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En Garde, whole no. 8, December 1943
Page 2
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page 2. a select group we excel the human average. No effort would be needed to find other select groups which surpass the fen intellectually. Norm's "fantasy sense" seems to explain (perhaps correctly) a lot of the differences between man and fan, yet we feel that it doesn't completely cover the situation. The term "Slan", when applied to fen, must of necessity be used in a looser and more general sense than the original meaning. Perhaps it can only be defined as a word indicating whatever differences exist between the fan and the average man. And there are differences. Among those which have been observed are: The Fantastic Sense, mentioned by Stanley. The Time-Binding ability brought out by Heinlein. An intense interest in nearly everything, and somewhat of a conversational knowledge of nearly everything. Considerable ability for expression in print, as well as a complete readiness to do so. A remarkably strong feeling of kinship with other fen, and an instinctive feeling of trust for other fen. (We have experienced this from both sides of the fence, and have yet to find an exception among the many fen with whom we've discussed it. A fan will walk into the home of another fan and make himself completely at home. The fans may never have met beore, or even corresponded with each other. The visitee may not even be home at the moment. Yet, neither visitor nor visitee question the propriety of such action. On the other hand, neither would think of acting the same with a non-fan.) To use the phrase "intellectual superiority" is apt to be misleading. What do we mean by it? Do we mean the peculiar talent of the mathematical genius? Or the specialized knowledge of the technician or the scientist? Few fans have any great degree of specialized knowledge or training, and where it does exist it seems to be beside the point and have little bearing on their fannishness. In Odd John there is the term "wide awakes". Somewhere, we recently came onto a statement that mankind can be divided into two classes: "those whose eyes are dull" and "those whose eyes are bright". Perhaps fen are those whose eyes are bright. Try noticing that particular feature when compring them with other people. In any event, there is considerable evidence that fan-eyes are bright---bright with more than usual awareness of the universe about them, and interest in its potentialities. There may be insufficient data from which to draw any definite conclusions, or to assign any final definition to the term "Slan" as applied to fen. But, in the meantime, we will tentatively accept the term in its present vague sense, and hope discussion on this subject will continue strong until some rather definite and satisfactory meaning is established. Nor do we find anything untoward in taking a term with an original definite meaning and modifying that meaning for our own use. Choosing the location of Slan Center is largely a matter of selecting one with the greatest majority of desirable features and minority of undesirable ones. We never intended to imply that Battle Creek was the best location. In fact, there is a strong probability that Slan Shack and its inmates may move to Los Angeles in another year. But let's list some features needed in a location.
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page 2. a select group we excel the human average. No effort would be needed to find other select groups which surpass the fen intellectually. Norm's "fantasy sense" seems to explain (perhaps correctly) a lot of the differences between man and fan, yet we feel that it doesn't completely cover the situation. The term "Slan", when applied to fen, must of necessity be used in a looser and more general sense than the original meaning. Perhaps it can only be defined as a word indicating whatever differences exist between the fan and the average man. And there are differences. Among those which have been observed are: The Fantastic Sense, mentioned by Stanley. The Time-Binding ability brought out by Heinlein. An intense interest in nearly everything, and somewhat of a conversational knowledge of nearly everything. Considerable ability for expression in print, as well as a complete readiness to do so. A remarkably strong feeling of kinship with other fen, and an instinctive feeling of trust for other fen. (We have experienced this from both sides of the fence, and have yet to find an exception among the many fen with whom we've discussed it. A fan will walk into the home of another fan and make himself completely at home. The fans may never have met beore, or even corresponded with each other. The visitee may not even be home at the moment. Yet, neither visitor nor visitee question the propriety of such action. On the other hand, neither would think of acting the same with a non-fan.) To use the phrase "intellectual superiority" is apt to be misleading. What do we mean by it? Do we mean the peculiar talent of the mathematical genius? Or the specialized knowledge of the technician or the scientist? Few fans have any great degree of specialized knowledge or training, and where it does exist it seems to be beside the point and have little bearing on their fannishness. In Odd John there is the term "wide awakes". Somewhere, we recently came onto a statement that mankind can be divided into two classes: "those whose eyes are dull" and "those whose eyes are bright". Perhaps fen are those whose eyes are bright. Try noticing that particular feature when compring them with other people. In any event, there is considerable evidence that fan-eyes are bright---bright with more than usual awareness of the universe about them, and interest in its potentialities. There may be insufficient data from which to draw any definite conclusions, or to assign any final definition to the term "Slan" as applied to fen. But, in the meantime, we will tentatively accept the term in its present vague sense, and hope discussion on this subject will continue strong until some rather definite and satisfactory meaning is established. Nor do we find anything untoward in taking a term with an original definite meaning and modifying that meaning for our own use. Choosing the location of Slan Center is largely a matter of selecting one with the greatest majority of desirable features and minority of undesirable ones. We never intended to imply that Battle Creek was the best location. In fact, there is a strong probability that Slan Shack and its inmates may move to Los Angeles in another year. But let's list some features needed in a location.
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