Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 13:52:08 -0400
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: rehash of mundanes VS fans
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

> mike at nthzine.com 4/20/2005 1:34:17 PM >>>
>Mostly because it's a missed opportunity. Fandom had a chance to
>bring
>media, comics and anime into our fold

I think one could argue that most of the above grew out of SF fandom,
and then went off on their own.

I recall a tthe Disclaves ofthe lates 60s early 70s there being SCA
events.

> but there were too many
>people
>that had a very exclusionary attitude about non-literary SF. And now
>that they have all outgrown our type of fandom it's too hard to bring

>them back into the fold. Look at some of the biggest cons that they
>run
>in comparison with World Con... Media: DragonCon - 30,000
>attendees.
>Comics: San Diego Comic Con - 32,000 attendees. Anime: Katsucon -
>20,000 attendees. Us: World Con - 6,000 on a good year. We're the
>runts
>on the block now and have to learn to be more accepting of our
>bastard
>children. We may still be able to bring some of them back into the
>fold.

"Some" is ok.  As far as I'm concerned, in this case "bigger is not
better".

There are fans who do not go to Worldcon because it is too big.

Frankly, I have no problem with the large comics/media whatever cons.
It's a great outlet for folks, and if some should find their way to us,
fine.  If not, we'll muddle along.

WSFA has been meeting for close to 60 years, CFG since 1949, LASFS
every Thursday since 1937. . . and if they can survive WWII, well, I
think fandom will survive.

mjw
>
>Michael D. Pederson
>Publisher/Editor
>Nth Degree
>
>On Apr 20, 2005, at 1:12 PM, Mike B. wrote:
>
>>> Fandom has been usurped by media fandom, comic fandom,
>>> and anime fandom.  It's a little too late to try and
>>> change that.
>>
>> Why?