted last year about this. Some said that FOX demanded FF be disabled because you have to watch the adverts. Some said on some shows you can skip forward (I just tried this, it said you cannot fast forward, it's not FF it's skip, but, whatever). Someone said, you shouldn't pay again for what you are paying for to begin with, then someone said the VOD are free and separate so they can do this. So it appears to be an ongoing controversy I'm only now becoming aware of.
I just found this:
ComcastKeisha
10-05-2011 02:01 PM
http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Video-On-Demand/Fast-Forward-on-quot-on-demand-quot/td-p/1000757
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