Sir Ian Livingstone

[Doug ex-em4]

The ‘captains of industry’ knighthoods never fail to amuse. Here's a gong for getting rich. 

There are far, far worse things people get gongs for including failure in public office and making the rest of us poor. Still, at least this one has amused you so it may lighten your burden of world-weary cynicism.

Happy New Year(‘s Honours)

Doug

[carlos marighela]

Yeah, boo for someone accomplishing something.  Boo hiss.

So you make a quid or two and that’s not enough? I’m happy for him that he has made that quid, no doubt he deserves it, his hard work and all that but seriously how does that qualify for an honour bestowed by the state? Tell me that what Sir Ian has done or Lord Sugar or any of these other captains of industry done that puts them ahead of a firefighter, a nurse etc etc. It’s bollocks. Boo hiss indeed.

[Donkeymilkman]

So you make a quid or two and that’s not enough? I’m happy for him that he has made that quid, no doubt he deserves it, his hard work and all that but seriously how does that qualify for an honour bestowed by the state? Tell me that what Sir Ian has done or Lord Sugar or any of these other captains of industry done that puts them ahead of a firefighter, a nurse etc etc. It’s bollocks. Boo hiss indeed.

A lot of people are given titles and awards in Britain for many different things. Rewards like this are not unusual, at least in my view. If it helps console you the Chief Medical Officer in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland I believe all received a Knighthood as well as various other professionals in medicine and science for their support in helping combat the corona virus. Not to mention authors like Terry Pratchett have been knighted for their contributions to literature. Musicians and artists as well. You have the poet laureate title which is awarded to poets in return for their service to the country. As well as that men and women have been admitted to the House of Lords for their achievements like Lord Owen, who I believe was a doctor and later in life a politician, Lord Krabs (I hope I have spelt that right) for his contribution to veterinary science and Lord Bird who founded the Big Issue having being made homeless.

I think it’s completely fair he earns an award for his contribution to the early video game industry, I believe he worked on the original Lara Croft games. Titans of industry like Lord Sugar and Baroness Brady are awarded these titles and positions, whether you are for or against it, because of contributions to British society not to mention the things they have had to overcome. I may be wrong so feel free to challenger me but did Sugar not grow up on a council house estate in Britain and was given his peerage by the Labour gvt of Blair (again may be wrong).

I, personally, rather enjoy when people win these awards as it’s a nice change from hearing so frequently about modern celebrities. I think it can work very well as good inspiration to children seeing how you can be rewarded for any profession you take part in and don’t necessarily have to be famous to the masses.

[Blackwolf]

Excellent stuff. Could we now lock the thread.

[Tactalvanic]

Well deserved recognition on his part

[Elbows]

So you make a quid or two and that’s not enough? I’m happy for him that he has made that quid, no doubt he deserves it, his hard work and all that but seriously how does that qualify for an honour bestowed by the state? Tell me that what Sir Ian has done or Lord Sugar or any of these other captains of industry done that puts them ahead of a firefighter, a nurse etc etc. It’s bollocks. Boo hiss indeed.

That would be a question to ask the state.  I'm pretty certain no one asked your permission to dole out knighthoods as they see fit, regardless of how silly or petty you may find them.

[Westfalia Chris]

Folks,

while this topic obviously has a political tangent, it is somehow relevant to the hobby in a similar way to obituary threads (although I'm certainly happier to see "hobby greats" honoured than buried, mind! ).

Also, while it can be argued that an honour might be easier to justify for "services to humankind", it need not be the only kind, and Mr. Livingstone's / Sir Ian's list of accomplishments seems to be quite impressive and ranging beyond just hobbies and games.

So please keep it polite, if a-politic.

[Kikuchiyo]

So you make a quid or two and that’s not enough? I’m happy for him that he has made that quid, no doubt he deserves it, his hard work and all that but seriously how does that qualify for an honour bestowed by the state? Tell me that what Sir Ian has done or Lord Sugar or any of these other captains of industry done that puts them ahead of a firefighter, a nurse etc etc. It’s bollocks. Boo hiss indeed.

As somone who has worked for the NHS for 25 years as a front line healthcare worker I don't begrudge him his award.

If you don't like the honours just ignore them - works for me with the oscars

[Red Sveta]

Fair enough for him to get a gong he's made some people happy with his games after all. Its better than getting one for starting an illegal war after all.

[Tarnegol]

As somone who has worked for the NHS for 25 years as a front line healthcare worker I don't begrudge him his award.

Agreed. 30+ years at the pointy end of the NHS, now retired. Ian Livingstone and his colleagues helped me hang on to my sanity whilst I was doing my best to help other folks hang on to theirs.
No begrudgement here.

[Doug ex-em4]

How pleasing that the overwhelming majority of responses to this topic have shown generosity of spirit and pleasure in someone from our hobby getting recognition. I think that reflects well on LAF and its contributors.

Doug

[carlos marighela]

Hear hear! Give yourself a big pat on the back Doug.

By the by, the original post to this thread posed the following question:

“Wow......what does everyone think of that?”

It seems that differing views aren’t welcome by some.

[Belligerentparrot]

Well personally, if Sir Ian's FF books hadn't got me into this hobby when I was an impressionable 9 year old, I'd have a lot more cupboard space and a lot more money now.
So f k him and his knighthood, I say.   

(No doubt I'd have spent the money on something far less healthy anyway, but I would have more cupboard space).

[Doug ex-em4]

Hear hear! Give yourself a big pat on the back Doug.

By the by, the original post to this thread posed the following question:

“Wow......what does everyone think of that?”

It seems that differing views aren’t welcome by some.

 :)I’m sure they’re welcome - and challengeable, even if that’s not fashionable.

Personally, I’m happy to read your opinions and perhaps disagree. Keep them coming.

Doug

[black hat miniatures]

I think he deserves it for the work he has done on computer and online gaming.

In 1986 I was living in Muswell hill in London and writing computer games and Ian came over to discuss a possible project we were looking at working on.

My landlady saw a white Loutus Esprit draw up outside her house and was then amazed when the driver came to the house and rang my doorbell (we had a flat at the top of the house).  When I told her he was the man who wrote Fighting Fantasy books she was completekly blown away!

Mike