census time

[hermetic]

So, part of the current race/culture/privilege controversy exploding all over the SF&F community online involves a very prominent and well-respected author in the field being a complete idiot about the existence of fans of color (apparently, we're newly-sprung from the head of Octavia Butler, all Minervas of Color). In response, a call was put

Comments

[mhnicholson]

I was skeptical when I first heard that LMB had denied the existence of Fans of Color. Thanks so much for including the actual link with your post.

I just read the link and now I'm having trouble squaring the accusations with the reality of what was said. Here's what I get on first reading:

1) Fans of color are at an all-time record high number
2) This is a hopeful sign
3) A couple generations ago, fans of color were super-rare

#1 seems obviously true both in absolute and proportional terms, and #2 seems a positive opinion, both of which were ignored in everything I've seen. #3 is the heart of the controversy.

In most posts, #3 has mutated from "there weren't many fans of color" to "there aren't any fans of color," which is an unfair restatement. This whole census idea seems better suited to the mutated version of #3 than what she actually said and implied

[rosefox]

1) Fans of color are at an all-time record high number
2) This is a hopeful sign
3) A couple generations ago, fans of color were super-rare

#1 seems obviously true both in absolute and proportional terms

True where? And how do you define "fans"?

[mhnicholson]

Hello Rosefox. I had been thinking of the United States. I hadn't set up a set of criteria in my mind for "fans" but generally use the term to refer to someone who preferentially chooses a particular brand of entertainment.

Why do you ask?

[rosefox]

A lot of the outraged reaction has been from people who live or were born/raised outside the U.S. A lot has also been because of Bujold's accompanying statements, which seem to imply that because she didn't see fans of color at conventions, they didn't exist. Fans who go to conventions are only a subset of fans in general, and not a representative one.

I don't think the internet has caused an enormous jump in fans of color. I think they've been around all along, in the U.S. and elsewhere, but not as visible to non-chromatic con-going types.

[kasplode]

Fans of color? I'm fond of blues and greens myself, but really any color brightens a room.

[hermetic]

I'm a fan of a good strong red, and certain bright yellows on walls, myself. (Although, not together.)

[elisamaza76]

Purple. The kinds that says, "Because we wish it."

And also happy, happy yellow :)

[elisamaza76]

Ooooooh - does being both female and brown while loving sf/f mean that I double "imaginary" points?!

I'm going to ask my dad what he thinks about this - he was a big Asimov fan back in the day, and thought it was a good idea to take his not-even-1-year-old daughter to see Star Wars in the theater.

[rorrah]

congratulations, we will now add the suffix of i to your name and you will no longer be able to be square rooted!

[hermetic]

You got to see Star Wars in the theatre!

(Yes, I realize that you were months-old and so didn't really "see" anything. Doesn't change the cool factor a bit, though.)

[elisamaza76]

Yeah, I think that was dad's reasoning as well :)

--elisamaza76i

[shandrew]

I used to think that all the sf authors i liked were pure geniuses, omniscient and the wisest of all people.

I miss those days; this ignorance is depressing.