Contacting JMS

[SWORDofGOD]

is there a place on this site where you can ask JMS a question in the hopes of having him answer it?

[cruiser]

Nope.....You have to set up newgroups on your computer, which I never have. A newsgroup with the name 'rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated' I believe. Hey Jan, a little help here.

[Radhil]

This site is just an archive of postings from a more obscure system called Usenet. So JMS don't actually have anything to do with here, other than giving it permission to do what it does.

You have to have a newsreader program. Most mail programs also do it. Outlook Express will, and that's on 99.999% of all computers. Find out your local usenet/news server from your ISP, plug it into Outlook, and subscribe to the group cruiser mentioned.

There may be other ways to do it (you can look up Usenet posts via Google, at least, and there may be sites that let you post via web form), but that is the most reliable and direct way.

Post to the group and mebbe he'll answer, mebbe not.

[Jan]

Originally posted by cruiser
Nope.....You have to set up newgroups on your computer, which I never have. A newsgroup with the name 'rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated' I believe. Hey Jan, a little help here.

Cruiser's right. One way that some folks do it is to set up a Yahoo account which I think is free. There are lots of newsreaders out there but I'm afraid I'm not familiar with them.

In order to be able to post to RASTB5M, you need to have a valid email address. The first time you post, an email message with the terms of service will automatically be generated. Or should be. If you don't get it within the hour or three, you may want to try your post again. You need to respond to the email agreeing with the terms and then your posts should start showing up. Even so, because of past experience, the moderators do still hand moderate for the first 20 posts or so which can cause a frustrating time lag. We're all used to it so don't worry that your comments will seem out of date. Quoting what you're responding to is always a good idea.

Once you've accomplished that, the convention is to put ATT JMS: or just JMS: in the subject field to catch his eye. If the question is something that some of the other posters know the answer to (or if it's a frequent question), they may go ahead and answer on the theory that the poster wants the answer more than just getting it from JMS. As Radhil said, maybe he'll answer, maybe he won't - don't take it personally if he doesn't. We don't know how much time he spends reading newsgroups though he has semi-promised to give us an inside look at movie making once the official announcement happens.

My goodness, this all sounds daunting but all of us over there have done it and survived the 20-post lag, sometimes multiple times when we've changed email addresses. Nice people over there and good conversations both light and heavy. See you there!

Jan

[bakana]

Jan, that pretty much describes JMS behavior on GEnie back when B5 was being made, too.

He tended to be online every night around 3:00 AM (His time).
He read all the messages and responded when a message or question intrigued him.
At other times, he ignored remarks aimed directly at him.
It depended on the level of "politeness" shown by the poster and how Tired he was at the time.

Anyone who hasn't already participated in one of these discussion with JMS should be warned, though:
He channels KOSH a Lot.

jms IS The Vorlon.

[Jan]

Originally posted by bakana
Jan, that pretty much describes JMS behavior on GEnie back when B5 was being made, too.

He tended to be online every night around 3:00 AM (His time).
He read all the messages and responded when a message or question intrigued him.
At other times, he ignored remarks aimed directly at him.
It depended on the level of "politeness" shown by the poster and how Tired he was at the time.

I envy the folks who were around back in the Genie days. Reading the posts, JMS sounds so jazzed by the whole experience.

I agree that he's more likely to answer polite questions, but I think sometimes it depends on how it's phrased, too. For instance, most to the time I'll begin my post with how I started wondering about what I'm about to ask, then ask the question, and close by thanking him. I try to have an intriguing subject, too.

I *really* hope he's getting more sleep these days!

Jan

[Dr Maturin]

<<I *really* hope he's getting more sleep these days! >>

Writers don't sleep...we become unconscious long enough to wake up and write some more.

[colonyearth]

Originally posted by bakana

jms IS The Vorlon.

That not only sounded Vorlonesque in its own right...it sounded much like something from DUNE.

CE

[bakana]

Oh, it should also be mentioned that jms does NOT "suffer fools gladly".

He IS inclined to "pop their bubbles" occasionally when they get too annoying.
It's a pleasure to see just how effectively the right words can peel the hide off a pretentious idiot.

[Jan]

Ah, some of those are a joy to read indeed! Of course, sometimes he's wrong, too, but I've never seen him rude unless he'd been attacked first. *Don't* ever call his honesty in question unless you want to be handed back important body parts!

Jan

[cruiser]

JMS said:

Eating butterscotch pudding whilst packing, perhaps...?

I will never eat butterscotch pudding again....

[Andrew_Swallow]

In January 2003 JMS reported that his idea Polaris had been turned down by Sci-Fi for a series in Intergalactic vampires called Bloodsuckers. Did this series ever get made?

http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?ID=1-16726

[Radhil]

Don't think so. I imagine that they thunk up the Stargate spinoff shortly after that, and that bumped everything else off.

Might've gotten past written script stage but I doubt it got to actual shooting.

[starfighter]

i would just like to let you all know that jms is great. Met him in `97 at the wolf convention in blackpool (thats in sunny england for those that don`t know) . despite all the thinks that was going on at the time he always made time for his fans.

[Jan]

Originally posted by starfighter
i would just like to let you all know that jms is great. Met him in `97 at the wolf convention in blackpool (thats in sunny england for those that don`t know) . despite all the thinks that was going on at the time he always made time for his fans.

Wow, you were at the fateful Blackpool con, huh? From all I've read, the stuff going on behind the scenes was pretty dramatic.

Did you see that JMS may be doing a convention in the spring in Bristol? If that's anywhere near you, would you let us know anything he tells you?

I agree that JMS is one heck of a nice person. I've met him twice now but been reading/talking to him on the newsgroup for several years. He's always been generous to the fans.

Jan