Bagpuss
Following on from a nomination by Cath2 this month we are interviewing that old cloth cat Bagpuss.
Real name:
David James Forsey
Website:
Date of Birth:
24th January 1981
Sex:
Bloke
Approximate location:
Brecon, Wales
How did you discover #exeter?
Becky and I were on the same Queen channel. As some people from #exeter joined that channel, I joined theirs. Magic.
How long have you been chatting in #exeter?
Not sure. Three years? Maybe four?
What do you do all day?
On weekdays I work as an IT manager and graphic design type thingy at a newspaper and printshop. On weekends I sleep.
What things frustrate you the most? How do you usually cope with them?
Irritating people who talk about others behind their backs. I usually cope with them by taunting them. I am, though, mostly rankled by my position of having a Dutch girlfriend but still living here. I am hoping to find some way of resolving this soon 
How long have you been online and how long have you been on IRC?
I went online during the summer of 1996, and I think I first joined IRC when I connected to Efnet in the winter of 1996.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievements to date? Why?
I haven’t got a clue. Sorry. I don’t think I have performed anything that is worthy of being called a “great achievement”
Do you have any interests in real life? If so what are they and how involved are you with them? Do you find your online life hinders or compliments them?
I guess my main interest is photography. I only got involved because I happened to buy a digital camera for work and took it home to play with it. I don’t think I’m particularly good, but I reckon that anyone can make a picture that people can enjoy, and that it doesn’t matter if compositionally it’s not perfect or the light is not quite right. I put my pics up on my website, so I guess that my “online life” does compliment my interest.
Scorponok would like to know “Are the rumours true?”
No. They are all LIES%*&£$
How do you think other people perceive you in the channel? Do you think your online persona mirrors your real life persona?
I don’t know how people perceive me. Obviously it would be nice if everyone thought I was a nice enough bloke, but I don’t really mind if they think I’m an arse. I believe my online persona is pretty much the same as my real life persona. I don’t play those silly games&*%$^
Do you find Wales to be underrepresented in #exeter?
If the channel name was #wales then it would be seriously underrepresented. But as it’s not… no.
Can you draw a picture of a snail? Please attach evidence in the form of an image file.
If you could go on holiday anywhere and any when where would you go and who would you take with you?
Anywhere with my girlfriend 
It’s not really a dream holiday, but I would like to visit Chernobyl and Pripyat one day - me and my camera have a thing for abandoned buildings and things.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years time? Do you think you will be able to achieve it?
Difficult. I really have no idea what I’d like to be doing in five years. I am planning on moving to the Netherlands at some point, but I don’t know how long I would stay there for. I guess all in all I would just hope that I’m happy and doing something I enjoy - whether that is achievable or not is another matter
simsea would like to know “In what ways do you find yourself similar to the bagpuss of bagpuss fame?”
I sleep as much as I can and may be the result of 70’s psychodelia.
If you could buy anything what would it be?
A nice house on the waterfront in Hoorn, that doesn’t need decorating… ever.
badsheepy via makie asked, “i want to know when bagpuss was just an old cloth cat did he dream of when he wasn’t”
That’s an excellent question. He did not dream of when he wasn’t an old cloth cat, as by and large he always was. However, he had this recurring dream, that he became the gay member of the Scissor Sisters.
What was the least complimentary thing a teacher wrote about you in a school report?
“Class clown”.
What does steak and kidney pie remind you of and why?
Hmph. It reminds me of a girl, who wasn’t quite “right”. She had an odd taste. A few months later I sat down to eat my dinner, and I realised that she was flavoured like the steak and kidney pie I was eating. Ok?
If you could sum up your experience of #exeter in one word, what would that word be?
Gripping.
And finally, who from the channel do you think I should interview next?
Manic. Once his cheeks have recovered.
Thank you Bagpuss for offering your often enlightening answers to my questions. Next month I will look forward to interviewing Manic. If you have any questions for my next victim please send them to me (dunos).