As you've noticed, sometimes I can't shut up.

[merricatk]

I told my therapist about fan fiction.

I told her about slash, which is what I write.

I explained the legal grey area we work in, and why this is has to remain not-for-(monetary)profit.

She had no difficulty with any of these concepts.

I then told her--actually, gave her some printed-out posts from the last comments meta. I didn't want my feelings coloring the opinion.

That, she did not understand at all. She asked me if what this meant was that writers were supposed to post their stories for free for people to read, and be ridiculed when they expected someone to say something as simple as, thank you, or I liked this.

I said yes, that's what it meant, and it's why I keep my stories under lock & key. It's the only thing that makes me able to post them at all.
[I just posted this to something on metafandom.]

I recently read a post about how lurkers are the backbone of fandom.

OK, then let's try this: let's all of us who post, who write and draw and vid and put together cons and whatever else take a year off and let the lurkers take over. And let's see what happens.

I like being old. I like knowing what, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem," means.

Comments

[lunamazes.livejournal.com]

What kind of comment do you like?

I am suck in writing, so I usually just write a few words review. But I know some author hate those kind of review, think they are lame or something.

I am actually still reading your roadhouse blues, don't really want to leave any comment until I finish it.

[merricatk.livejournal.com]

I like to know what worked--and what didn't. I'd like to know what you enjoyed. But I promise, you will not be graded on any comment.

And keep reading! Believe me, I know well that "can't stop, must know what happens next!" feeling. *g*

Thank you for asking.

[amalthia]

I'd also like to see what would happen if lurkers took over fandom??? shakes head..

[merricatk.livejournal.com]

Things would be very quiet. We'd get a lot of sleep. *g*

[amalthia]

Yep. :)

[aprilvalentine.livejournal.com]

Okay, I can understand saying that lurkers are out there, enjoying fandom and in some tiny way their just being there adds to fandom. But the "backbone" of fandom?? Puh-lease. They couldn't "take over" fandom because they don't DO anything. Sure, they read but they LURK. I'm sure they must sort of appreciate what active fans do but if they can't even be bothered to say so... I mean, I understand being shy or thinking you don't know what to say, but if you do nothing, ever, but lurk and everybody else only lurked there wouldn't even BE a fandom to lurk IN.

[merricatk.livejournal.com]

I know! If there were no lurkers, how would 21st century fandom be different?

In the days of zines, they bought copies and contributed funds to zine publishers. But now they're like people who stand in a bookstore, reading the books. They don't help the bookstore's business. Even reading a library book contributes something--to the circulation statistics, or the door count.