curious

[simplyn2deep]

what does participating vs not participating in fandom mean to you?

is it interacting with other fans? is it writing/making graphics? is it talking or not talking about the show (whether it be with other fans or getting your thoughts out in your journal/blog)?

Comments

[kapuahi.livejournal.com]

To me it's being able to discuss and enjoy together, to be able to chat openly about a show without having to second guess everything you say. It's not just about writing fic, or watching the show, it's that interaction that you have with people who are just as into something as you are, someone you can say anything to without fear of ridicule regardless of what parts of the show you do or don't like.

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

So one part isn't more important than another?

[bluedelft.livejournal.com]

So glad I read the replies before posting since you just said what I was thinking!

Interacting is what makes you a part of the fandom. If you're just reading posts and not taking part you're a lurker but still a fan of the show.

The graphics and fanfic is extra since there are fans who have nothing to do with either one but they are still part of the fandom.

[kaige68.livejournal.com]

Not participating is lurking, to me. Participating is as simple as leaving a 'named' kudo on a fic or graphic.

Sure there are different levels, and I would say that someone who only leaves comments/kudos on fic/graphics is minimal participation. But I also think that the level that lurkers sees some people participating can be intimidating. There have been fandoms where I felt that if I didn't know all the inside jokes and hadn't memorized all of canon I should just shut up and lurk. There are fandoms that I feel are much more welcoming, or maybe it's just the comms in the fandom that I've been exposed to. It's all possible.

I do agree with kapuahi that when I love a fandom, it is generally somewhere that I can jump in with a 'yes this' or 'I loved that the other thing happened'.

[huntress69.livejournal.com]

I think H50 is my 10th fandom, of which 8 were online. IMO, some things are consistent with both online and pre-internet fandom.

Basically you're not participating if you don't talk about the show with others. You watch the show, you go online and read comments, but don't say a word. It does not mean you are not a fan. You just don't interact. You watch the show and that's it. That's how I am about Copper. Love show, end of story.

Participating (IMO, of course), is when you talk about your show with others, as you said, interacting. Even in pre-internet days I had a Doctor Who group; we met once a week and discussed the ep. Yes, some did artwork and of course there was the fic, in fanzine form. I watched shows with friends as a kid in our respective bedrooms & we'd talk episodes of shows. That was like 4 of us comprising a mini-fandom LOL.

Anyways, hope this made sense. If not, I'll delete it.

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. So for you, the interacting with people is what would be considered participating?

[huntress69.livejournal.com]

Yeah, either talking, ep comments in your blog or even posting a simple pic!spam. Sharing your show with others in any which way you can.

[heffermonkey.livejournal.com]

Not participating to me is lurking with zero effort to make yourself known - lurking with no input at all.

Full participation is throwing yourself fully into fandom, from reading fic, joining discussions, running fansites, bantering with fellow fans.

At the moment, H50 is my major fandom but my participation has become minimal as I've found a lot of negativity in places, not saying everywhere, but I just haven't the energy to be defending my opinion at every turn, agreeing, disagreeing and having to 'take sides' because of the many 'camps' within it. I went through it all with Stargate, I'm not interested in doing it all again. So I participate with fic and the odd comment on something that interests me. I lurk a lot more that I participate whereas, with Stargate, I was in full participation mode.

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

so it is possible for you to be a part of fandom and participate the ways that to you

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

To me, being part of fandom is just being able to post things when you want and read things you like, and talk about it with the people you want to. Lurking is not participating.

I don't tend to participate in group meta/discussions as I'm not comfortable with that level of fandom (I have a bad memory and also don't tend to take a lot of stuff as seriously as others do, so I find it all a little intimidating) but I do like reading and writing fic, and having the odd little squee in my own journal, or perhaps in others' LJ's, and occasionally in the comms I follow. I feel like I'm part of fandom, but I'm definitely not your full-on fan who gets so far into everything that they consider the people like me to be not committed.