Does fan have to mean fanatic? by Casualty

CASUALTY'S BLOG

Casualty

Does fan have to mean fanatic?
Wednesday, May 4, 2005

So it appears I have been thinking, (seems to be happening with an alarming frequency these days!) After reading Joss' recent post about over zealous fans threatening movie theatre owners and some subsequent replies, I've been thinking about what it means to be a fan. I opened my copy of 'Finding Serenity' after finishing reading it and in my excitement the first time round I must have missed the fact that it is dedicated 'to the many fans of Firefly'. It made me smile. That's great I thought, we're mentioned in the book and the trailer, look what we did I thought.

But hang on! I havn't done anything, not anything that I would consider noteworthy leastways. Sure, I bought the DVD's and encourage others to do the same, I downloaded the trailer and I sure as hell plan on going to see the BDM more than once. But I didn't actually DO anything. I came to the party late, bringing with me nothing but an open mind and a willingness to love this show, looking for others who felt the same way. For the most part Browncoats have surprised me in ways I never thought possible. Their acceptence , humor, compassion, thoughtfulness and dedication is amazing. Of course some people feel the need to tarnish the Browncoat name, but don't get me started on the whole 'they-don't-deserve-to-be-within-spitting-distance-of-the-word-Browncoat' thing, I could rant for hours.

I've never felt for another show the way I feel about Firefly. Of course I've liked other shows a lot, I may even have considered myself a fan, but really I was just an active observer. I watched Start Trek, The West Wing, Buffy and many others as and when they came on TV, I read the episode guides and occasionally bought a book or two but never anything more.

Now I'm still here, four months after joining this site, writing a Blog and wondering if this is the first step along the road that's going to lead to conventions and calling in sick to go and see the movie. To be honest it's great. I never understood the devotion one can have to a non living object, until now. I wonder if I would still be here if there wasn't a movie to look forward to? I hope I would. I like the way fans of firefly challenge me to think about things in a new way, not just Firefly but real life too. Zoid, ManWithPez, TWG, (just three of the many whom I can remember giving me pause for thought in the past few days) I know nothing about anyone registered here except for what you show on this site. And what you show for the most part is intelligence and respect for others. I do know that you guys force me to see things in ways I might not usually. And althought some people might disagree, I believe that, that's a good thing.

As almost everyone here has shown, fan does not have to mean fanatic. (Some on the outskirts may need to take note, but you know who you are!) Of course after the movie is released there will be more fans comeing to the fold. As a result things might need to be explained, threads might be repeated and it might get a little frustrating. But as Sam said to CJ in The West Wing "lets forget that you came late to the party and embrace the fact that you showed up at all." No quibbling over who is the better fan, it doesn't matter. Am I less important than someone who has been here from the beginning? Of course I'm going to say no, but I would hope that others would agree with me. We are all here (or at least we should be) to share a love of Firefly and subsequently Serenity. And share we do, share our fanfic, our Blogs, information, with the knowledge that what we post is likely going to be enjoyed by a variety of people from many areas of the globe. It gives you a wonderful feeling. (I'm not so sure about this Blog but if you've stuck it out this far you may as well go all the way!!!)

So to end what began as a small thought and ended up as rather large one. I will graduate (hopfully) from the University of Kent in just over two months, I like to think Firefly helped. I wrote an essay on fans and fan culture using Firfly as an example. My thanks to Haken for a wonderful site and my thanks to everyone for the wonderful company. As Mal once said 'we have done the impossible and that makes us mighty.' (or words to that effect) It's been a fun ride, may it long continue. Bring on Serenity.

Be Safe

Alison

COMMENTS

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 12:22 PM

CASUALTY

I wasn't thinking that fanatic meant lunatic! It is however upsetting and embarasing when some among us don't know when things have been taken too far!

Lunatics, weirdness, I can take it all! Just don't scare me and make me cry!

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 7:35 AM

RAT

What's wrong with being a lunatic? So long as you're a good lunatic! That is to say, good at being a lunatic!

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 7:12 AM

MANWITHPEZ

And this is me...There is a fan stigma, and its generally centered in the Sci-fi community attached to being the fan of a certain show or movie. But, are we really all that different from most anyone else. I mean, you won't catch me at a football game with no shirt on and a letter painted on my chest in zero degree temperatures, but I've looked at those people and thought...Man, they must love that teamt to do that, and it looks like they're having fun. Or professional wrestling fans, sitting in the stand holding a sign for their favorites and booing all others. Everyone loves something, and some are more passionate about them than others. I can't remember where I read it, but Keith R. DeCandido wrote (I think over on the official site) that he had been around a lot of different fandoms before, but loved Browncoats. He also said that we were lacking that lunatic fringe that makes people uncomfortable. I can't speak to that, but I like to liken Browncoats to the Heart of Gold from Hitchhiker's Guide. Stick out your thumb, and improbably, we'll pick you up!

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 7:09 AM

SIMONWHO

An Arsenal fan? Me? Are you trying to hurt me? Do you want to see me cry? Is that what you want?

*sticks out tongue*

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 6:03 AM

THATWEIRDGIRL

that was me

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 5:44 AM

SIMONWHO

It's important to note that 'fanatic' doesn't mean 'lunatic'. We all have our day jobs (or education), our families, our friends, our lives but pretty much everybody has some hobby, pasttime or subject that they feel genuine passion for. There's nothing about being a Firefly flan that is stranger than being a dedicated Arsenal fan or someone who collects ceramic pigs. I feel much more sorry for those without something like our interest, everybody should have something that makes them excited beyond the usual.

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