Frequently Asked Questions
Section 2: Fans and Fandom
What is a Fan?
A fan is a person who takes an interest in the work of another person or persons. This work could be anything from watching plays written by Shakespeare, to following a given football team. Being a fan goes beyond simply liking something. A fan of classical music will have many copies of the same piece, but performed by different orchestras. A fan of a football team will often own the team strip or other items.
What is Fandom?
Fandom is the generic term for the fans of a given subject. For example; the football team Manchester United has many fans, or Manchester United has its fandom. What is interesting to note, is that many TV Soaps have their fans, but there's no predefined fandom for them.
Can Sci-Fi Fans tell the difference between fact and fantasy?
In a single word "Yes" and they can do it better than most people. What you've heard is the outpourings from the less intelligent areas of the media. This media will devote enormous amounts of time and energy in reporting the latest gossip in the Soaps, then they'll poke fun at someone wearing a Star Trek shirt! Have you ever noticed throughout the years that fans of Soaps will send flowers when a CHARACTER dies, or buy a wedding special when two CHARACTERS get married? The irony is that it's these same people that accuse Sci-Fi fans of being unable to tell fact from fantasy!
Do Sci-fi Fans dress up and pretend to be Captain Kirk?
Do children re-enact what they see on TV? Do football fans play football while wearing their favorite team strip and pretend to be their favorite player? Do we all fantasize about being somebody else at times? Of course we do. Sci-Fi fans are no different, so the answer to your question is yes. Mind you, please don't think that ALL Sci-Fi fans like Captain Kirk; some dress up and take the mickey out of him!
Why does the Press portray Fans as people who don't have a life?
The popular daily press doesn't care about people. They only want to sell papers. Therefore they pick on minority groups and hold them up to ridicule. Can you imagine what would happen if the papers mocked people who watched Eastenders and Coronation Street? Yup, sales would plummet! Many fans have learned to avoid talking to the popular press. In fact, some conventions even print warnings about the press in their literature!
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