Scathing letter on King's message board

**Brice** · 01-12-2008 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Randall Flagg

The subsequent responses were rarely intelligent (Other than Brice's) and mostly smileys.)

Thank you Jerome!

**LadyHitchhiker** · 01-12-2008 09:06 PM

I think if (s)he is that desperate to feel closer to SK they should move next door to him and hope that he doesn't pull a PPO out on them.

**Ruthful** · 01-13-2008 03:46 AM

LOL.

He probably has an electrified moat by this point.

You'd need to go all Dirty Dozen on his ass to get close to his mansion, probably.

**ZoNeSeeK** · 01-22-2008 07:42 PM

I love the whole obligation thing - rofl

So what, we're the smelly, dying grandmother and SK is the "cant be fucked" grandson who _HAS_ to go visit "in case she dies".

Part of me kinda shies away at having any direct contact with any author who's books I love - at the moment, they have faces but are essentially these unknown creators and this allows me to absorb what they have to write about from a completely objective viewpoint. I appreciate the arms-length contact with fans.

I think the Luddite comment is a fair enough observation - his fan interaction in other ways (letters / junkets & signings) is pretty standard, its the message board interaction that this is all about. He probably just doesnt use the net or is interested in using a message board. PC's and the internet hardly feature in any of his work and generationally he didn't grow up with them.

**Darkthoughts** · 01-23-2008 01:44 PM

I must admit, I don't entirely agree with what I wrote

Theres an element of what I'm actually trying to convey in there, I just can't express it correctly.

**Matt** · 01-23-2008 01:58 PM

I understand what you mean Lisa and I think I kind of agree.

My only point is that interaction with the fans is never really about the fans, its about exposure.

King is already totally exposed so I'm not sure it would make sense to him. I hate to break it down to dollars and cents but in my experience, that's what most things are really about.

I also agree with Zone when he said King just may not be a "net guy". I know it took him forever to switch to a word processor and I also know his generation (same as my parents) are not real great on technology.

**Darkthoughts** · 01-23-2008 02:06 PM

I totally agree on that (the net/generation thing) infact, I said it myself a page or two back

My dad hasn't got the hang of it (even though he thinks he has

), nor the interest in it.

**jhanic** · 01-23-2008 02:10 PM

I just turned 63 and am VERY comfortable with the net. Please don't generalize!

I do forget things sometimes, though. They say the memory is the second thing to go.

I don't remember what the first is!

John

**Armand St Pierre** · 01-23-2008 02:12 PM

I'd personally appreciate it if Steve was left with as much free time to write as possible.
I don't care if I ever meet him. I'd like to think that by enjoying the stories that he gives us, I am getting to know the side of him that really matters anyway.

As for his technological aptitude, he seems to be an early adopter to me...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz9CMhMWl_E"]King on You Tube[/ame]

**Darkthoughts** · 01-23-2008 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by jhanic

I just turned 63

Dad?

**Matt** · 01-23-2008 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by jhanic

I just turned 63 and am VERY comfortable with the net. Please don't generalize!

I do forget things sometimes, though. They say the memory is the second thing to go.

I don't remember what the first is!

John

Sorry John, I do hate to generalize which is why I used the word "tend". I really hope you are not an anomaly.

**ZoNeSeeK** · 01-23-2008 02:59 PM

Armand: Oh yeah, thats right, he;s mentioned pop internet stuff in his column before.

Does anyone know if he's ever done one of those "And Stephen King will be available on the 60 minutes website to field any questions viewers may have" things?

Or he could consider a message board just a discussion point, not 'letters' or communications directed at him. Send the guy's office an e-mail instead, perhaps?

**Matt** · 01-23-2008 03:02 PM

Ms. Mod always replies to people who want to contact him with...

"send me a PM and I'll get you the office address"

I assume she would read and forward any correspondence she felt was worthy right over to him.

**Jorge** · 01-23-2008 03:10 PM

So if I send a picture of my wang, is that worthy of a forwarding?

**ZoNeSeeK** · 01-23-2008 03:15 PM

I think you already know the answer to that, Jorge.

**Jorge** · 01-23-2008 03:17 PM

Maybe it'd be forwarded as if it were a really good joke.

Which it is, by the way. :'(

**Matt** · 01-23-2008 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Jorge

So if I send a picture of my wang, is that worthy of a forwarding?

Jeeze--you are going to try that again Mike?

In all seriousness, I bet she sees a lot of that kind of stuff.

I wonder what happened to the bookmark I sent.

**ZoNeSeeK** · 01-23-2008 03:43 PM

Didn't you get a Merry Wangmas card from Jorge, Matt?

**Randall Flagg** · 01-23-2008 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Jorge

So if I send a picture of my wang, is that worthy of a forwarding?

King wrote about playing with his "Wang" quite some time ago.
King was an early adopter of certain technologies.
He does however eschew the cell phone.

**ZoNeSeeK** · 01-23-2008 07:15 PM

get it away!

**Armand St Pierre** · 01-23-2008 07:35 PM

it's actually kind of cute.

**MaraJShakespeare** · 01-27-2008 04:34 PM

If he doesn't expect a personal response- which he claims he doesn't- what is this fool so pissed off about? The letter is very unclear on that point, actually; exactly what is it about the website that's so offensive? Clearly, this is a person who's too busy projecting his own mental malfunctions upon others to make accurate judgements.

**ZoNeSeeK** · 01-31-2008 04:08 PM

Mara: exactly

Maybe she was after a free fluffy toy or a fucking hug or something.

**mia/susannah** · 02-12-2008 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by ZoNeSeeK

What a selfish irrational idiot.

If King responded to every fan who had something to say about his books then he would never have the time to write another book again. *whispers* he kind of has like millions of readers, i think

So, as logic dictates, you have people to handle your fanmail and they would probably select a certain amount to bring to your attention for whatever reason. And logic also dictates that the only definitive decision a writer of King's popularity can come to when considering interaction with his fanbase is having as little or no interaction as possible, because where would you draw the line?

And there's probably a whole stack of creative process reasons as to why you wouldnt interact with your online fanbase. Internet communities of fans are direct, present and immediate - it would distract or contaminate your thought processes when it comes to your work.

Writers stay writing and fans stay fanning, and leave it in peace.

Very Well said, ZoNeseek,I don't feel Stephen King owes his fans anything. I would much rather him be writing his books that trying to answer his fans. It would be nice for him to leave one post for everyone on the forums, addressesd to all his fans, not just one fan, and I believe he does.

**Shiv** · 02-12-2008 04:24 PM

I watched a television show where the commentator said that people (fans) shell out the money to pay for the opportunity to see or own something that celebrities are involved in. That in turn leads the people (fans) to believe that the celebrities OWE them back since they go out of their way to line a celebrities pockets. Silly people.

Celebrities, writers, actors, musicians, don't owe anyone anything. It's all business. King (other celebrities) supplies us with a product. If we want it we purchase said product. End deal. Enjoy product and move on. Only psychos and attention whores would expect further or personal interaction.

Mr. King, be careful. That letter writer sounds like Misery just waiting to happen.

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