![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Fandom far afield
When was the last time you participated in fandom on the internet not through a journaling site? I don't really mean posting fanfic to something like fanfiction.net, unless you also post and discuss in the forums there. I mean discussion, meta, the posting of fanfic, the making of graphics, etc, all being share through a medium other than LJ, DW, Insane Journal, JournalFen, etc. This would be a forum, website, mailing list . . . if you did something like a fanzine, not online, I'm interested in that too.
1) What fandom was it?
2) What was the medium? (e.g. was it a forum, a mailing list, etc)
3) When was this?
4) Are you still active in that fandom?
5) Why did you participate there, and not at a journaling site?
6) Are you more active in fandom on journaling sites or at other places?
7) How did the different mode of interaction affect your fandom participation?
8) Does there seem to you to be a difference in fen between the other medium and journaling sites? What are the differences? Why do you think those differences exist? Is it the nature of that fandom, or do you think it has anything to do with where that fandom is taking place?
9) What were the fen in the other medium's thoughts on yaoi? (No, seriously. What was the general sentiment towards slash?)
10) Was it easier or harder to get into a fandom through a medium other than a journaling site?
11) Which medium do you prefer?
If it sounds like I'm doing a study, I'm not. I'm just dabbling around in this other fandom, the fen of which seems mainly to congregate around a forum rather than playing on LJ/DW. I'm wondering how many people share my experiences there. Forums used to be my main method of fandom access. I was comfortable in them and found LJ inconvenient and not very suited to my style. I became used to it because I decided a lot of cool people were here...and now I'm beginning to think it's the only way!
1) What fandom was it?
2) What was the medium? (e.g. was it a forum, a mailing list, etc)
3) When was this?
4) Are you still active in that fandom?
5) Why did you participate there, and not at a journaling site?
6) Are you more active in fandom on journaling sites or at other places?
7) How did the different mode of interaction affect your fandom participation?
8) Does there seem to you to be a difference in fen between the other medium and journaling sites? What are the differences? Why do you think those differences exist? Is it the nature of that fandom, or do you think it has anything to do with where that fandom is taking place?
9) What were the fen in the other medium's thoughts on yaoi? (No, seriously. What was the general sentiment towards slash?)
10) Was it easier or harder to get into a fandom through a medium other than a journaling site?
11) Which medium do you prefer?
If it sounds like I'm doing a study, I'm not. I'm just dabbling around in this other fandom, the fen of which seems mainly to congregate around a forum rather than playing on LJ/DW. I'm wondering how many people share my experiences there. Forums used to be my main method of fandom access. I was comfortable in them and found LJ inconvenient and not very suited to my style. I became used to it because I decided a lot of cool people were here...and now I'm beginning to think it's the only way!
no subject
why does femslash need "fem"
You'll laugh, but this is one of the reasons I prefer the term yuri. Plus, yuri means lily, and I like those flowers! Yay lilies.
it's because LJ-fandom is largely equal to the so-called 'Media Fandom'
To be fair, I may be exaggerating here. I am not 100% sure there, it's just my perception. Not trying to paint media fandom as bad or something.
(and no, I didn't want to categorically disagree with anything you said, either!)
or somehow less homosexual than male homosexuality.
I think the "less homosexual" thing is spot on - in some parts of anime fandom you can see that a lot. Those complaining about yaoi characters ("icky") usually simply deny that lesbian character exist at all - even if there's kisses, love declarations, and such. Clearly just friends.
There used to be a group called 'Save our Sailors' in Sailor Moon, who actually made up a fake interview to prove that two characters in 'Sailor Moon' were not lesbian, and continued to spread it half a year after the author of the series told the american fandom that, of course the characters were lesbian.
It'd be funny, if it'd not be so offensive.
whereas slash is still this zit on the face of Western media.
Also a good point, I think. Recently there has been a lot of M/M in novel form in the west too, so maybe, in a decade, it'll be different. I'd sure hope so.
In short: why are journaling sites more focussed on slash than femslash?
My pet theory would be 'random chance'. But as said: I may be completely wrong, and may think so just because I happened to "grow up" online with forums. I don't know.
Anyway, I'm glad it was at least somewhat useful! Upon rereading it while answering you, I feared what I wrote came across a bit harsh. I'm actually German(although I do not take part in german fandom, and prefer the english one) , so not using english as a native language, and sometimes come across a bit harsh when trying to voice my opinion on something. If so, I'm sorry. ^^;
no subject
It's my perception that LJ is a media based fandom as well; I just never thought of it that way--mostly due to the preponderance of Harry Potter. But HP isn't like other book fandoms. I don't know where Twilight is situated, but that is not like other book fandoms either, I would imagine.
Too bad about Sailor Moon :o( People are dumn.
so maybe, in a decade, it'll be different. I'd sure hope so.
I think things *are* changing. Since the late 90s there have been a lot of shows and movies in which the gay character is the helpful/comedic sidekick. I find this annoying, but still a HUGE step forward from when gay characters were not portrayed at all. If the next generation grows up comfortable with the idea of gay people being around them, being their friends, etc, eventually we may get to the point where gay love stories and gay characters become mainstream.
I feared what I wrote came across a bit harsh.
By no means. This perspective is important, and really made me think about things I hadn't considered about LJ yet. Thanks again.