On the Golden Age of fandom - a rant

[graculus]

One subject guaranteed to make my blood pressure peak is when someone (and isn't it always someone who's been in fandom since Gutenberg invented moveable type?) starts in on how much better fandom was before the Internet and how the invention of the computer has lowered the tone, yadda yadda yadda.

Apparently, way back when, everyone was nice to everyone else, there were more zines with better stories than anyone could shake a stick at, and the sun shone the live long day.

To which I say: bullshit.

The people I know who were in fandom pre-Net assure me that there were just as many shysters and morons around then as there are now. The exponential growth of fandom that the Internet has allowed means that though the numbers may appear higher, the proportion is doubtless the same.

Half the time, it seems to me, the driving force behind these kind of comments is sheer snobbery. The fact that the great unwashed can now access the former ivory towers of fandom really does not float these people's boats. Sure, I may (and do) kvetch about the quality of fic and moronic postings to lists I've seen over the past few years I myself have been around in fandom, but this is taking things to extremes.

Get over yourselves, guys. And stop playing the revisionist history game.

This rant brought to you courtesy of my need not to spout off on a certain list where someone is going on about how "younger generation internet fans are generally more resistant to ideas like 'canon', 'accuracy of characterization', and 'good writing' than older fans." etc. etc.

Comments

Golden Schmolden

[blktauna.livejournal.com]

Apparently, way back when, everyone was nice to everyone else, there were more zines with better stories than anyone could shake a stick at, and the sun shone the live long day.
To which I say: bullshit.

How right you are. Its elitism at its worst. I've gone through archives and found great stuff and complete crap... And in new zines I've read good stuff and complete crap... As for everyone being nice... Well somehow I doubt that. Back in the old days it was easier to freeze out the unwanted than it is now. Maybe that's what they are missing...

someone is going on about how "younger generation internet fans are generally more resistant to ideas like 'canon', 'accuracy of characterization', and 'good writing' than older fans."

Blahhahahahahaha... Older fans are just as guilty as younger fans! I'll bet the person bitching is one of the worst offenders!

And to be perfectly honest, I'd rather have even the morons post cause ya know I get ideas from them so they are contributing anyway!

What really yanks my chain are people who denigrate 'netfic'... What's wrong with posting your fic on the net???? I go through the same editing process for stuff I drop on my site as I do for a zine. Again it smacks of elitism.

Fie and a pox on em!

Re: Golden Schmolden

[graculus.livejournal.com]

What really yanks my chain are people who denigrate 'netfic'... What's wrong with posting your fic on the net???? I go through the same editing process for stuff I drop on my site as I do for a zine.

But it's all so fast yanno! Fic is much much better when you have to wait for it forever to turn up in your letterbox, all the meanwhile cowering gratefully at the feet of the author in humble obeisance, etc etc...

On a more serious note, I think that this attitude to netfic is part of a fear of the new. All these new people coming to discover what used to be our little secret and suddenly we/they don't control things any more.

Never mind the great influx of creativity and talent in so many areas that just wouldn't have happened without the intervention of new technology.

It used to be that fandom was something you got into because you were 'in the know', while now it's much more accessible. While that has its drawbacks (and moronification is one of them) the sheer speed of the Net means new ideas cross the globe in seconds, making the 'community' a more representative one and allowing people who'd otherwise have never been involved with it to participate equally. Sure some of that participation is going to be crap, but them's the breaks...

I bet the Babylonians, chipping away in cuneiform, thought just the same thing about this new-fangled ink invention. 'Look at the riff-raff communicating away, scratching on that parchment like they own the place...'

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

I've been in fandom 30 years, and don't really see a great deal of difference 'tween then and now. There were ignorant wankers around then, and there are ignorant wankers around now. I think the only reason we look back on the past with fond memories is that the chaff has long since fallen away. Only the real die hard writers remain, and they have often learned quite a bit of their trade over the years.

Perhaps also we are inclined to remember the better stories we've read, and forget all the crud.

The dumb folks have a faster voice now, that's one difference, they can get their comments out without editing or filtering. Previously, they had to work for it. ('They', I say, with my nose in the air, fully aware I've done my share of dumb things).

[graculus.livejournal.com]

I've been in fandom 30 years, and don't really see a great deal of difference 'tween then and now. There were ignorant wankers around then, and there are ignorant wankers around now.

Exactly. And what did we do before we had nostalgia?

The dumb folks have a faster voice now, that's one difference, they can get their comments out without editing or filtering. Previously, they had to work for it. ('They', I say, with my nose in the air, fully aware I've done my share of dumb things).

I think that speed is a major influence on the dumbness of interaction in fandom. How many of us have written and sent emails and then afterwards realised there were things in there we're not really sure we wanted to say?

Email and the Net gives us a great power to communicate, but it also gives us a facade to hide behind (thus empowering trolls and bullies alike) as well as enabling people to make enormous faux pas that might not have happened in the days of snail mail communication. With great power comes great responsibility, yadda yadda yadda.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant, as you can tell it really yanks my chain when me and my fellow bad 'Net fans get dumped on...