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Fandango, v. 2, issue 1, whole no. 5, Summer 1944
Page 2
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be limited to the elite of fandom, that a person should not only prove himself worthy of admittance but should also continue to demonstrate their worthiness by his actions after he has become a member. If these criteria are to be applied in judging Clod Degler, there is no question but that he should be expelled. Despite the contentions of the sob sisters and pollyannas, all healthy organisms find it necessary to defecate occasionally. I suggest we defecate Degler at once. --oo-- My sub-title mentioned something about fan ethics. I went into the Degler question again solely to furnish a hideous example for us to keep in mind as we discuss these ethics. On a less specific plane, I shoul dlike to outlinie the ethics and behavior patterns which I personally believe should govern fans not only among themselves but in their dealings with the outside world. First, however, it is almost necessary for us to arrive at a working interpretation of fandom, for our outlook on fandom itself is certain to reflect itself in our ethical approach. There are a number of us, unfortunately, who lack completely anything even remotely approaching a sense of perspective. To these pitifully warped individuals fandom is all things: hobby, life-work, sexual satisfaction (through sublimation), religion -- it is their entire world, and any dealings they may have to make with untainted humanity are performed grudgingly and half-heartedly. To such an individual, _any_ person calling himself a fan is something sacred, something apart from this fellows, and to be protected from the buffets of an unkind world by the same animation which surrounds the typical _total_ fan. Obviously, such a fan will object to any positive action which will cause the fainest ripple in either his or any other fan's bath of amniotic fluid. if this is to be the generally accepted approach to fandom, there is nothing in fandom for me or for any other person who attempts to lead a reasonably well balanced life. If we are to adopt a sane and sensible view of fandom, however, a great deal of muddled thinking along ethical lines will be cleared up. We will no longer feel impelled to tolerate anyone simply because he happens to read (or claims to read) scientifiction, but instead will be enabled to judge him as a person. Fandom, in other words, is nothing more than a _hobby_-- a singularly engrossing and pleasurable _hobby_ to be sure-- but not a way of life or a pseudo-religion. Those why try to make fandom anything more than a hobby are demonstrating an extremely stupid lack of perspective. If we accept fandom as a hobby, we are ethically free to make or reject friends wholly without reference to stfandom. No golfer feels impelled to be on an intimate basis of brotherly love with all other persons who happen to play golf; why should you and I feel any necessity of displaying fraternal affection for each and ever reader of _LeZ_? I personally am glad, even eager, to meet other fans, but I certainly intend to retain the right to choose among them the ones with whom I wish to be friendly. Whether or not a person reads stf if the least of my considerations; I judge my acquaintances on a basis of all-around congeniality when I decide whether or not I wish to be intimate with them. This old custom of holding an open house for any and all visiting fans is in one sense a magnificent display of the loving of one's neighbor. On the other hand, why should you or I put ourselves out for any stupid drip who wants to get some free board and room? I fail to see why there should be _any_ feeling of obligation in the matter. Yet, such is the spineless aura of insane and mawkish sentiment displayed by a few warped total fans, that other fans are _expected_ to -- 2 --
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be limited to the elite of fandom, that a person should not only prove himself worthy of admittance but should also continue to demonstrate their worthiness by his actions after he has become a member. If these criteria are to be applied in judging Clod Degler, there is no question but that he should be expelled. Despite the contentions of the sob sisters and pollyannas, all healthy organisms find it necessary to defecate occasionally. I suggest we defecate Degler at once. --oo-- My sub-title mentioned something about fan ethics. I went into the Degler question again solely to furnish a hideous example for us to keep in mind as we discuss these ethics. On a less specific plane, I shoul dlike to outlinie the ethics and behavior patterns which I personally believe should govern fans not only among themselves but in their dealings with the outside world. First, however, it is almost necessary for us to arrive at a working interpretation of fandom, for our outlook on fandom itself is certain to reflect itself in our ethical approach. There are a number of us, unfortunately, who lack completely anything even remotely approaching a sense of perspective. To these pitifully warped individuals fandom is all things: hobby, life-work, sexual satisfaction (through sublimation), religion -- it is their entire world, and any dealings they may have to make with untainted humanity are performed grudgingly and half-heartedly. To such an individual, _any_ person calling himself a fan is something sacred, something apart from this fellows, and to be protected from the buffets of an unkind world by the same animation which surrounds the typical _total_ fan. Obviously, such a fan will object to any positive action which will cause the fainest ripple in either his or any other fan's bath of amniotic fluid. if this is to be the generally accepted approach to fandom, there is nothing in fandom for me or for any other person who attempts to lead a reasonably well balanced life. If we are to adopt a sane and sensible view of fandom, however, a great deal of muddled thinking along ethical lines will be cleared up. We will no longer feel impelled to tolerate anyone simply because he happens to read (or claims to read) scientifiction, but instead will be enabled to judge him as a person. Fandom, in other words, is nothing more than a _hobby_-- a singularly engrossing and pleasurable _hobby_ to be sure-- but not a way of life or a pseudo-religion. Those why try to make fandom anything more than a hobby are demonstrating an extremely stupid lack of perspective. If we accept fandom as a hobby, we are ethically free to make or reject friends wholly without reference to stfandom. No golfer feels impelled to be on an intimate basis of brotherly love with all other persons who happen to play golf; why should you and I feel any necessity of displaying fraternal affection for each and ever reader of _LeZ_? I personally am glad, even eager, to meet other fans, but I certainly intend to retain the right to choose among them the ones with whom I wish to be friendly. Whether or not a person reads stf if the least of my considerations; I judge my acquaintances on a basis of all-around congeniality when I decide whether or not I wish to be intimate with them. This old custom of holding an open house for any and all visiting fans is in one sense a magnificent display of the loving of one's neighbor. On the other hand, why should you or I put ourselves out for any stupid drip who wants to get some free board and room? I fail to see why there should be _any_ feeling of obligation in the matter. Yet, such is the spineless aura of insane and mawkish sentiment displayed by a few warped total fans, that other fans are _expected_ to -- 2 --
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