Interview with Violet Blue

Violet Blue is a blogger, podcaster, sex educator, sex columnist and more. Recently, she has taken to video podcasting as well. Last month, Forbes magazine named her one of the Web Celeb 25. All photos in this article are courtesy of Violet Blue and used with permission.

I wanted to see how someone with a very different background and subject matter has taken to mobile technology so I contacted her and asked for an interview. To my good fortune, she granted one! ThoughtFix questions are in black. Violet Blue's responses are in, well, violet/blue. Read on:

TF: As a blogger, podcaster, author, and person on-the-go, how has mobile technology changed your life?

VB: I think like many people, it has simultaneously empowered and emboldened me to do some pretty exciting things, while becoming a brand new source of frustration. the more I've used mobile tech, the more I want to push it to do more, and increasingly find myself at points where I'm just sitting here waiting for the hardware to catch up with me. things like podcasting, blogging and vlogging -- which I do all the time and in some cases have been at the forefront of -- make me want to push devices beyond what they were made for. I feel driven to be able to do these things anywhere, anytime -- and publish immediately -- and so I do just that (like blogging from my Blackberry). it's changed my life to the point that a mobile tech gadget is in my life every minute (even in bed), and yes, dating someone who is offended by these notions is indeed a "dealbreaker."

TF: Your writing has changed lives and relationships for the better. Since you can now have a greater reach and more personal touch to your global communication than was previously possible, do you feel like your message is carried better?

VB: Thank you for this; so much of what I do is an unpaid labor of love that kind words go a long way. I absolutely feel that my message is carried wider, further, and unedited -- and is reaching people in ways no one would have ever thought of for education -- or for changing the way people see and enjoy sex. I think the notion of getting accurate sex information -- outside of cheesy books and government-ordained abstinence education -- through iTunes is pretty subversive, if not exciting. to be able to shoot a video, upload it thru my laptop to Blip.tv and get email about it from someone in Finland who learned something is wonderful if not addictive.

TF: Have you had any great hurdles to overcome with the rapid advancement of technology and proliferation of individually driven mass communication?

VB: The only hurdles have been learning curves with audio and video editing software -- but most especially hardware issues. I've pursued exploiting individually driven communication media like predator and prey; finding new ways to play with what individual publishing/media tools has become a game to me, a game that's at heart about the democratic dissemination of information. no, my only problems are with gadgets that get released before they're really usable, or mobile devices so clogged with impractical features that they don't work for
basic functions (or worse, lots of features and none of the ones I need, and not open source so I can't make it into what I actually need).

TF: Your site is referred to as "open source sex." Was open source the inspiration of the site concept or did it just seem to apply to your way of sharing your sexual knowledge?

VB: Both. it also applies to the relationship I have with my readers/listeners/viewers through the media I use to connect with them. also, blending information sharing with 2.0 concepts, and taking sex ed/sex entertainment out of the usual channels to show something that can be shaped for individuals -- our sexuality is as unique to each of us as a fingerprint, as we are increasingly needing our technologies to be.

TF: While we're on the subject: Dr. Ari Jaaksi of Nokia (Director of Open Source software operations) wrote an essay basically open-sourcing the "Internet tablet" business model. Your books, blog, and podcasts open-source your extensive experience. What other areas of the world could be enhanced by a community-owned knowledge base?

VB: All of them. I think it is essential, in some ways, if we are to survive as a species.

TF: What do you keep in your "geek bag?"

VB: I try to keep the lipstick-to-power-supply ratio higher in lip colors than chargers. typically: a Blackberry 8700c, a Helio Drift, Sony CyberShot T-30, and if it's my big bag, my iBook. with all necessary cords and chargers; earbuds, mini electronics Leatherman tool and a cranky Logitech headset. also, sugar cookie scented lipgloss and some kind of fireworks. every single gadget listed functions enough to allow me to work anywhere, but each is deeply flawed in one way or another for what I need them to do. I'm really sick of waiting for the perfect mobile blogging device: ideally I'd just want to carry a good camera and a badass handheld.

TF: Technologically, globally, and philosophically: What would you like to see come out of 2007?

VB: People making media on all levels; self publishing (news, entertainment, reporting) to totally, completely upend mainstream media. I want a total information and entertainment revolution; no more studio systems ripping off talented people and only giving us what's deemed "safe" by things like the MPAA, and no more filtered news from corporations. mainstream media has all the money and hundred-year histories; we have type and click publishing and relationships with our readers and subjects. I'd like to see that change things. oh -- and I'd also like to get my hands on that aforementioned badass handheld, the ultimate mobile blogging device, one that I could hack to suit my immediate needs.

Thank you again, Violet Blue! As another blogger, it has certainly opened my eyes to how the "new web media" has changed every reach of life.

Readers: Take a look at tinynibbles.com - just don't do it from work!