Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 10:18:59 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Blish... Re: Enterprise - the end is nigh!
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 05:50 AM 4/20/05 -0700, Drew Bittner wrote:
>SF fandom is very welcoming AFTER you get in the front
>door. To an outsider, it can be very intimidating
>(this from a lot of friends who think fandom consists
>of the most outre folks at the conventions).

There's a reason fans refer to non-fans as "mundanes".  Fandom is a
sub-culture, same as rappers, bikers, bird-watchers, model train fanatics,
Shriners, and most religions.  It has its own language extensions and usage
patterns, traditions, events, and patterns of social interaction, same as
any sub-culture.  Many fans are not what might be referred to as "socially
skillful", but they are, perhaps of necessity, very tolerant of most forms
of social interaction.  I don't see fandom as any different in terms of
intimidating than any other sub-culture I've been a part of in my life, and
much less than some.

For a new person entering any sub-culture there's a period of learning and
adjustment.  Some people find this very uncomfortable, and therefore don't
tend to join much of anything, and are strictly mundane for life.  If the
main-line culture isn't into it, neither are they.  They do the common
fads, watch the common TV shows, read the best sellers, etc. because it's
comfortable for them to do that.  No need to figure out or adjust to a
different set of rules.  This is a personal issue, but may well be
projected onto various sub-cultures as being a problem with those
sub-cultures...that they are intimidating, unfriendly, exclusionary, or
just too weird to understand...when it's really a personal issue of the
person in question.

Other people find the differences in sub-cultures fascinating.  They are
interested in seeing how the sub-culture has solved the problems of all
societies, are delighted with the creativity of the language adaptations
and curious about the origins of the traditions.  In some cases the
rejection of the rules of the main society by the sub-culture is seen as
refreshing and relaxing.  Sometimes they find that all of these things just
fit well with their own personalities, and it's just *comfortable*.  Those
people tend to stay.  The others learn what they wanted to know and move
on, still looking for the place they fit.

>My fiancee, to take a case in point, is a new and
>enthusiastic reader of sf but worries that she
>wouldn't "fit in" at WSFA.

Has she come to any meetings?  Not everyone "fits in", but so far as I
know, everyone is welcome to come see about it.  I'd guess that the three
meeting minimum to join is intended to limit folks joining who wouldn't
"fit in" by giving them a chance to try it first.  Everyone is likely to be
at least a little uncomfortable at first, but as you get more familiar with
the goings-on, this recedes and you can decide whether you actually like
the goings-on or not.

This is an area I think WSFA could work on a bit, but since I've been
"away" for a number of years, I think I'll watch a bit more before I say
more about it.  Anyone who is curious about what I'm talking about can talk
to me at a meeting or off-line...I'd be interested in getting some feedback
from those who've been active for a while.  My recent data is limited and
may be skewing my impressions.

>BTW, didn't mean any discourtesy or disparaging
>remarks toward fans-- "anti-social" is pretty strong,

Yeah, and if I'm getting the gist of your point, I'm not sure it's the
right word for what you meant.  "Differently-social" maybe?  ;-)

-- Mike B.
--
FLW: I have to.  He insulted me.  It's a matter of personal honor.