The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry » Forum: StephenFry.com/blog

The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry » Forum: StephenFry.com/blog - Recent Posts http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/forum/stephenfrycomblog Just another bbPress community en-US Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:14:36 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/search.php JamesCopple on "Truth!" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/truth#post-281589 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:27:38 +0000 JamesCopple 281589@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I have a proposition that it is possible to make an objective assessment of the validity of our judgements. My essay is here: <a href="http://web.me.com/turbohippo/Coppleosophy/Blog/Entries/2012/2/8_The_Truth_Seeker_files/The%20Truth%20Seeker.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://web.me.com/turbohippo/Coppleosophy/Blog/Ent.....Seeker.pdf</a> I think that my essay will be of interest to people who share Stephen Fry's philosophy, and I hope that you don't mind me sharing it with you on this forum. letusallsmile on "Help Spread Happiness." http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/help-spread-happiness-1#post-281293 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:04:08 +0000 letusallsmile 281293@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Dear All, I'd love it if you checked out my blog <a href="http://smileitisgoodforthesoul.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow">http://smileitisgoodforthesoul.tumblr.com/</a> & Twitter page <a href="https://twitter.com/#" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/#</a>!/letusallsmile & helped spread the word about my cause. Thank you. It would be very much appreciated.Since I am fairly new to this site I wasn't sure where to post this so apologizes if I have posted it in the wrong place. Wishing you all the very best. <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif" title=":-)" class="bb_smilies" /> Nitro on "Oscar Wilde." http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/oscar-wilde-5#post-280791 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:53:25 +0000 Nitro 280791@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ No, I think you make a good point about character analysis Stefi. Oscar, imho, understood the concept of 'branding' before it was a method that our modern world kind of takes for granted. People who create YT channels often study marketing and the idea of 'branding' becomes a more widespread tool in an effort to get public awareness. I tend towards appreciating a fair look at things and it doesn't really impact my opinion of Mr.Wilde's talents. But I do kind of think it's important to recognize that he had a few things that if he did not have them, I'm not convinced he would've been as well known. For one, he moved in certain circles that gained him contacts and opportunities that an impoverished and uneducated youth might not have allowed for. This is one reason why advocates for the poor emphasize how important equal access to Education is. For two, I'm still conflicted, I admit, about some of Oscar's personal choices. For example, Bosie was a member of the Uranian ( something like that, Wiki-it ) club that had an ideology of young man/old man relationships that on closer examination might've made sense to Sparta's, um, 'mentoring' military relationships. During Oscar's trial, some of the rent boys that testified were as young as 12. I'm not sure that would go over any better now than it did then. Oscar's apologists about his decisions are pretty well known. Which is a great springboard for people to decide for themselves if it matters if a celebrity of [whatever] also has a good character and what standard does the general public base that standard on? In our times, we can ask: Does it matter, artistically, if Michael Jackson was actually a pedophile? And, what do we mean by 'matter'? Or do we give people of some certain talent a 'pass' in regards to these things simply because they can paint or write or act well. Finally, Oscar had a mentor that most Oscar fans don't know about but can be found on Wiki. I reference Wiki because a) I'm in a bit of a concussion cloud right now and b) I think it's better for people to read these things for themselves anyway. The idea that a fanbase can really turn on someone very, very quickly and with devestating results is, to me, one massive strike against the idea of fame. Oscar paid a very high price, and not just himself but his wife and children. They were totally innocent but their lives turned catastrophic while Oscar indulged himself. So, on the topic of artist and art, you know, what if wearing purple shoe laces suddenly became 'immoral' and an artist was caught on the lower east side with them on? Facetitious, slightly. But adoring fans can become a crucifying mob. And that sort of sickens me lol Stefi on "Oscar Wilde." http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/oscar-wilde-5#post-280763 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:25:13 +0000 Stefi 280763@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Ever since seeing the film I've been very fond of Oscar Wilde. I started reading is work and I immideately loved his style of writing. Of course, one can't know his real personality and of course Stephen Fry played him admirably. If I met him, who knows, I might hate him... but for me, that's not the point, because I will never meet him and what use would it be to analyse all his known deeds and words sceptically to find out if he was the man I so enjoy believing him to have been? The values "my" Oscar Wilde tought me don't change, wheter he really was that person or not. I hope that made any sense... Let's just say I choose him to be a person whom i can admire. And he wrote great literature. But genius or not... I guess you know that quote from Einstein:“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” IMHO, he was a genius in writing. Maybe in other things too, but what do I know? <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_wink.gif" title=";)" class="bb_smilies" /> Steve Budge on "QI error on iplayer this week? Rosicrucian (mason) US dollar symbol." http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/qi-error-on-iplayer-this-week-rosicrucian-mason-us-dollar-symbol#post-280749 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:02 +0000 Steve Budge 280749@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Despite QI's position that the all seeing eye on top of the pyramid is not freemansonic, this Rosicrucian (mason) publication suggests their members believe the Great Seal of the US has 'mystic significance' <a href="http://www.archive.org/stream/fundamentallaws00ordegoog#page/n30/mode/2up" rel="nofollow">http://www.archive.org/stream/fundamentallaws00ordegoog#page/n30/mode/2up</a> Mr. David on "Oscar Wilde." http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/oscar-wilde-5#post-280713 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:07:46 +0000 Mr. David 280713@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Surely a genius! Wilde was gifted with being able to see truth and beauty in the world around him. And a show off? No. Just the way that much pure talent would come across. Michael Booth on "Mr Fry: The Dreaded & Clouded Subject Of Religion" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/mr-fry-the-dreaded-clouded-subject-of-religion#post-280557 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:34:33 +0000 Michael Booth 280557@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ You can't beat Anglicanism in my book. Choral evensong, cucumber sandwiches on the vicarage lawn, a nice bring and buy sale to save the church organ and no requirement to believe anything uncomfortable. We don't stone people, we don't burn heretics and though we might be in a dither about gays, we don't advocate slitting their throats like some scimitar-weilding koranistas...ah yes, give me All Gas and Gaiters anyday... dewinter on "QI for kids" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/qi-for-kids#post-280185 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:18:19 +0000 dewinter 280185@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Mr Fry, I was listening to the radio yesterday afternoon and the presenter was talking about catching up with her children over the Christmas holidays: she spoke about their inquisitiveness and questions she couldn't answer - such as "Mummy, why are clouds white?". Have you considered producing a QI book for parents and children who want those baffling questions answered? Not sure how you would choose to answer the "Mummy, who is God/where is God?" question but perhaps it could be fun and interesting devising answers in the faith-zone specifically for any parent/child of any denomination. Also wondering if there is space in such a tome where parents contribute their best answers. For Christmas 2012...? Perhaps... All good wishes de W Nitro on "whatarewedoingabouttheworldweliveinpeople?" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/whatarewedoingabouttheworldweliveinpeople#post-278091 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:00:53 +0000 Nitro 278091@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ *bump Nitro on "whatarewedoingabouttheworldweliveinpeople?" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/whatarewedoingabouttheworldweliveinpeople#post-278089 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:59:35 +0000 Nitro 278089@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I would strongly suggest you go to youtube.com and start watching some of the Occupy Wall Street ( OWS ) videos. Also, we have a thread on teh topic running under 'General Musings' as well. Please do come join in our discussion there <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif" title=":)" class="bb_smilies" /> Bottiglieri on "Catholic church" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/catholic-church#post-277805 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:37:58 +0000 Bottiglieri 277805@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I could of picked a better metaphor. I'll come back soon to edit that comment. <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_exclaim.gif" title=":!:" class="bb_smilies" /> Bottiglieri on "Catholic church" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/catholic-church#post-277803 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:36:56 +0000 Bottiglieri 277803@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ It is often hard to articulate thoughts on a topic with very personal emotional relevance. Something that matters. Stephen you often rescue me and most others I expect with your brilliant rhetoric. A true orator. Your speech on you-tube was phenomenal. Thank you for being you, and inspiring me to play with language, encourage style and quite simply entertain my imagination with you fantastic metaphors. Broadcasting podcast: "The great oak must have its branches chopped" something along those lines. rachelle on "whatarewedoingabouttheworldweliveinpeople?" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/whatarewedoingabouttheworldweliveinpeople#post-277443 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:44:00 +0000 rachelle 277443@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Dear Sir, its rachelle, I hope you are well and enjoying the incredible Australian weather. Dear eveyone else, I hope you read this and comment. I twittered you some time ago when the subject of wikkileaks became greatly highlighted, prior to the arab spring and ahead of the English riots, which is a fairly convoluted way of saying absolutely nothing whilst placing a certain context around the core value in my communication. As a man I have deeply respected for his most marvellous portrayals of some of our more "colourful" historical characters and as one of our finest and most erudite Quintessential Inglishmen, I wondered what your opinions upon the "world versus the bankers" are, given that on this first day of the Greek National strike over 100,000 people are on the streets in Athens defying current government policy, while many thousands more are spread accross the world in cities like London, Torronto and New York protesting against the way of the bankers. In a similar way to the introduction of "mass terrorism" and the subsequent "war" on it, we have and are being quite obviously led up the garden path by a bunch of people who are no less criminal than individuals they purport to revile, fraudulently going about the world and pasting massive debt and austerity on those with the least to give in order to preserve capitalist dinosaurs and keep the richest 2% in power whilst every other person in the world suffers a drop in standards that in this country alone boils down to pensioners and families with children being forced into fuel poverty and potential death and future generations being without pensions and education. In Swaziland, as a diametrically opposite example to Britain, this means that the population are eating chicken giblets to survive whilst dealing with the highest AIDS per h/c as employment spirals towards 50%- I can't stand idly by and watch our postwar advances, and all those promises, get pissed down the drain by a bunch of greedy and power-insatiable arseholes. I know that in part, this is us as a species evolving, which takes no account of personal feelings; but I can't help feeling that this doesn't have to be like this. I'm no communist, but capitalism has almost certainly run its course; I'm no pacifist, but I can see that the military industrial complex now owes nothing to the people it took tax money off for return of "safety"; I'm no fortune-teller, "but it's easy to see without looking to far that" nothing is sacred anymore in terms of the daily abuses, corporate banditry and loss of life that comprise just another jolly englishmans day in the continuing story of the modern world. You once portrayed a marvellous character in an equally marvellous film that turned to face the camera and wryly stated that "there's something wrong with this country isn't there?", an inspiration to my understanding of how much this country and the World have changed since 2001. But this is not good change, this has unfolded to become simply change on behalf of the few against the many. English fishwife though I mebbe, I am beginning to lose my sense of humour as the daily assault of people like the BBC, bless them, and the ConDem government, continue to try to smooth over a ripple in humanity unprecedented and without historical reference. Please make me laugh and find a better way of dealing with this before I cut my own head off and fry it in garlic butter before burying it in soft peat for three months and recycling it as fire lighters! With many thanks for your patience in reading this and equal commiserations in living in times as interesting as these, your humble antagonistic plagiarist, Rachelle Fishwife, Up North, England. alfredo3 on "Bipolar Hyper Mania" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/bipolar-hyper-mania/page/2#post-277417 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:03:16 +0000 alfredo3 277417@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ It has been a pleasure to write here on Stephen Fry’s website. However, given that my face is slowly starting to take over this site, I have decided to discontinue to write for a while, especially because there is no one discussing thing with me. It is true that I am lonely, intellectually and spiritually lonely. I don’t write here or show my art because I am vane or because I like to talk about myself. I am here because I am trying to understand myself and find myself and I would like to do so with others here because we are all connected. We are all special, this I know. But in order to nurture one’s gifts it is important to open up and be part of a community. If we adhere to the Western ideology we don’t go far. We all have unique abilities and gifts that we can share. These can only be developed if embrace the community spirit. There are many people who are not aware of how creative they are and feel that they are useless. But this is not true. Every human being has the “gift” but we don’t all develop it. Why? Because we have the wrong ideas that one should not show ones talents or that one needs to be talented to communicate with others. All these ideas are based on myths. Art isn’t just the artifacts one produces. Art is a journey, it is love and it can be many things, even the ability to rare one’s children in a creative fashion or to do things in a different and novel way. We all have gifts but we are not always aware of this. I feel like a fish out of water and I know that many people misunderstand my intentions. I am used to it. In my heart I live in a different intellectual world where no one is jealous or resentful of anyone elses gifts because everyone knows that these gifts are not the gifts of one person but the gifts of the community and that each individual can contribute in her or his special way. No one is better or less, we are all equally capable but not all can read the myths and work around these to find a way to live a fulfilling and creative life. It is with this understanding that I share my art and that I write here. I am not one but many and I am part of a big puzzle. Not all pieces are the same: some are small and some are huge but together, the pieces form a picture which is unites and whole. By myself I am incomplete and it is true that we are all incomplete, even Stephen Fry, because we live a lonely and competitive life not naturally designed for humans. My art is your art and it is a celebration of life not a symbol of vanity, of selfishness or self prize. But I know that many do not understand this. No I am not trying to be a guru or a leader. This may be the impression but it is not true. I am me and I seek to find friends who discuss and share things. But I am afraid that in our world we are forgetting how to be friends a talk about things. I thank Stephen Fry for letting me write here. Love to you all alfredo3 on "Bipolar Hyper Mania" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/bipolar-hyper-mania/page/2#post-277369 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:49:15 +0000 alfredo3 277369@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I am a musician as well and here there is some of my music which is totally free of charge. I don't make money from my music it is a gift. You can listen to it and you can download it for free <a href="http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/100258" rel="nofollow">http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/100258</a>