We often run pieces that rub some persons the wrong way. Some folks are sensitive, others as Jack Nicholson once observed “can’t handle the truth.” Still, it is far better to provoke a reaction than not. Sort of like there’s no such thing as bad publicity.
Our fair Hugh Cron pretty much arrives with an ADVISORY sticker on his work about two times in three. One of the main ideas behind good writing is promoting thought in the readers’ minds. Sometimes honest thoughts get a bit hard for some to chew. Hugh’s Franky and Jesus is an excellent bit of thoughtful fun which occurs when two “made” men share liquid libation.
Q:Are you surprised by strong negative reactions to ideas, even when people have been warned?
Q: I believe if it wasn’t for the Church (I mean that to include all religions, not just Christianity) and government the concept of censorship (outside pornography) would not exist. How do you feel about it?
Cheers Leila and thanks for the easy questions!!!!
First question, I can never understand the appalled!! They are fucking idiots. There are certain things that I won’t watch or read and if I see or start to read them, I stop. I’m not a genius by any means but if something offends or more likely upsets, I move away. ‘The Wee Man’ with Martin Compton is a brilliant film (About Paul Ferris) but I have only watched it once due to the first scene. I’d love to watch ‘Tyrannosaurs Rex’ with Peter Mullen but again, when I read about the first scene I have never done so. Most people who have any intelligence what-so-ever can work this out. The fucking idiots that say ‘I was appalled’ should be paper-cut to death!!!!!
Second question – You have a point. Censorship is fascinating. Any classification has no particular parameters, it’s all to do with who is in charge at the time. I loved those old 1950’s films where you weren’t allowed to see someone get hit in the head so they went for the shadow! Also you could only see a man and women in bed if one of them had their leg on the floor!!
For a laugh, on my dad’s 50th birthday we bought him a book of nudes from 1939. The weird thing was, some of the images were very risque, probably stronger than you would think…But I stopped laughing when I looked at most of the models eyes, they were ‘oot their tits’ in more than one meaning and I do reckon that those poor souls were exploited.
I’m off on a tangent…As always.
I hate censorship. But there does have to be a line, I suppose. If you could only access what you want to watch or read, then fair do’s but that doesn’t happen. But that leads to another question – Does anything you see or read affect the way that you act???
It shouldn’t but a helluva lot of lawyers have made money from stating it does!! I’m not sure but I think I read somewhere that Mr Dahmer’s favourite film was ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ – Go figure that one out!!
Long story short – Censorship unfortunately is a vote winner and that is why we have twats preaching the reverse of what they want to do!!!!!!!
Well that’s as clear as mud!!!
As always Leila, this has been an absolute blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***
literally stories 
Hugh
Great answers. And I imagine that all old pornography was either that or starve situation (food or drug). The twin beds and PJs buttoned to the too was insipid.
This is a great story! I can see Colin Clive at the cave screaming “It’s alive!” on the first Easter. Religion needs a sense of humour. All gods are shrill assholes when written by the beards in caves.
Leila
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Hi Leila,
Thanks for giving this another day in the sun.
It was published on the 18th January last year and the main reason that I wrote it was basically to cheer me up a wee bit. The date was my sister’s birthday and I knew she would be down as that was her first birthday without our dad.
To be honest, I don’t think she even seen it, but good intentions and all that!!
I’m sure you know that I’ve written maybe six or so that I class as ‘Fun with blaspheme’ and they all have given me so much pleasure as the subject matter is there for ridicule.
Cheers again my lovely friend!
Hugh
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Great answers, Hugh and this story will obviously evoke various reactions but as you say that is really what writing is about from the soft and squashy pink stuff publsihed by the likes of Mills and Boon to hard hitting fiction in all ways – violence, abuse, despair the whole gamut of experience and it’s up to the reader whether they want marshmallows or a Victory V lozenge I guess. – thaks – Diane
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Thanks Diane,
We all have a choice. Maybe on not what we do but what we think and have opinions on. (Oww, that sounded a bit biblical!)
I know that some of my writing can make you a wee tad uncomfortable but what I respect and can’t thank you enough for is your support and honest opinions!
Thanks so much my other lovely friend.
Hugh
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As you know Hugh I have, in my time, struggled with the use of profanity in my writing. You know full well it was all to do with family members who might read it and now that is no longer an issue (I wish it was to be honest) I have, for the first time used ‘fuck’ in my books. I wait to see what the editor will think. I was writing about three teenage boys in Liverpool and it quite simply would not have been believable had they not used profanities. So, I could clutch my pearls and say ‘Nevah’ or I could write honestly. I chose to write honestly. But, when you see that one of the most popular TV programmes recently was The Responder and the amount of swearing in that – well that’s Liverpool for you – then I think we have to acknowledge that language has moved on and words that were frowned upon are now part of everyday speech- at the end of the day a word is just a word and there is quite a lot of research that proves that swearing is not only natural but good for your mental health. We do come back don’t we to the same point in the end – If you don’t like something then don’t read it. The choice is always with the reader. x
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The story was quite a ride and so is this Q &A! Humor, satire, with some points worth pondering, as always, Hugh.
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Cheers Dave,
If even only one line makes anyone ponder, then a story (Or comment) has done its job!
All the very best my fine friend.
Hugh
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A lot of readers were probably enraged when this first came out, and their rage was likely repeated here today. I agree that “faith” can withstand any assault that Hugh can mount (so to speak), And I agree with that fine writer in his own right, Paul Kimm, that George Michael as the devil’s wife was inspired. You’ve a way with words, Hugh, but outside your own tight circle of friends, I don’t think that “…for fuck’s sake” is a regular part of small talk. I believe that you are more intelligent, and a better writer, than to use throw away lines like “cunt” and “fuck” and other such words. I have no sense of outrage about it, nor do I have any conventional religious admonitions opposing profanity. I use it myself when it feels right, but you’re selling yourself short by using it so damn much. Regards. bill
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Hi Bill,
Thanks for your thoughtful comments and observations.
I do need to correct you though, ‘For fuck sake’ I hear daily and not always from friends. In the place that I work, at my local shop, in a restaurant and now that I think of it, even on Friday when I was at the Crematorium. My point is I write what I see and hear, I always have (In some form or another) so I never use cunt as a throw-a-way word or phrase. It is used because it would be there. When I use dialogue, the characters take over, I more or less write it continuously and never have to stop and wonder ‘Well, what would they say now.’
Most of the premise of my stories are written the same way, continual. Only with three have I had to plan some details out. (I think they were all to do with time lines)
Not all my stories use profanity there are a few that don’t and the reason that I didn’t put any in them is simply because the story or dialogue didn’t take me there.
And last point is more or less what I’ve said, I don’t use profanity too damn much (It’s probably less than I use.) I use it when the story or the characters take me too it.
Regards.
Hugh
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I’ve read that the Victorian era was not at all how it appeared on the surface. Hellsfire Club, gentlemen’s porn. Technology advances, culture cycles, the most important thing that I learned in high school other than typing (see?>. The pendulum swings in both directions alternatively.
MM
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Hi Doug,
Thanks for the comments.
You just wonder how these times will be portrayed a hundred years from now??
Hugh
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Now I can’t stop humming that (almost) forgotten King Missile song from the early nineties – thanks Hugh!
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Hi Karen,
That’s a song I’ve never heard! The reference has been one of those weird wee coincidences that sometimes happen.
It will certainly stay with me.
I’m not that knowledgeable about 90’s music as I thought most of it was shit after 1986!!
But happy to hear an exception…I think.
Thanks so much for your time and comments!
Hugh
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I still remember this piece and it remains just as superb. Hugh – you are a legend. One of the many things I love about Literally Stories is its lack of fear in choosing what to publish – an increasingly fresh and much welcomed trait.
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Thanks Paul,
I did have a blast writing that one!
Cheers for the kind words, we do our best to find those interesting, well written stories, no matter what the subject matter.
All my very best to you and yours!
Hugh
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