Date: 13 Feb 1997 20:22:48 GMT



In  "Sherman Dorn
(fac)"  writes: 
>
>On 11 Feb 1997, Jessica Krucek wrote:
>
>> >Sharon McCrumb's infamous fandom/filkdom mystery is back out- 
>> 
>>      that damn broad - talk about insulting! She must
really
>> hate fans to write something as stupid as that. 
>
>Not everyone feels that way.

    I know. The descriptions were colorful, but I'm damn sick of
picking up ANYTHING on fandom and having a con described in the
terminology one would would use to describe a carnival sideshow.
There's just a feeling of being "put on display" for ridicule. Instead
of "point, stare, and giggle at the bearded lady" it's "point, stare
and giddle at the Asimnov reader."


  I know that Lee Billings likes Sharon
>McCrumb's writings, INCLUDING _Bimbos of the Death Sun_.  (McCrumb's
also
>a serious mystery writer.)

    I'll be she is. I'll bet her other books are fabulous to read. I
just got a little tired of all the "look at the poor losers" speeches
she put in every 5 pages. If I wanted to put up with that shit, I'd
hang out with my biological family, thank you.


>You can criticize the book as much as you want as long as you
recognize
>that McCrumb is NOT responsible for the origins of the stereotype, nor
is
>she really responsible for its perpetuation.

    Not solely, but she DOES help the perpetuation through books like
that, just as the #$%^ press at cons does its best to act like carnival
barkers.


  The idea of fen as a group
>of nerds with no idea of reality and who shelter themselves with their
>interests existed long before BIMBOS and is believed by lots of people
who
>don't even have nth degree indirect contact with the book.

    I know that. I just get ticked because she really wrote things with
a "I am Superior Than You Because I am A Mystery Writer, And You Are
Pathetic Losers" tone. I don't appreciate soapboxes, especially when
they perpetuate a view I personally find insulting. The "Get A Life"
sketch irritates me for the same reason - fans are treated as objects
to be ridiculed. 


  It would be as
>reasonable (which is to say, NOT!) to blame the continued existence of
the
>stereotype on those filkers who have celebrated the escapist element
of
>fandom and reading (e.g., "Rainbow's End").  

    Those songs aren't what get spread to the outside. Mostly, it's the
press or people like McCrumb picking up on the extreme, out of control
types, and treating them as if ALL fans are pathetic losers.

    I was having a similar grouse about this on another fan list when
the subjects of RPG's and Creation Conventions came up. It's
disheartening to be a "freak" sometimes.


    - Jessica  

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