John Walker's Electronic House

In our 166th ever Rum Doings, we’re still on the ocean waves. BUT WHAT IS THIS? John has been thrown out, perhaps overboard, and replaced by someone called “Laura”.

The topic is: should all of Gary Glitter’s records be pulped. Instead, Nick and Laura discuss whales, and are then rudely interrupted by the captain of the boat. Nick learns about pregnancy, and then they move on to John’s anger issues.

Laura laments not being a particle physicist, and Nick laments not being an endocrinologist. And then Nick delivers his Fountain Theory.

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

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[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/166_rumdoings.mp3]

I’ve deleted this.

I stated at the top of the piece that it was a deliberately one-sided argument, a counter to an ongoing topic I’ve seen come up over the years, and made emphatically clear that things about it would be wrong. But this is not a possible way to go about things, it turns out. A large part of the reaction has been incredibly inappropriate, with people interpreting an argument that contained,

“And I am quite certain that some brilliant writers are not receiving the consideration they deserve because of their sex, sexual identity or nationality. There are boys’ clubs in this business, and this business is a massive majority of white men. Hello. The lack of diversity in the coverage is a significant problem, and is most clearly revealed in the tacit or overt tolerance for the worst tropes of the games themselves. It’s a mess.”

as one that was arguing that there were no such problems, or even that I was deliberately attempting to oppress people. That’s insane, and not something worth trying to deal with. I know it’s a lie, and the people close to and important to me know it’s a lie. But it remains a terrible lie.

It’s been pointed out to me that my article, on a different day, might have been received differently, but right now a few people are hurting too much for it to be a useful contribution. This may well be the case. I haven’t engaged with that side of things, presumably I don’t follow the relevant people on Twitter and missed it. I was capturing thoughts I’ve had for a long time, and wasn’t responding to any individual. But if it just caused more hurt, then it wasn’t useful either. I likely wandered into a discussion I don’t know about, and looked like I was directly attacking specific people. I wasn’t, and I apologise to anyone who was hurt by it.

I have worked so hard to fight for the rights of freelancers, both when I was one, and since I’ve been in a position to employ them. I vociferously campaign against companies that are exploiting freelancers by not paying them. I am proud of what I’ve done. Since what I wrote was either so faulty and poorly communicated, or so wilfully misinterpreted, to suggest the opposite, I can see no good in leaving it up. Thank you to everyone who understood what I was saying, and thank you to those who engaged with where the argument was wrong and provided excellent replies. The comments are still below.

In our 165th ever Rum Doings, we’re back on the ocean waves! The topic is: why can’t kings just reign until they die, for goodness sake?

After three days at sea, Nick and John find themselves trapped on a floating town with the most awful population on Earth. We begin with a look through the HMS Sinksalot’s onboard programme, the Pitter Patter.

There’s discussion of the world’s most passive-aggressive magician, when John interviewed Douglas Adams, and incredibly, Nick’s phone rings in the middle of the sea. More dolphin chatter, and just a generally happy fun time!

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @rumdoings. If you want to email us, you can do that here. If you want to be a “fan” of ours on Facebook, which apparently people still do, you can do that here.

To get this episode directly, right click and save here. To subscribe to Rum Doings click here, or you can find it in iTunes here.

Or you can listen to it right here:

[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/165_rumdoings.mp3]

In our 164th ever Rum Doings, our topic is, are low-cost airlines in Asia too much of a good thing?

This is a hastily uploaded episode, so excuse the lack of a description. You find out what’s discussed by listening!

There won’t be a Rum Doings next week, as we’re going on the #cruiseofdisappointment! So we’ll be recording a whole bunch on board the Good Ship Sinkalot, then releasing them to you on our return.

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @rumdoings. If you want to email us, you can do that here. If you want to be a “fan” of ours on Facebook, which apparently people still do, you can do that here.

To get this episode directly, right click and save here. To subscribe to Rum Doings click here, or you can find it in iTunes here.

Or you can listen to it right here:

[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/164_rumdoings.mp3]

Disillusionment is so often cited as the reason people vote for extremists, the underpinning reason why X or Y is happening in British politics. And it’s mostly gibberish. It’s a nonsense told both by those who wish to vote for extremes, and by those attempting to justify why others might vote for those extremes. The reality is, it’s barely ever the case.

I feel like we’re in a pretty scary place. When it comes to politics, there’s obviously a tendency for hyperbole, exaggerating one’s claims to suit one’s political agenda. But for someone with left-wing beliefs, their understanding of how to treat others best represented by socialism, the United Kingdom is currently a frightening political landscape.

People are voting UKIP/BNP/English Democracts, etc, etc, we’re told, because they’re disillusioned with the main parties and want to see things shaken up. This is plain, absolute rubbish. It doesn’t make sense in any way, and the media’s frequent declaration that this is the case is both intellectual snobbery, and woeful naivety.

The obvious reality is, a large contingent of people voting for extremes, for racist and homophobic parties like UKIP, BNP, etc, do so because they are racist and homophobic. Pretending this isn’t the case is endemic in the reporting of our politics, perhaps from a fear of appearing “biased”, perhaps from a fear of alienating the racist and homophobic contingent of their audience. Very few people tend to wear the mantle of “racist” with pride, hence that most oxymoronic of aphorisms, “I’m not racist, but…” The inevitable continuation of something either grotesquely or insidiously racist rather confirms the contrary, but for some reason our press has opted to acculturate itself to the opening gambit. Essentially, the coverage of UKIP in the recent elections has been, “UKIP isn’t racist, but…” The reality of course being: UKIP is racist, and lots of people who agree with their racist views have voted for them accordingly.

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In our 163rd ever Rum Doings, our topic is, when are we going to get a proper extradition order for the housing bubble?

Topics include: Ru Paul! UKIP! The aesthetics of sexuality! John’s elbone surgery! Tips on oogling people in public! Aeroplane toilets! Naked & Marooned! Manual typewriters! And how coffee saved John’s faith!

Don’t forget to email podcast@rumdoings.com with the word “shibboleth” to indicate your interest in coming to a live edition of Rum Doings. Last chance. Probably.

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @rumdoings. If you want to email us, you can do that here. If you want to be a “fan” of ours on Facebook, which apparently people still do, you can do that here.

To get this episode directly, right click and save here. To subscribe to Rum Doings click here, or you can find it in iTunes here.

Or you can listen to it right here:

[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/163_rumdoings.mp3]

In our 162nd ever Rum Doings, our topic is, are net curtains ever acceptable?

Apologies for this brief summary, but John is currently one-handed, and typing hurts rather a lot. But just know this is the second appearance of Judge Coxcombe, in which we respond to your questions. Also we’re very offensive, so enjoy that. It’s a really good, double-length episode!

Don’t forget to email podcast@rumdoings.com with the word “shibboleth” to indicate your interest in coming to a live edition of Rum Doings.

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @rumdoings. If you want to email us, you can do that here. If you want to be a “fan” of ours on Facebook, which apparently people still do, you can do that here.

To get this episode directly, right click and save here. To subscribe to Rum Doings click here, or you can find it in iTunes here.

Or you can listen to it right here:

[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/162_rumdoings.mp3]

In our 161st ever Rum Doings, our topic is, why are we no longer a nation of bunters?

Hurrah! We’re joined by the Lord High Judge Coxcombe, who is hear to judge, well, John apparently. Next week’s episode will feature his rulings on you, the lone listener. This week, instead we begin with some comely discussion of racist, racist UKIP and corrupt career politician Nigel Farage. We consider the middle class bias of Twitter, and then Nickbot is unable to process the concept that someone might be nice about someone else without there being some concerning subtext. We then argue about whether we should put away our childish things, and Nick’s daughter’s plans to murder Martin.

We learn how to detect a fake baby Jew, revisit the “Russia are the baddies” theorem, and then require the Judge to rule on Scottish independence. It then becomes time to judge John on whether he is terrible or not.

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @rumdoings. If you want to email us, you can do that here. If you want to be a “fan” of ours on Facebook, which apparently people still do, you can do that here.

To get this episode directly, right click and save here. To subscribe to Rum Doings click here, or you can find it in iTunes here.

Or you can listen to it right here:

[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/161_rumdoings.mp3]

In our 160th ever Rum Doings, our topic is, videogames!

We begin with discussions of the abacus and hopscotch. Which inexorably takes us toward discussing the Mozilla and Brendan Eich matter. And Moses.

We ponder the Downs Syndrome test during pregnancy, and then the abstract nature of pregnancy. Then things move on to Stephen King, whereupon Nick feels the need to ruin the end of 11.22.63, because John was just about to start it. Want to miss the spoiler? Skip from 21:00 to 22:00. And 26:00 to 27:00. Nick is a dick.

We answer a few Twitter questions (at last), and then come upon an idea. Make sure to respond regarding a live show. And we once more repeat our plea for someone listening to give us at least £100,000. Then we break all the rules and talk about bloody videogames.

Finally, Nick attempts to explain the inexplicable Bitcoin.

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @rumdoings. If you want to email us, you can do that here. If you want to be a “fan” of ours on Facebook, which apparently people still do, you can do that here.

To get this episode directly, right click and save here. To subscribe to Rum Doings click here, or you can find it in iTunes here.

Or you can listen to it right here:

[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/160_rumdoings.mp3]

In our 159th ever Rum Doings, our topic is, what is it with those flamingos?

It’s Rum Doings in person! We unite in the echoey halls of Posi Castle We begin with our listener’s all-time highlights of Rum Doings. Then we begin our LCHF picnic, of home-baked not-bread and chocolate brownies. Mmmmmmmm. With our mouths full, we explore the ways of Nigel Ferage, which inevitably leads us to discussing abortion.

And then we move on to a very special letter. Typed on a manual typewriter, what begins as a sympathy message about the disappearance of Dexter, quickly becomes… very strange. Whatever you do, make sure you listen to the final excerpt.

You are of course required to leave a review on iTunes. Thank you to everyone who has – there are some extremely generous comments up there.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @rumdoings. If you want to email us, you can do that here. If you want to be a “fan” of ours on Facebook, which apparently people still do, you can do that here.

To get this episode directly, right click and save here. To subscribe to Rum Doings click here, or you can find it in iTunes here.

Or you can listen to it right here:

[audio: http://rumdoings.jellycast.com/files/audio/159_rumdoings.mp3]