Interview with Macno

Published in:	Compass #01
Interviewed by:	Mop of Alcatraz
Date:	20. February 1994

Interview

Nowadays, Main Editors seem to have become an important part of the scene. Just as coders are responsible for the amount and quality of productions for a group, main editors are also important for the evolvement of the disk mag scene. Disk Magazines have become a very vital channel of information for the whole scene, and thus, the Main Editors in the spotlight, or the ones behind the most popular disk magazines, are very respected.
It is thus apparent that certain Main Editors have a kind of power, small or big as it might be, with which they can control, through their words, certain events. Macno, more known as the main editor behind Abnormalia, is such a being. Although he tries to be modest through his words, his powerful child, Abnormalia, has brought onto the whole scene a completely new concept in the art of disk mag making. Even if his run for fame might not be so apparent, it should be, because Macno was the only man who had enough will to surpass the state of the Helmet Syndrome, and set a new standard in scene journalism. His brilliant theories about sceners cannot be forgotten; his direct confrontations in Scenarium are a milestone ahead from the simple contents presented in any other rival mag; His attitude to invent and conform a new dictionary, more adequate for our scene, is limitless; his spandimerda attacks can even make the most respected coder shiver!
This is the man, we sought after, for long without succeeding, until one day, we decided to finally send our last remaining reporter, Mop, to Milan, Italy, for an exclusive interview with the master of the words himself. The trash press era in the scene has never been as near as today.


	
		Compass:
		We have, more or less, seen your first stories for the first time in Scene Lyrics, way back, when it was still a Grace production. How did you and the other Gracers come across the idea of building up this kind of disk magazine? After all, at that time, this kind of production was somewhat unique in the scene?
	
	
		Macno:
		All the credits for that idea have to go to Wild Rage, Grace WHQ and Scene Lyrics main editor; the other gracers, me included, just supported and loved it.
	
	
		Compass:
		I think that we wouldn't be far away from the truth to affirm that Scene Lyrics is almost dead. Do you think that Scene Lyrics had the success it deserved?
	
	
		Macno:
		Scene Lyrics is really dead, as far as I know, also because the same Wild Rage seems to have sold his Amiga. Its success was due to its originality; it wasn't exaggerated but at least it raised some interest.
	
	
		Compass:
		After experiencing the big delays between every Scene Lyrics issue, you decide to leave Grace. Sometime after, the whole scene was treated to the first issue of Abnormalia, which was one of those few disk magazines without a specific group behind it's back. How does Abnormalia come into reality and why did you choose to keep the mag as an independent production?
	
	
		Macno:
		I'm a simple being. One of my dreams has always been to make a magazine according to my tastes. Scene Lyrics has been a good source of inspiration for me but it was still different from my dream mag. At the beginning Abnormalia was supposed to be a cooperation between three groups from Milan; at the end I seemed to be the only one interested in it. When I left Grace (the group was collapsing) I decided to dedicate myself only to the mag, considering that writing is the only scene activity that I can do decently. There was no need of any group to jump into; it was far more challenging to build something from nothing and to avoid any possible kind of external influences. By the way, Mop, do you really think anyone is interested in THIS?
	
	
		Compass:
		Don't you think that the lack of a group backing can bring in such dilemmas as shortage of title pictures, acoustics and general support?
	
	
		Macno:
		I haven't found particular problems even if I've been lucky to have convinced Pitagora to code the mag. I'll never be enough grateful to him for what he has done; Abnormalia exists thanks to him. The rest of the support (music, graphics, articles, spreading) has came from pals and contacts.
	
	
		Compass:
		Abnormalia has more or less the same scope as the old Scene Lyrics. In fact both are filled with short stories, and even the design looks very similar. Was this move really necessary, and do you think that there's a real need for a short story mag in today's scene?
	
	
		Macno:
		To say the truth, I don't think that scene needs too many short stories, but I like to think that Abno has also something else; I think that it has many innovative aspects, from the editorials to the scene corner, from the multi language stories to the same articles' order. I love to imagine that it has a unique spirit and something, somehow mysterious. I am wrong probably, blind of my same work, as it usually happens.
	
	
		Compass:
		In the last Abnormalia issues, we have seen the birth of Scenarium, a very important area in the mag. Scenarium offers a new way to look on this somewhat stale scene, and even unearthed some new subjects to deal with. How well do you think that this idea of Scenarium was implemented, and do you think that such a group as Lamors is really adequate to handle such a task?
	
	
		Macno:
		Want to know a secret? I'm not sure if Lamors really exist! I've seen many names signing articles in Scenarium but at the end I have the strong impression that there's (almost) always the same hand behind them. This thrills and scares me... Scenarium needs a LOT of improvements but maybe issue 3.14 is a nice surprise under this point of view.
	
	
		Compass:
		Do you think that the scene can really believe the contents of Scenarium? After all, it's not always very clear what is to be taken seriously and what is to be seen as ironic.
	
	
		Macno:
		Does it matter if somebody doesn't understand Scenarium? It's a cauldron with everything: ironic, sarcastic, satiric or exaggeratedly serious; true, false and relatively fake. Sometimes I too don't understand where I'm almost serious and where I joke. The secret is to take nothing as serious; you can't fail in this way.
	
	
		Compass:
		How much important is for a disk magazine to have the back up of a great part of the scene community? Does the scene want to support you with stories and serious scene-related texts?
	
	
		Macno:
		1: It might be important, I still haven't experienced the nice feeling.
2: Seems not.

Serious scene related texts? StrictlyForbidden!
	
	
		Compass:
		A Main Editor has a very big responsibility towards the whole scene, especially if the mag he is behind is a popular one, as in fact, Abnormalia is. How does Macno stand this important role in today's scene society?
	
	
		Macno:
		That's a very remarkable scenology question which should deserve a deep and cautious analysis. Responsibilities are surely extreme and dangerous. Various are the psychological scenarios which lay in a main editor's feeble mind when he understands the meaning of the word "responsibility". The impression of power is the worst one, as it leads the subject to interpret his work as a mission and to abuse of his supposed control of the sceners' opinions.
Another important disease often found in many main editors is the "Helmet Syndrome"; when the subject tries to imitate Lord and acts consequently. I've found dangerous and entertaining, the new path Wolfman is following. He seems affected by a serious attack of "Journalistite" and tries to find news and scoops even where there aren't any. To conclude I can just recognize that sadly this whole spectrum of interesting diseases cannot bring much damage to me as I don't see Abnormalia as a very popular magazine. Thank you anyway, for having suggested such an interesting idea.
	
	
		Compass:
		In the past you have published various statements about the Masters of the Scene, a very dangerous and lethal subject to deal with, in these days. Don't you think that this can have some kind of serious effect on the various sceners' you involved?
	
	
		Macno:
		Serious? Everything is extremely serious in the scene but there's nothing more serious than The Masters themselves. I've studied for a pair of minutes or more their whole hidden activities and I've found that the proves of their existence are undeniable. The problem is to find out who or what they are. They could be a single person, a group, a bunch of extra-scene agents, a heap of guys who don't even know one another or maybe the whole scene itself. What I know is that scene's opinions and habits are controlled and where there's control there's a controlling hidden hand. I've already heard guys declaring that they are the Masters of The Scene. Well, that's ridiculous because the real Masters will never reveal their identity.
	
	
		Compass:
		In the last months, a new word was added to the already vast sceners' dictionary. You are the main man behind such an idea. What was the real reason why the word SPANDIMERDA was so much necessary to introduce?
	
	
		Macno:
		The word Spandimerda (Shit spreader or self centred person) is the natural reaction to the stale, false, boring and hypocrite abuse of silly words like friendship, friend, friendly and similar. The Spandimerda awards are given only to the proud and brave guys who have the guts of spreading shit around, raising wars and quarrels which are food for every mag. Who wins a spandimerda award is a hero who deserves respect and fame. Somebody may think that the Spandimerda awards are an ironic way to condemn every spandimerda. That's false of course; I don't think anything good or bad about a spandimerda; I just award him. Somebody else has said that the Spandimerda awards are a powerful spandimerda act; that's true and in fact in the first edition I awarded myself with a Special Spandimerda Award for having invented the spandimerda awards... it hasn't been easy to win.
	
	
		Compass:
		In the past Abnormalia issues we have seen some unique interviews with scene personalities such as ZinkFloid, Lord Helmet, LoneStarr, Azatoth and Mop, amongst the others. Some of these interviews contained some strong affirmations, but through a recent study we did, a few sceners are not very certain if such answers from your interviews really came from the keyboards of the heros they adore. What has Macno to say, about this matter? After all you are the only man able to narrate the whole truth!
	
	
		Macno:
		Do you want the real, true, sure, fake truth? I don't know! I just can say that the Spandimerda interviews are all real and true (I could never joke on important things like the Spandimerda movement) even if the interview victim knows that he has to make a spandimerda interview and therefore he activates his "spandimerda mode". I have to admit that some persons don't need to invent a spandimerda attitude; they are natural and that's a rare talent.
There are other cases where I had difficulties in understanding who has written what. YOU, for example, have given so good replies to my scenology interview that I wonder if they were really written by you. In order to discover the truth I should ask to some of your fans; they surely can recognize your style. The problem, if certain interviews, like the Lord Helmet or the Lonestarr ones are true, is pointless. Do you really think that they would have replied differently to those questions?
	
	
		Compass:
		In your opinion, what makes a good interview?
	
	
		Macno:
		It would be nice to reply: "Whatever is not written here", but it would be too easy. I think that a normal interview with complete and serious answers is interesting only if the interview victim is a well known person. I don't think to be that famous at all, therefore I'm fidgeting desperately to write something interesting and original. For a good interview, anyway, it's important that interviewer and interviewed are on the same "frequency"; that helps the dialogue.
The interview with Lord Helmet you mentioned above was a good one, because questions and answers were from the same person and that person wasn't Lord Helmet.
	
	
		Compass:
		Abnormalia has just fell into a short period of sleep after the release of Issue 3.14. Don't you think that not releasing an issue in 6 months or so will have an important effect on your popularity? Have you never passed by the idea to pass the Main Editorial job to someone else, during your absence?
	
	
		Macno:
		Maybe I had better announced the next issue in three months' time and then delay it as all the important mags do. But who cares, Abnormalia 5 could be out in October 1994; is it THAT late?
About your brilliant idea of passing the job... have you eaten something bad this morning?
	
	
		Compass:
		How well do you treat your various editors and collaborators? Unfortunately in the past we've heard some not-so-favourable news about the various strikes and manifestations from the ATU (Abnormalia Team Union).
	
	
		Macno:
		The ATU is not happy with the manners of the main editor. I don't find any relevant reason for such a childish behaviour. Yes, I have beaten a lazy co-editor, I have killed the dog of another one, I have reduced two news collectors to slavery and I destroyed the psyche of the coder... but these are lesser things compared to their mission for Abnormalia.
	
	
		Compass:
		While we are still on this subject, I think that most sceners would also like to know what Macno has to say on the delays between the various issues of the most popular disk magazines?
	
	
		Macno:
		Delays are a good sign. They mean that the editors don't consider their mags as a work. I'd say that the more a mag is delayed the more its editors take the scene as a game. The editors of Playbyte must have a great time out there...
	
	
		Compass:
		TFG abandoned Top Secret, just to set up a new disk magazine for a popular demo group. If a popular demo group would express the interest to take over Abnormalia, what would be Macno's reply?
	
	
		Macno:
		I don't know. There is something special in being independent which no group can ever give you: the fact to be considered less than zero in the scene social structure.
	
	
		Compass:
		We have already heard your opinion about the disk mag scene and it's contributors in another part of this mag, still it would be a real pleasure for all of us sceners, to hear your opinion on some of your fellow editors.
	
	
		Macno:
		For your "real pleasure", total satisfaction and complete inebriation here are my incredibly interesting judgements.

Fester of Sledge Hammer: He makes a good scene mag. At times he was reduced to write fillers but that's a common problem.

ZOZO of Top Secret: I saw him more than 18 months ago and at that time I didn't know that he was Top Secret's main editor. Since then, actually, I haven't seen anything from him. I can presume that he strikes back with the last Top Secret issue... but at the moment I haven't got it.

WolfMan of UpStream: He has a lot of interesting ideas and has created the only serious contender to RAW (with Cesium, of course). Lately I've noticed that his Journalistite degenerates at times, but that's funny all the same.

Kris of Eternal: He is really a multi-talented man, even if I must say that I prefer him as a graphician.

Blitter of Jungle: Nice recipes! Sorry but when I think about The Jungle I remember its recipes...

Lord Helmet of RAW: Lord is Lord. He has invented a new way of making a disk mag; he is the only person in the world to be affected by the "Helmet Syndrome" without having noticed it; he is a spandimerda master and he is pleasant too.

CyberSonik of Compass: Blame on me, but I haven't read (or don't remember) much from him. That may sound odd, but it's just like that.

Calvin of Voice: Don't remember any articles from him! sorry.

Barbarian of Bronx: I wasn't impressed at all by Cemetery News; it's too conventional and weak to raise its voice in the disk mags' noises.
	
	
		Compass:
		We have noticed that apart from being the Main Editor behind Abnormalia you are also a co-editor and collaborator with various other chart topping disk magazines. Is this only a nice act of solidarity, or just a dirty move to gain more popularity?
	
	
		Macno:
		It's a move to gain more popularity.
	
	
		Compass:
		You have, through your various articles and reports, shone the spotlight on the various scene personalities, especially those from the disk mag scene, and twisted and contorted various statements to ironically push forward some comments in a very subtle way. Don't you think that what you seemingly find ironic can simply be seen as a move of arrogancy by the whole scene? Is the scene void of any ironical values?
	
	
		Macno:
		A very interesting question which deserves at least a book to build up an almost complete answer. One of the major problems which arises in the attempt of replying to this deep interrogation is that actually the same subject, Macno, is not sure of the irony in his statements. We wouldn't be surprised then, if someone else might find difficulties in understanding where the poor guy is serious, where he tries to be ironic and where he just intends to fill space. As you can easily imagine the scene has all the rights to consider the subject arrogant and self centred (a spandimerda in poor words), especially after having read the same answers of the questions you've presented up to now. We have good reasons to believe, anyway, that our Macno is indeed quite uncertain of the tone he has to use in various circumstances. At times, we presume, he prefers to say exactly what he thinks (risking to be arrogant), at times he prefers to be ironic (risking to seem arrogant), at times he prefers to hide himself behind scenology statements (succeeding in appearing an asshole) but he seldom considers himself seriously. Or better, he thinks so, but that doesn't mean much.
	
	
		Compass:
		I must admit that it was a real pleasure to host Macno, here in this first Compass issue, and I would like to sincerely wish you all the success you deserve for your future activities, even if in our opinion, you've already gained much more success than anyone else in this field. Even if you deny it, I can assure everyone that Macno IS very famous and respected, The only problem is that he seems to be too proud to admit it. Is this an indirect side effect of MacnoLamia? For now, though, I would like to present to you, the possibility to put down your last words, and put an end to this interview.
	
	
		Macno:
		I would like to end my words by putting down some serious predictions and opinions about Compass: If design is the one I expect from Alcatraz and if you don't loose interest and regularity: Third position in the charts in a pair of issues; then it will all depend on how Compass, Upstream and RAW will behave.
There's much scenology in Compass and that's a wonderful thing; your spirit is even more subtle as it seems really serious! That's remarkable Mop; in spite of your past diatribes, Beppe would be happy to have you in the Scenology Academy.

Compass:	We have, more or less, seen your first stories for the first time in Scene Lyrics, way back, when it was still a Grace production. How did you and the other Gracers come across the idea of building up this kind of disk magazine? After all, at that time, this kind of production was somewhat unique in the scene?
Macno:	All the credits for that idea have to go to Wild Rage, Grace WHQ and Scene Lyrics main editor; the other gracers, me included, just supported and loved it.
Compass:	I think that we wouldn't be far away from the truth to affirm that Scene Lyrics is almost dead. Do you think that Scene Lyrics had the success it deserved?
Macno:	Scene Lyrics is really dead, as far as I know, also because the same Wild Rage seems to have sold his Amiga. Its success was due to its originality; it wasn't exaggerated but at least it raised some interest.
Compass:	After experiencing the big delays between every Scene Lyrics issue, you decide to leave Grace. Sometime after, the whole scene was treated to the first issue of Abnormalia, which was one of those few disk magazines without a specific group behind it's back. How does Abnormalia come into reality and why did you choose to keep the mag as an independent production?
Macno:	I'm a simple being. One of my dreams has always been to make a magazine according to my tastes. Scene Lyrics has been a good source of inspiration for me but it was still different from my dream mag. At the beginning Abnormalia was supposed to be a cooperation between three groups from Milan; at the end I seemed to be the only one interested in it. When I left Grace (the group was collapsing) I decided to dedicate myself only to the mag, considering that writing is the only scene activity that I can do decently. There was no need of any group to jump into; it was far more challenging to build something from nothing and to avoid any possible kind of external influences. By the way, Mop, do you really think anyone is interested in THIS?
Compass:	Don't you think that the lack of a group backing can bring in such dilemmas as shortage of title pictures, acoustics and general support?
Macno:	I haven't found particular problems even if I've been lucky to have convinced Pitagora to code the mag. I'll never be enough grateful to him for what he has done; Abnormalia exists thanks to him. The rest of the support (music, graphics, articles, spreading) has came from pals and contacts.
Compass:	Abnormalia has more or less the same scope as the old Scene Lyrics. In fact both are filled with short stories, and even the design looks very similar. Was this move really necessary, and do you think that there's a real need for a short story mag in today's scene?
Macno:	To say the truth, I don't think that scene needs too many short stories, but I like to think that Abno has also something else; I think that it has many innovative aspects, from the editorials to the scene corner, from the multi language stories to the same articles' order. I love to imagine that it has a unique spirit and something, somehow mysterious. I am wrong probably, blind of my same work, as it usually happens.
Compass:	In the last Abnormalia issues, we have seen the birth of Scenarium, a very important area in the mag. Scenarium offers a new way to look on this somewhat stale scene, and even unearthed some new subjects to deal with. How well do you think that this idea of Scenarium was implemented, and do you think that such a group as Lamors is really adequate to handle such a task?
Macno:	Want to know a secret? I'm not sure if Lamors really exist! I've seen many names signing articles in Scenarium but at the end I have the strong impression that there's (almost) always the same hand behind them. This thrills and scares me... Scenarium needs a LOT of improvements but maybe issue 3.14 is a nice surprise under this point of view.
Compass:	Do you think that the scene can really believe the contents of Scenarium? After all, it's not always very clear what is to be taken seriously and what is to be seen as ironic.
Macno:	Does it matter if somebody doesn't understand Scenarium? It's a cauldron with everything: ironic, sarcastic, satiric or exaggeratedly serious; true, false and relatively fake. Sometimes I too don't understand where I'm almost serious and where I joke. The secret is to take nothing as serious; you can't fail in this way.
Compass:	How much important is for a disk magazine to have the back up of a great part of the scene community? Does the scene want to support you with stories and serious scene-related texts?
Macno:	1: It might be important, I still haven't experienced the nice feeling. 2: Seems not. Serious scene related texts? StrictlyForbidden!
Compass:	A Main Editor has a very big responsibility towards the whole scene, especially if the mag he is behind is a popular one, as in fact, Abnormalia is. How does Macno stand this important role in today's scene society?
Macno:	That's a very remarkable scenology question which should deserve a deep and cautious analysis. Responsibilities are surely extreme and dangerous. Various are the psychological scenarios which lay in a main editor's feeble mind when he understands the meaning of the word "responsibility". The impression of power is the worst one, as it leads the subject to interpret his work as a mission and to abuse of his supposed control of the sceners' opinions. Another important disease often found in many main editors is the "Helmet Syndrome"; when the subject tries to imitate Lord and acts consequently. I've found dangerous and entertaining, the new path Wolfman is following. He seems affected by a serious attack of "Journalistite" and tries to find news and scoops even where there aren't any. To conclude I can just recognize that sadly this whole spectrum of interesting diseases cannot bring much damage to me as I don't see Abnormalia as a very popular magazine. Thank you anyway, for having suggested such an interesting idea.
Compass:	In the past you have published various statements about the Masters of the Scene, a very dangerous and lethal subject to deal with, in these days. Don't you think that this can have some kind of serious effect on the various sceners' you involved?
Macno:	Serious? Everything is extremely serious in the scene but there's nothing more serious than The Masters themselves. I've studied for a pair of minutes or more their whole hidden activities and I've found that the proves of their existence are undeniable. The problem is to find out who or what they are. They could be a single person, a group, a bunch of extra-scene agents, a heap of guys who don't even know one another or maybe the whole scene itself. What I know is that scene's opinions and habits are controlled and where there's control there's a controlling hidden hand. I've already heard guys declaring that they are the Masters of The Scene. Well, that's ridiculous because the real Masters will never reveal their identity.
Compass:	In the last months, a new word was added to the already vast sceners' dictionary. You are the main man behind such an idea. What was the real reason why the word SPANDIMERDA was so much necessary to introduce?
Macno:	The word Spandimerda (Shit spreader or self centred person) is the natural reaction to the stale, false, boring and hypocrite abuse of silly words like friendship, friend, friendly and similar. The Spandimerda awards are given only to the proud and brave guys who have the guts of spreading shit around, raising wars and quarrels which are food for every mag. Who wins a spandimerda award is a hero who deserves respect and fame. Somebody may think that the Spandimerda awards are an ironic way to condemn every spandimerda. That's false of course; I don't think anything good or bad about a spandimerda; I just award him. Somebody else has said that the Spandimerda awards are a powerful spandimerda act; that's true and in fact in the first edition I awarded myself with a Special Spandimerda Award for having invented the spandimerda awards... it hasn't been easy to win.
Compass:	In the past Abnormalia issues we have seen some unique interviews with scene personalities such as ZinkFloid, Lord Helmet, LoneStarr, Azatoth and Mop, amongst the others. Some of these interviews contained some strong affirmations, but through a recent study we did, a few sceners are not very certain if such answers from your interviews really came from the keyboards of the heros they adore. What has Macno to say, about this matter? After all you are the only man able to narrate the whole truth!
Macno:	Do you want the real, true, sure, fake truth? I don't know! I just can say that the Spandimerda interviews are all real and true (I could never joke on important things like the Spandimerda movement) even if the interview victim knows that he has to make a spandimerda interview and therefore he activates his "spandimerda mode". I have to admit that some persons don't need to invent a spandimerda attitude; they are natural and that's a rare talent. There are other cases where I had difficulties in understanding who has written what. YOU, for example, have given so good replies to my scenology interview that I wonder if they were really written by you. In order to discover the truth I should ask to some of your fans; they surely can recognize your style. The problem, if certain interviews, like the Lord Helmet or the Lonestarr ones are true, is pointless. Do you really think that they would have replied differently to those questions?
Compass:	In your opinion, what makes a good interview?
Macno:	It would be nice to reply: "Whatever is not written here", but it would be too easy. I think that a normal interview with complete and serious answers is interesting only if the interview victim is a well known person. I don't think to be that famous at all, therefore I'm fidgeting desperately to write something interesting and original. For a good interview, anyway, it's important that interviewer and interviewed are on the same "frequency"; that helps the dialogue. The interview with Lord Helmet you mentioned above was a good one, because questions and answers were from the same person and that person wasn't Lord Helmet.
Compass:	Abnormalia has just fell into a short period of sleep after the release of Issue 3.14. Don't you think that not releasing an issue in 6 months or so will have an important effect on your popularity? Have you never passed by the idea to pass the Main Editorial job to someone else, during your absence?
Macno:	Maybe I had better announced the next issue in three months' time and then delay it as all the important mags do. But who cares, Abnormalia 5 could be out in October 1994; is it THAT late? About your brilliant idea of passing the job... have you eaten something bad this morning?
Compass:	How well do you treat your various editors and collaborators? Unfortunately in the past we've heard some not-so-favourable news about the various strikes and manifestations from the ATU (Abnormalia Team Union).
Macno:	The ATU is not happy with the manners of the main editor. I don't find any relevant reason for such a childish behaviour. Yes, I have beaten a lazy co-editor, I have killed the dog of another one, I have reduced two news collectors to slavery and I destroyed the psyche of the coder... but these are lesser things compared to their mission for Abnormalia.
Compass:	While we are still on this subject, I think that most sceners would also like to know what Macno has to say on the delays between the various issues of the most popular disk magazines?
Macno:	Delays are a good sign. They mean that the editors don't consider their mags as a work. I'd say that the more a mag is delayed the more its editors take the scene as a game. The editors of Playbyte must have a great time out there...
Compass:	TFG abandoned Top Secret, just to set up a new disk magazine for a popular demo group. If a popular demo group would express the interest to take over Abnormalia, what would be Macno's reply?
Macno:	I don't know. There is something special in being independent which no group can ever give you: the fact to be considered less than zero in the scene social structure.
Compass:	We have already heard your opinion about the disk mag scene and it's contributors in another part of this mag, still it would be a real pleasure for all of us sceners, to hear your opinion on some of your fellow editors.
Macno:	For your "real pleasure", total satisfaction and complete inebriation here are my incredibly interesting judgements. Fester of Sledge Hammer: He makes a good scene mag. At times he was reduced to write fillers but that's a common problem. ZOZO of Top Secret: I saw him more than 18 months ago and at that time I didn't know that he was Top Secret's main editor. Since then, actually, I haven't seen anything from him. I can presume that he strikes back with the last Top Secret issue... but at the moment I haven't got it. WolfMan of UpStream: He has a lot of interesting ideas and has created the only serious contender to RAW (with Cesium, of course). Lately I've noticed that his Journalistite degenerates at times, but that's funny all the same. Kris of Eternal: He is really a multi-talented man, even if I must say that I prefer him as a graphician. Blitter of Jungle: Nice recipes! Sorry but when I think about The Jungle I remember its recipes... Lord Helmet of RAW: Lord is Lord. He has invented a new way of making a disk mag; he is the only person in the world to be affected by the "Helmet Syndrome" without having noticed it; he is a spandimerda master and he is pleasant too. CyberSonik of Compass: Blame on me, but I haven't read (or don't remember) much from him. That may sound odd, but it's just like that. Calvin of Voice: Don't remember any articles from him! sorry. Barbarian of Bronx: I wasn't impressed at all by Cemetery News; it's too conventional and weak to raise its voice in the disk mags' noises.
Compass:	We have noticed that apart from being the Main Editor behind Abnormalia you are also a co-editor and collaborator with various other chart topping disk magazines. Is this only a nice act of solidarity, or just a dirty move to gain more popularity?
Macno:	It's a move to gain more popularity.
Compass:	You have, through your various articles and reports, shone the spotlight on the various scene personalities, especially those from the disk mag scene, and twisted and contorted various statements to ironically push forward some comments in a very subtle way. Don't you think that what you seemingly find ironic can simply be seen as a move of arrogancy by the whole scene? Is the scene void of any ironical values?
Macno:	A very interesting question which deserves at least a book to build up an almost complete answer. One of the major problems which arises in the attempt of replying to this deep interrogation is that actually the same subject, Macno, is not sure of the irony in his statements. We wouldn't be surprised then, if someone else might find difficulties in understanding where the poor guy is serious, where he tries to be ironic and where he just intends to fill space. As you can easily imagine the scene has all the rights to consider the subject arrogant and self centred (a spandimerda in poor words), especially after having read the same answers of the questions you've presented up to now. We have good reasons to believe, anyway, that our Macno is indeed quite uncertain of the tone he has to use in various circumstances. At times, we presume, he prefers to say exactly what he thinks (risking to be arrogant), at times he prefers to be ironic (risking to seem arrogant), at times he prefers to hide himself behind scenology statements (succeeding in appearing an asshole) but he seldom considers himself seriously. Or better, he thinks so, but that doesn't mean much.
Compass:	I must admit that it was a real pleasure to host Macno, here in this first Compass issue, and I would like to sincerely wish you all the success you deserve for your future activities, even if in our opinion, you've already gained much more success than anyone else in this field. Even if you deny it, I can assure everyone that Macno IS very famous and respected, The only problem is that he seems to be too proud to admit it. Is this an indirect side effect of MacnoLamia? For now, though, I would like to present to you, the possibility to put down your last words, and put an end to this interview.
Macno:	I would like to end my words by putting down some serious predictions and opinions about Compass: If design is the one I expect from Alcatraz and if you don't loose interest and regularity: Third position in the charts in a pair of issues; then it will all depend on how Compass, Upstream and RAW will behave. There's much scenology in Compass and that's a wonderful thing; your spirit is even more subtle as it seems really serious! That's remarkable Mop; in spite of your past diatribes, Beppe would be happy to have you in the Scenology Academy.