pandemic

Parties, politics and puritanism

moral panic, pandemic, parties, puritanism 14th December 2021 Rantings

About what you’d expect, really: everyone losing their minds about the government’s Christmas parties last year and not bothering overmuch about their latest attack on democracy and human rights. Yes, fair enough, Partygate is probably the most blatant demonstration of … Continued

Can you really change their minds?

fiction, pandemic, vaccination, writing 9th August 2021 Musings 1 Comments

How do we get people to change their minds? Of course, most will change their behaviour in the face of threats and coercion, bullying and ostracism, but it’s not a good idea to regard that as job done. Whether or … Continued

Misdirection and moral panic

dishonesty, morality, pandemic, panic, politics, public health 28th March 2021 Rantings

The key thing to remember about any and every moral panic is that they are about misdirection. Misdirection is not, in itself, a terrible thing – just like sex, what makes misdirection good or bad is a matter of why … Continued

While you still can

pandemic, positive action, rise up, shopping, small businesses 22nd September 2020 Other Things

While you still can, think about doing some of these things. No, this is not an encouragement to buy bogroll or strip the shelves of tinned beans and pasta. If your finances and your own personal risk/health circumstances allow – … Continued

Writing the Pandemic: Should you? Could you?

erotica, news, pandemic, writing 15th April 2020 Musings, Other Things

Back in the 90s it tended to be the porn producers* who were quickest off the mark when it came to topical themes for new product, probably for the same reason that now it’s indie authors: low production costs and … Continued