Ramblings on Fandom as a whole and as individuals

[framlingem]

This. This is why I love fandom so much. Because there are good people in it who do good things.

http://www.livejournal.com/community/fiction_alley/33310.html


Big things like that, and small things, and also it's how I met many of you. Everything. There is the bad; there are flame wars and fights and cliques; but the good outweighs the bad by so much.
Even in the flamiest, cliquiest, most ridiculously angsty fan-board I've ever been part of. I met... let's see... murph_grrl, fredd9, fiddle_grrl, full4zaccordion, lethendy, avalonmissy, darcedor, annathepiper, laughwendylaugh, twina76, twinb76, mpulse, quiva, roomongrandst, and my beloved Roomie scrunchions directly through that board, and a bunch of you indirectly through them. The best birthday I ever had was thanks to the people I met on that board. God, I laughed so hard at that cake. I don't go anywhere near the new incarnation of that board anymore, but I am forever grateful because you're some of the best friends I could ever ask for. You understand why really good live music makes me close my eyes. You humour me by pretending my puns are funny. You honour me by calling me friend. Some of you have generously allowed (or offered to let) me to crash at your places when I've been travelling, which is a heck of a gift, really. The thought of having somewhere to shower and a free bed is wonderful to the low-budget traveller (I managed a week in BOSTON, of all places, for under two hundred Canadian dollars. Most of that was parking.)

And in other fandoms; well, ashkitty gave me an LJ code and is generally wonderful; sunhawk16 doesn't post very much, but obviously reads a lot because she always knows exactly what to say to make me snicker or feel better or just feel like a human being again (thanks), paulamcg is a fascinating conversationalist and epitomises the 'having a discussion without having an argument' thing.

There are others of you who I have not been able to pay as much attention to as I would like to; I'm getting there. (insight2, you especially. I still have those fics saved as favourites. I promise I will get there.)

The point is... what is the point? Where was I?

Oh yeah. Fandom is a wonderful, wonderful thing, and I am eternally grateful to it. Computers as a dehumanizer, my aunt Fanny. I am infinitely more human thanks to the people I have met through computer screens since I was fourteen or so, when I couldn't talk to anyone, felt invisible and non-existent on a regular basis, if one defines human not as a set of chromosomes and the ability to produce fertile young with a member of the human species, but as a member of humanity. Fandom is a huge part of that.

Comments

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

Awww. Love you, too. :)

[framlingem.livejournal.com]

*dangles maple candy on a string*

[full4zaccordion.livejournal.com]

Aw, Em, you made me cry! *HUGS*

[framlingem.livejournal.com]

I can be evil like that.

*hugs*

[paulamcg.livejournal.com]

It feels good to once again start my day by seeing on the computer screen that there is someone out there to whom I can relate – and who directs a bit of personal praise to me! Thank you so much.

Perhaps it is sad, too, but during my twenty-one months in online fandom I’ve met several people with whom I’ve become closer than I am with any of my neighbours. I was not fourteen two years ago, I had already learnt to even dominate in a discussion in the so-called real life, too, and I had good relations with my family, neighbours and colleagues. However, in the fandom I’ve experienced sharing something deeper, developing my understanding of humanity in interaction with people, if not in a better way, at least in a more conscious way. This has inspired my so-called real life relationships, too. And I can’t accept such ideas that these online relationships with people like you would not be real or that they would be waste of time or even harmful.

[roomongrandst.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I still owe you Ben and Jerry's. Maybe I can come to Montreal and buy it for you? ;)

[sunhawk16.livejournal.com]

*smooches* And what'dya mean I don't post much? I am prolific! *blink blink* Gabby? Uh... moderately chatty? *listens to crickets*

[fiddle-grrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks, lady, for the reminder. I'd truly forgotten how much good came out of *that*. That place, that time, that music.

Think we could manage to connect one day this summer? Like, live and in person?

[hansbekhart.livejournal.com]

I hugely agree that fandom is a wonderful thing. I went through some rough times in the last couple years and lost a lot of confidence, and the friends that I've made through the internet have helped beyond measure. And also, being able to be there for someone in a time of need ... that's pretty cool. Fandom is a springboard.