Five Questions Meme
Apr. 12th, 2012 11:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
f4f3Questions from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pashazade: ask in comments if you'd like some of your own.
1) What is your greatest regret in life?
I don't think I have one. Yes, there are lots of things I wish had turned out differently, or that I had or had not done, but overwhelmingly things have turned out well for me, even when there have been sad times. I tend to take the Pratchett view of what ifs: we always imagine that things would have gone fine if only we'd done "x", but we never think of the cart that would have run us down the very next day.
2) Do you think that the cause of Scottish independence is rooted in romantic nationalism?
Not sure how to answer this. I'm not a fan of nationalism at all, of any type. I'm much more of an Orwellian patriot than a nationalist. In terms of roots, there's a strong tradition of Scottish internationalism, which was evidenced in the 20th Century by Glasgow having a delegate to the Soviet Government in 1918, by the amount of Scots who fought in the Spanish civil war, by the Scottish Government's policy of encouraging immigration. So if by romantic nationalism, you mean kilts and heather and coming through the rye, and wha's like us... Well no. I think it's a quite simple question of self-determination, thrown into sharp relief by the nature of policies enacted by the Scottish parliament, and the ones the UK parliament is enacting on the NHS, Univesities, care of the elderly etc.
3) Should people who put ice in single malts be jailed or merely whipped through the street? What about people who mix them with coke?
There's a lovely line in one of Lawrence Block's "Matt Scudder" books. Scudder is a recovering alcoholic, and his friend asks, "Would it bother you if I had a drink?". Scudder's reply is "Hell no - it would bother me if I had a drink, but you do what you like." So once you've paid for your malt, it's your malt. Put ice in it, mix it with coke, pour it over haggis or ice cream (I've done three of the four). I won't drink malt with coke, unless there's no bourbon available, but I've drunk Indian whisky with orange juice. Complaining about how anyone enjoys their malt is perverse...
4) Do you read poetry? If so, whose poetry do you really love? Why?
I like to read some poetry every day - if you write at all, it's like yoga for the writing muscles.
Who do I really love? After my condemnation of tartan nationalism, it's a bit embarrassing to admit that my favourite poet is Burns. And why? Andrew O'Hagan wrote a splendid appreciation of Burns, which ends with the words: "His greatest poem is not a farewell to the lasses, the drinks, the immortals or the politics, but a rousing welcome to what is best in each of us, for a' that, as we live and breathe. When we make our way home, when the morning is clear and this sky is busy with birds and their songs, we will know our place in the world by the size of our faith in fellowship. It is this conviction that makes Burns the world's greatest and most loveable poet." Couldn't have said it better...
5) Is the death penalty ever justifiable?
No, because of the damage it does to the society which authorises it, and the people who make up that society. Does anyone ever deserve the death penalty? Of course - "if each of us where judged according to our merit, who would escape a whipping?" But it should never be used.
pashazade: ask in comments if you'd like some of your own.1) What is your greatest regret in life?
I don't think I have one. Yes, there are lots of things I wish had turned out differently, or that I had or had not done, but overwhelmingly things have turned out well for me, even when there have been sad times. I tend to take the Pratchett view of what ifs: we always imagine that things would have gone fine if only we'd done "x", but we never think of the cart that would have run us down the very next day.
2) Do you think that the cause of Scottish independence is rooted in romantic nationalism?
Not sure how to answer this. I'm not a fan of nationalism at all, of any type. I'm much more of an Orwellian patriot than a nationalist. In terms of roots, there's a strong tradition of Scottish internationalism, which was evidenced in the 20th Century by Glasgow having a delegate to the Soviet Government in 1918, by the amount of Scots who fought in the Spanish civil war, by the Scottish Government's policy of encouraging immigration. So if by romantic nationalism, you mean kilts and heather and coming through the rye, and wha's like us... Well no. I think it's a quite simple question of self-determination, thrown into sharp relief by the nature of policies enacted by the Scottish parliament, and the ones the UK parliament is enacting on the NHS, Univesities, care of the elderly etc.
3) Should people who put ice in single malts be jailed or merely whipped through the street? What about people who mix them with coke?
There's a lovely line in one of Lawrence Block's "Matt Scudder" books. Scudder is a recovering alcoholic, and his friend asks, "Would it bother you if I had a drink?". Scudder's reply is "Hell no - it would bother me if I had a drink, but you do what you like." So once you've paid for your malt, it's your malt. Put ice in it, mix it with coke, pour it over haggis or ice cream (I've done three of the four). I won't drink malt with coke, unless there's no bourbon available, but I've drunk Indian whisky with orange juice. Complaining about how anyone enjoys their malt is perverse...
4) Do you read poetry? If so, whose poetry do you really love? Why?
I like to read some poetry every day - if you write at all, it's like yoga for the writing muscles.
Who do I really love? After my condemnation of tartan nationalism, it's a bit embarrassing to admit that my favourite poet is Burns. And why? Andrew O'Hagan wrote a splendid appreciation of Burns, which ends with the words: "His greatest poem is not a farewell to the lasses, the drinks, the immortals or the politics, but a rousing welcome to what is best in each of us, for a' that, as we live and breathe. When we make our way home, when the morning is clear and this sky is busy with birds and their songs, we will know our place in the world by the size of our faith in fellowship. It is this conviction that makes Burns the world's greatest and most loveable poet." Couldn't have said it better...
5) Is the death penalty ever justifiable?
No, because of the damage it does to the society which authorises it, and the people who make up that society. Does anyone ever deserve the death penalty? Of course - "if each of us where judged according to our merit, who would escape a whipping?" But it should never be used.
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no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 12:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 01:22 pm (UTC)Regret is a difficult space. I'm simultaneously able to hold "I would give anything to turn back time and avoid hurting person X (or, on occasions, people X1...Xn) and also "everything has happened in exactly the way it was meant to happen". Which are quite contradictory when one thinks about it too carefully.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 02:26 pm (UTC)Edit: I think I could answer a few choice questions too, if you feel like it.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 04:29 pm (UTC)1. If you could cast one opera, which would it be?
2. And with whom - fantasy cast from anytime, or current performers.
3. How fit are you compared to 5 years ago? Leaving aside major surgeries!
4. Is it worthwhile trying to get Canadian wines in the UK?
5. What are your views on Scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 04:35 pm (UTC)1. Do you see your artistic development having a direction of travel? Obviously there's a huge shift in what you're doing now from earlier work, but does it seem to be heading in any particular direction?
2. Do you think painting and spirituality are connected? Do you have to be in a particular mood to paint, or does painting create the mood?
3. And talking of creating moods, what's your current favourite malt?
4. How do you think SF Conventions are different from what they were 5 years ago? 10 years ago?
5. Do you have any views on Scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 04:40 pm (UTC)"By ‘nationalism’ I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled ‘good’ or ‘bad’(1). But secondly — and this is much more important — I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognising no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality."
George Orwell, Notes On Nationalism
http://orwell.ru/library/essays/nationalism/english/e_nat
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 05:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 05:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 06:31 pm (UTC)Do I get questions?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 11:17 pm (UTC)I'm trying to give up on guilt, but, hey, life time habit.
And no, I'd give up the bad things that were done to me in a minute - I don't think I learned anything useful from them at all. Spending half your life just covering up is not a good skill. Anything I learned that way, I could have learnt far better by loving instruction.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 11:21 pm (UTC)2. What brought you to Eastercon? Was it just friends being there, or was there something in it you wanted to try?
3. Which of psychochicken's paintings did you want to buy, and how would it have changed your room's decoration?
4. What is your favourite place in London?
5. Do you have any views on Scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 11:24 pm (UTC)2. What would be your favourite place to live?
3. When would be your favourite place to live?
4. What is your favourite place where you live now?
5. And finally, since this is helping me build up a picture, do you have any views on Scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 11:28 pm (UTC)2. Are you any closer to knowing what it is that you do for a living? Can you put it in one sentence? A paragraph? An amusing blog entry?
3. How would you like to cycle the length of the Hebrides?
4. Where is your favourite place where you live now?
5. Do you have any views on Scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-12 11:32 pm (UTC)2. Does giving something spiritual a name turn it from an experience into a religion? Are names useful?
3. Has arse-end been deducted 10 points? (sorry, it's a football thing).
4. Where would you like to go for a day out?
5. And do you have any views on Scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-13 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-14 06:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-14 11:46 pm (UTC)1. What's with the sudden fetish for lighting?
2. Planting vegetables: sexy in a Felicity Kendal way, or taking up valuable flower room?
3. What's the best SF book you've read this year?
4. What's a good time for me to come for a building tour?
5. And, of course, what are your views on Scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 09:15 am (UTC)1. Where should I go to eat when I come to visit?
2. You are becoming a bit of a TwitterNosher - did you start going for fine dining because it's part of the job, or would you do it anyway?
3. Big question - how has married life changed you?
4. And little question - what fun activity do you want to do more of, that's getting squeezed out by work?
5. Finally, and predictably, what are your views on scottish Independence?
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 09:48 am (UTC)