I am really not sure discussion forums are a good thing for me to be involved in. I haven't really frequented many over the years, and of those I have stuck with only the Doctor Who forum formerly known as Outpost Gallifrey has been outside the world of comics.

However, I've decided to knock that on the head following a rather irritating exchange regarding Rob Shearman. Now he's a writer I quite like, but it's manifestly obvious that he hasn't been asked back to Doctor Who since his season one episode, Dalek. Sadly, Mr Shearman in common with several people involved with the new run of the show frequents this forum and my comment it seems is something of a painful home truth for him. Hence he posted a response which, whilst not contradicting the assertion, clearly showed he was rather irritated by it. Probably justifiably.

Still, much as I hate the idea of annoying people I respect and who's work I admire, I think there's absolutely no point in discussion forums that aren't allowed to discuss anything that might annoy the subject of the discussion. I've seen this in the comics world too, at places like 2000AD Review although in fairness there's a lot less toadying from other posters to "the talent" there.

Now my problem is that in my capacity as a fan I can be quite critical of even my absolute heroes. Indeed, I am more likely to be, as it's their work that interests me the most and I have nothing really to say about people who's creative output I can't stick. But I have no particular wish to share these feelings with the people concerned. I don't really think Alan Moore needs to know my views on his dealings with Hollywood and similarly I didn't really want to tell Rob Shearman I suspect he was ditched because Dalek was rubbish (even if that probably wasn't even his fault).

Furthermore as someone that could conceivably end up on the other side of the fence if my comic writing ever becomes the subject of an Internet discussion I need to seriously consider how I would feel if I were in Shearman's place and some other "fan" in mine. Probably a tad annoyed.

So I am going to back away from these forums for a bit. I just don't have it in me to be a sycophantic twat, and I also really don't want to annoy people who basically I think are great.