Believing a man is as much defined by saying “no” as saying “yes”, I usually refuse interviews. But I made an exception for Coilhouse. You can read it here. And if you’ve come here after reading it, welcome to “The Grumpy Owl.”
The primary reason for my agreement to this profile is my respect and affection for the blog/magazine. It’s just well done.
Coilhouse represents the next step in publishing. Good online content and a high-quality print edition that’s an interesting object. It’s a bit like downloading MP3s for free and, if you feel like spending money, procuring the vinyl with the nice cover. Books will go the same way soon enough.
I’ve also met Ms. Zoetica Ebb, who interviewed me, and I have much harder time saying no to people I’ve actually met. While finding it quite easy to hate anything and anyone in the abstract, I usually like the people I meet. She’s a talented artist, whose work I’ve actually purchased, and quite pleasent.
She also asked some decent questions. Usually, when the media people want to do these style profiles of me, they just want a shopping list, so that people can discover where you buy your Ryan Oakley attitude and outfit.
Well, I’m not a commodity. You can’t just go buy me.
Aside from all this, it’s just a bit absurd. For a waiter, who doesn’t really do much of anything, a lot of people sure want to talk to me. While I can understand why I care about what I wear, do and say, I’ve never been able to understand why other people care about what I wear, do and say.
Unless it hurts me, is done with my money or in my name, I barely notice what other people do. I suppose their thoughts interest me, insofar as I can steal and make use of them to form my own, but their tie? I have my own to worry about.
Anyway, go to Coilhouse for the interview, stay for the content.
