dwgm | Fannish Love

Some of my earliest memories, beginning when I was three years old or so, involve falling in love with stories and characters from television, movies, and books. My head has always been filled with stories about the characters I love, from Yogi Bear & Boo Boo, Lassie, Bonanza, My Favorite Martian, King Arthur (inspired by Richard Burton in Camelot), The Beatles (on seeing A Hard Day’s Night), High Chaparral, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Lord of the Rings (the book), Star Trek (the original series), Star Wars, McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, Miami Vice, Phantom of the Opera (Michael Crawford RPF, omg!), etc., to my obsession of the last four years, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Growing up, none of my friends seemed to share my fannish tendencies, and it wasn’t until I began looking for further Pirates adventures on the internet in late 2003 that I discovered that I was Not Alone. Reading others’ stories or sharing my own, it’s been an amazing experience, more fun, more satisfying than I ever imagined possible. I’ve met, both online and off, so many wonderful people, and each of them has at least that one thing in common with me: Fannish Love.

Fannish Love is a very real thing, as long as it lasts, whether it’s weeks, months, or years. Fannish Love is particularly intense for those of us who write. We spend many hours, countless hours, with these characters, composing stories in our heads long before they are pounded into a keyboard and appear on a screen. These stories, these characters, are important to us in the same way story and myth have always been important to people. They speak to us of our human condition, in words that reach our minds and hearts.

Additionally, there is no one correct interpretation of a story or character. There are many variations that can fall within the parameters of canon. Sometimes a majority of fans will agree on various points, but that doesn’t mean that the minority view is incorrect, and sometimes views are as diverse as fandom itself. The one thing all views have in common is that they are more or less dear to the hearts of their proponents, and because of this, friendly discussion of them is acceptable, but acrimonious debate or intentional ridicule is not.

Fannish harmony is a truly joyful thing, because we do care so much, but conversely, fannish discord hurts, and takes the fun out of participation in fandom. Just as in any human interaction, the feelings of others must be taken into consideration, and civility should be the order of the day. Unfortunately, whether it’s meta, comments, or even author’s notes, the “anonymity” of the internet encourages just the opposite. One may feel fewer constraints regarding content, tone, and language, resulting in messages that may be misinterpreted, or interpreted all too accurately. When one creates negative energy, damage is done. And as these instances multiply over the course of time, harmony is destroyed.

Whatever you write – stories, author’s notes, meta, comments, whatever – let it be written out of love. Love of the characters, the stories, and your fellow fans. We’re all in this together, as diverse as we are. Let’s be good to each other, civil in debate, gentle in criticism, respectful of each others’ likes and dislikes.

And if all else fails, remember what Thumper’s dad said, savvy?

~.~