(no subject)
I was reading a post about the illegal demolition of a historic building in Melbourne, The Corkman Hotel and the problem of illegal demolition of historic buildings. The ideas the poster talks about - what buildings mean in a community, that their fabric is not the only valuable thing about them - feel relevant to recent discussions around fandom and reportedly, the wish of some that people 'age out' of fandom. Which, of course, is the most ridiculous idea. Did B-99 not just show us Amy and Rosa and the philosophy of the Babysitters Club? (Melissa Fumero is 34 in case you were wondering, Stephanie Beatriz 35.) At what age do you stop loving what you love? When does your community stop meaning anything to you? What does it say about a community that requires that your time in it is limited?
These reports are so contrary to my experience of fandoms where people of all ages just did shit together. Of course, early this century and late last, many young people lied about their ages because some mailing lists required age statements for participation, but by gosh they did a bloody good job of it. These days you can pick some - not all - of the young fans writing in your fandom. Often it is just an obvious lack of knowledge about stuff you may not regularly do until you're older e.g. how jobs work. Because you can write emotionally maturely and still not know stuff that you pretty much learn by working in a job. And I love that. I love that people today don't have to lie to their fan friends in order to be part of fandom. It has always been a joy to me that fans are truly all ages.
Anyway, the argument presumes that 'fandom' is something that can be corralled and gatekept. Which, yeah, heh. ROFL ROFL ROFL.
It all sounds a bit 1 Corinthians 13:11 to me, which is surprising because I'd come to the conclusion that the majority US!Christians didn't read the gospels.
This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.
comments.
These reports are so contrary to my experience of fandoms where people of all ages just did shit together. Of course, early this century and late last, many young people lied about their ages because some mailing lists required age statements for participation, but by gosh they did a bloody good job of it. These days you can pick some - not all - of the young fans writing in your fandom. Often it is just an obvious lack of knowledge about stuff you may not regularly do until you're older e.g. how jobs work. Because you can write emotionally maturely and still not know stuff that you pretty much learn by working in a job. And I love that. I love that people today don't have to lie to their fan friends in order to be part of fandom. It has always been a joy to me that fans are truly all ages.
Anyway, the argument presumes that 'fandom' is something that can be corralled and gatekept. Which, yeah, heh. ROFL ROFL ROFL.
It all sounds a bit 1 Corinthians 13:11 to me, which is surprising because I'd come to the conclusion that the majority US!Christians didn't read the gospels.
This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.
comments.