Cover by Frank Wu!!! don’t attend WorldCons, but there
was a strong Fanzine Fan presence And now, let’s hit some LoCs sent to at LACon garcia@computerhistory.org, I was asked onto a load of starting with James Bacon! panels, including ones about fanzines (with over 70 people listening), I spoke Dear Chris, about numerous subjects to hundreds Well I must admit that I would of people, always introduced as the go to the Moscow Eurocon, if you had Taff winner, I was kindly supported by decided that was your Taff destination, the worldcon, I was allowed to present and you and Steve are correct to say a HUGO, and in doing so, make much that candidates have every right to mention of TAFF to thousands of state from the outset where they wish people and generally I did my best to head to if they win. to spread the word of Taff, fanzines, The one big problem is I don’t speak running conventions, getting involved much Russian and it’ll be weird and European conventions to as many being in a country where I didn’t people as possible. I also helped raise speak the language and didn’t a load of money in a fan fund auction know anyone. I’ve always felt like and I met many people whom I am still there was a de facto vibe that if you in contact with. say you’re going to another con, I could have done more, my folks won’t be happy. Then again, antipodean fund mate, Norman Cates that’s true about a lot of things. The bigger the con, theoretically gave a video presentation in the main But I am astonished that Steve the bigger the exposure for the hall to hundreds of people. Green thinks that a Taff candidates are Fund. Conversely, there’s the slight It's Worldcon programmers, staff, ‘showcased in some distant corner of a limitation of having such a huge tech, con com, area heads, gophers Worldcon.’ con that attention is severely split and planners who gave us that space, This small minded and parochial and there’s little focus. that stage. type of attitude does fanzine and I have first hand experience. It's Worldcon members who taff fandom no favours at all, and is I am pretty sure I met many Corflu funded it. really quite unfair to the many people attendees in the fan lounge (at the Worldcon is ‘fandomorientated’, involved with Worldcons, who go out of centre of activities, IMHO) at two Fan its run by fans, for fans, attended their way to welcome and promote Taff. Fund receptions in 2004, and I was by thousands of fans, covers many I’ve talked to a couple of previous lucky to have Mark Plummer, Guy fannish aspects and areas and winners who said they wished Lillian and Monsieur Hertz on hand embodies many fine qualities that they’d gone to smaller cons, but to introduce me to dozens of fanzine many a small con can only aspire there is a double-edged sword there. greats. to. Peter Weston was the FGOH for There are regular CorFluites who goodness sake at the time I was wasn’t particularly surprised by TAFF’ing. I got loads of fanzines and them. In fact, what surprised me the widened my fanish circle and to be most was that some people in the honest, I reckon that any worldcon comments quoted were challenging would support any decent fannish the prejudice. My expectation (my initiative or idea, like what was wrong prejudice) about comments on general with the Fan Lounge and programme internet forums is that most people in Glasgow, I thought it was amazing. who get involved don’t have anything I don’t mind someone making worth saying: that they’re bullies who CorFlu their destination of choice, hate everyone, people who have an I would be interested to see how opinion about everything but can’t that would pan out, I firmly believe adequately express any of it, or people candidates can decide to do what they who want to pick fights and will want, but I find it incomprehensible express any opinion likely to do that. that in supporting this correct and So it’s actually reassuring to see at notable assertion there is a necessity least some people arguing back and to denigrate another convention. Sure If you look up fine fan writers in airing more rational opinions. Mark talk up CorFlu, why not, its a fine the dictionary, you probably won’t recently forwarded me a splendid convention, I believe, I would love to find it. But if you did, Claire Brialey YouTube link to a sketch entitled ‘If know the reasons a small convention would be right there! YouTube Comments Met Real Life would be a better Taff destination, Dear Chris, Situations’, which expressed very well but on its own merits, not at the Once again I find myself some both the general tone of comments sake of knocking a Worldcon to do it, issues behind with several recent on YouTube clips and the dichotomy especially when its so inaccurate. issues on which I wanted to comment of this interaction and normal corner, indeed, when I first read them. conversation. Sadly I can’t use it to James Bacon It’s OK, I haven’t read any of my help to demonstrate my point since the WorldCon has certainly been good recent issues either. link now goes to a page stating, ‘This to TAFF recipiants as I’m sure To start with there’s Frank video is no longer available due to a Bridget will also attest. There’s Wu’s synthesis of racism in YouTube copyright claim by CollegeHumor.com’, not nearly as much person-to- comments, for #143. And naturally I which may also say something about person contact as a con like a found many of the comments quoted YouTube. CorFlu would allow, but that’s to be offensive and unpleasant, as Bastards! The only group I’m openly unavoidable. There’s the trouble did John Purcell and Steve Green prejudiced against is copyright of individual attention vs. bigger in their letters in #144. But, like holders! I think we should line them exposure. It’s hard to say which is them, although I was shocked and up and then release the hounds! the right way to go, as I’m betting disappointed to see people openly What also struck me about the either would probably work well. expressing those sort of views, I quoted comments – although, again, not unexpectedly – was the range of We tend to associate racism with to express views anonymously, such prejudice revealed. In the first batch of violence, particularly in America as the YouTube comments, would comments quoted, there is both some where we strongly documented our be inclined to bring out prejudice anti-Iraqi sentiment and some anti- violence against various races in precisely because social norms are now Bush (or anti-US?) sentiment; then, photographs and film. Now things less accepting of it; if you feel you can’t as well as three comments which were are much different, but it’s still usually get away with such statements, expressly racist or supportive of racism an under-current. There’s a whole what warped freedom must anonymity – and one overtly challenging that lot to be said for city planning as offer? – there was one which seemed anti- a form of racial segregation, but The veil, while somewhat thin, is Islam, one claiming that another poster that’s another article. enough to allow your deeper sides was ‘retarded’, and another claiming There’s been some interesting to show. that an earlier comment was ‘gay as research in recent years on equality, Meanwhile, in the rest of #143 hell’ and that the situation in Iraq was diversity and prejudice in the UK, and the next issue, in the parts that now ‘a pussy war’. And I do realise that which has found that prejudice here were boobs, wrestling, and stories ‘gay’ is now often used as a generalised is still widespread although often about drinking – all those boobs derogatory comment – but I don’t see against targets different from those are there because women, like men, that as any sort of positive progress. who experienced most discrimination deserve respect even when they keep It was the casual racism of in previous generations. For instance, their clothes on and regardless of how the anti-Japanese posting in Frank’s people in Britain seemed least they look, right? Right? (You can print third batch that I found actually concerned about expressing prejudice as many pictures of cute squid as scarier than the illiterate and ignorant against Muslims and against gay men you like, though. I know you respect racist ranting of some of the others. and lesbians, and most concerned them for their brains. Except that I Doubtless the latter sort of bigotry is about being seen to be prejudiced find in #144 and #145 respectively scarier in practice, if you meet such against older people or disabled aggressive racism head-on in public. people. People’s attitudes towards But it’s the casual, implicit prejudice different groups seem to be based on of unchallenged assumptions that can stereotyped perceptions of each of prevent people from getting decent life these groups, and on the perceived chances (education, jobs, housing as ‘threat’, whether cultural, physical or you mentioned in your comments after economic, posed by each. It’s clear that the article) while all around people are relatively few people in Britain would saying, Things are much better, fewer now publicly express negative feelings people get beaten up now and we all towards someone else because of, say, know that the people who beat others their race or disability; but in practice up are just ignorant racists. public behaviour doesn’t entirely That’s an interesting point and one reflect what people really think. So I’m that gets overlooked far too often. inclined to think that opportunities that Frank and John both want to eat the squid, which isn’t very respectful either.) Respect and acceptance have a lot of strands, and that’s something I still find difficult when I encounter views radically different to my own; indeed, I haven’t entirely been able to shed the viewpoint that people who don’t understand mutual respect and acceptance should have their heads repeatedly beaten against a wall until they do. I once had a woman specifically say that she was only into me because of my brain. That actually hurt. I’d much rather be wanted for my body! In fairness, I have tremendous respect for women even when they do keep their clothes on (and in some cases Because they keep their clothes on, but that’s another article). I happen to have I’m not sure that’s accurate, but he as many as during all of last year; and a slightly over-driven appreciation does live closer to the ocean than I do you know how many LOCs that is? for the female form. And if I am do... Including this one? Twenty. This year ever accused of respecting women And then I found myself beating I’ve written precisely twenty fanzine equally with the way I respect my own head against the wall, when letters of comment. And six of them men, I should be locked up because I saw John Purcell’s comment that were to you. Still, at least I find John I so unfairly treat men! On the other his letter to you in #144 was his 150th in #145 noting that it feels like every hand, Squids...Man, I can’t talk LOC of 2007. (And you’ve done at least other LOC he writes is to you too… too much about them. There’s a lot 50. And I gather that Lloyd Penney Well, that’s why I’ve only managed to be said. Jason Schachat has a is around the 200 mark for this year maybe 70 LoCs this year. I don’t theory that Cephlalopod is actually already.) Whereas I was congratulating have the GarciaZines to LoC! an Olde English word meaning myself the other day on having written Steve Green will probably Onion Sack because old fishermen more letters to fanzines so far this overtake me in the LOC stakes in the would stuff onions in the mantels of year than in the whole of 2005, when next few weeks, judging by his letters these squids and that fifty pounds I had a longer commute on which to to you as well as writing columns. (You of onions could fill the larger ones. read and write to fanzines, and twice might think, what with chairing the UK Novacon in less than a month’s time, that it’s small enough to enable a good convention, which is another reason I and administering the Nova awards conversation with most people there like it and now feel so at home there – and everything, that he’d have more over the course of the weekend. But then they’ll know pretty much everyone than enough to keep him occupied. for that very reason I think it would there already; if they’re not a fanzine But no, he finds time to read and write be a bad thing for that to be the main fan they’re really unlikely to have a to fanzines too.) All that said, I have convention event in a European TAFF particularly good time. to disagree with him quite strongly winner’s trip. If they’re a fanzine fan I would say that’s true. I wasn’t about whether TAFF candidates should – and Corflu is explicitly a fanzine fan’s really a part of fanzine fandom be allowed to choose their preferred when I first attended CorFlu, but main destination convention. There are I did have a much better time this some practical reasons for this, such year when I certainly was. as when you hold the race: Corflu in Now, of course the point usually in the spring and Worldcon of Steve’s suggestion is that a in late summer, with Eastercon candidate who wasn’t a fanzine fan similarly at Easter and Novacon (self- could choose to go to a convention evidently) in November, so how should that they thought would suit them: the administrators set deadlines for Readercon or Potlatch or Wiscon, for nominations and a race which might instance, or a costume con or a filk be sending a candidate to either the con or anything that appealed to their early one or the later one? sense of fannish community. But That’s an interesting point that I that would be the precise problem hadn’t considered. Of course, you with this approach, for me: it would could simply put the race so that make TAFF into an explicit contest it ended prior to January first and between different communities within declare that the trip must be taken fandom, all bidding for the money to in the calendar year following, but I get a trip for one of their own and/or see how that could be a problem. import a special overseas guest for But more importantly I think their convention – or, equally, be a there are profound philosophical way for different candidates to make a reasons why it’s a bad idea. Steve tactical bid for support from a specific said, ‘A smaller, fandom-oriented event fan group, whether geographically or such as Corflu would appear much interest-based, by choosing to visit a more suitable a showcase for a UK particular con. delegate’s talents than some distant That’s a bit rougher but I see corner of a Worldcon…’ Well, I enjoy the point. The key in my eyes is Corflu a great deal, and one of the that even if you were to choose things I particularly like about it is something like CostumeCon (the Even if the candidates didn’t someone from setting up another one- announce until after the race which off fund for a particular fanzine fan to convention they were planning on, in attend a particular Corflu. But with all each case the focus of the TAFF trip that, why should TAFF be bent to that would then be within a particular end too? section of fandom. Would anyone else That is the best point of all. get to learn about TAFF as a result of Targeted fan funds are ideal that trip? Would anyone outside that for bringing in people to those fan community feel minded to offer specialized cons, drawing monies to invite the delegate to visit their fan from those who would be most group during the rest of their trip interested. – or would they just assume that the I think someone running for delegate was only interested in meeting one of the ongoing intercontinental other fanzine/literary/costuming/filk fan travel funds (TAFF, DUFF or fans? GUFF) needs to go to a big inclusive I think that would more fall on convention in the host continent, the candidate in that case, though to have the chance to meet and I doubt they’d have any problem interact with as many parts of the finding people who’d want to invite host country’s fandom as possible. them even if they chose a specific And I think that convention needs to 26th edition of which is in San speciality con. know that they’ll be getting a TAFF Jose in 2008, or hadn’t you heard?) We can all set up special funds delegate, and to be able to plan on you would still have to make it a within our fan communities to bring that basis. I understand the risk that mission to get to the rest of that over someone to a specific convention. Steve mentions, that a European TAFF side’s fandom. If you chose to go to It’s been done for Novacon. And there winner may get stuck in ‘a distant Eurocon instead of Eastercon, you’d are so many recent examples of it corner of a Worldcon’ if the Worldcon better damn well make sure you for Corflu – both Bruce Gillespie and itself isn’t interested in the TAFF hit the UK and see as many folks William Breiding in 2005, Harry Bell winner and the TAFF winner isn’t as possible. If you chose Potlatch, in 2006 – that there is now an annual interested in the Worldcon. But my you better make an attempt to hit Corflu Award set up to raise funds to ideal TAFF candidate is someone who LASFS, BASFA, NESFA, NASFA and bring one fan or fan couple to each is well-known and respected in their at least one other big convention year’s Corflu. (For more information, own country, and who is interested in to get to know the various interested readers can see Rich Coad’s their destination continent and in the fandoms. And I had no idea it was article about this in VFW #98.) In fans there and has made an effort to called Novacon because it was in many respects, it’s a low-key one- make some contacts there who would November. I just thought it was a off fan fund with a bit of continuity like to get them over so that they can cool name! – although it doesn’t at all prevent meet more people – and who, therefore, will want to spend their TAFF trip national science fiction convention. scope of the fund, and that might be meeting as many people as possible, Novacon was Britain’s second annual something the administrators decide getting involved in the convention they convention when it began back in to do some day in order to help us all attend, visiting as many other fan 1971 and many people still consider remember that it’s not actually just centres as possible, and making people it to have that status. So most of the a UK-US fund. But I don’t think that see the whole point and value of having people you want to meet might be there TAFF is just a club for people who fan funds in this day and age. It’s hard too; and it’s a good con that I really only go to Novacon or Corflu (although work as well as fun, and it’s one of the enjoy, because I get to hang out with I admit that my favoured candidates reasons I’ve never fancied standing for a lot of people I know and like. But at are usually people who’d like to go to a fan fund myself. Eastercon you’d get to meet quite a lot both, among other cons). Nonetheless, There’s a lot of good points of other people who, charming though there are people in British fandom who there, but I can see the matter of they may be, don’t go to Novacon, and think that it is – including quite a lot of WorldCon being less than ideal. the people who don’t go to Novacon or Few folks get much face time with Corflu. And if all the other fans who go the delegate, and really it’s close to Eastercon feel that TAFF is nothing chatting and such that really to do with them, then I’m not sure brings folks to the table, as it were. that it does have a role in the twenty- Yeah, having a TAFF delegate first century of cheap flights and the present a Hugo or some such is a internet after all. And that, to me, very big get, but it’s not the kind of would be a sad end to a great tradition. thing that turns the unknowing into When I present TAFF to folks who supporters of TAFF. That’s one of have never heard of it before, and the reasons a smaller con could be that includes a lot of WorldCon more helpful. Yes, you get a wider regulars I met at NASFiC and chance at a WorldCon, but you WorldCon 2006, they all think it’s a also have less of an opportunity to that also means they’d get to meet you. great idea and want to know more make close connections with folks And they’d get to find out more about and some even wonder why they’d who might not be in tune with TAFF your fannish activities, and your home never heard of it before. Maybe already. Double edged sword, no? fandom, and about TAFF. that’s something we all need to You said, Chris, that you’ll Steve said, ‘A US delegate might work on, a way to raise the profile. stick with attending Eastercon if you well prove a better fit at Novacon than The best way is for the delegate win ‘because it’s the right time of the three-ring circus Eastercons have themselves to go out and press year and a lot of folks I wanna meet morphed into over the past twenty the flesh, something that Bridget will be there’. The latter point bears years.’ I wouldn’t have a problem with did very well at LACon. WorldCon out what I was saying: lots of the a race running to the Eurocon or to a seems to be the logical place for people you want to meet will be at major Canadian convention instead that, but then again, there’s the the Eastercon because it’s the British of the Eastercon or a US Worldcon or percentages... NASFiC; that’s about the geographical So I really agree with the points become a major part of Fandom. I destination convention for the next two John Purcell made in his letter in #145 may be the only one who thinks so, races… about both a high number and a wide but I really want TAFF to be a part Which is where things get diversity of candidates in the current of the whole fandom, SMoFs and interesting. I can say anything now race being great for TAFF. I also agree costumers and filkers and furries and the worst it’ll do is lose me with John that TAFF needs to continue and whatever included, not just votes, but once an administrator to reflect its origins in fanzine fandom, something that is seen as a Fanzine says something, it becomes a much and that it does do that; and I think it Fandom Travel Programme., which bigger deal. recognises what people have done in I’ve heard it referred to as. THis One final thought, with apologies fandom and what they may yet go on year’s crop seems to speak to if many other people have mentioned to do. John might be considered to be diversity, that’s for sure. That’s this to you as well; in advance of your a bit idealistic when he wrote, ‘Maybe if how we ensure the survival of TAFF, corset issue, have you seen a copy of more folks get involved with things like by making it a serious part of The Foundation and Empire? It’s a fanzine TAFF and the other fan funds they’ll Big Picture, and that would imply that Flick edited earlier this summer become more involved with fanzines.’ WorldCon attendance as often as which I suspect was on paper only (it But if you were to win, Chris, maybe possible, though there is room for has a two-layer cover which wouldn’t that would actually happen. Your change on that one. I think the fanzines are easily accessible, and if Drink Tank is an accessible zine, a European fan met you at Eastercon though I wouldn’t want someone and wanted to know more about you whose never read a fanzine to come or just to stay in touch after the trip, to The Drink Tank first. It is a little they could almost as readily do that too different to be a gateway drug, by reading and writing to The Drink as it were. Tank as by reading and commenting In the end, though, and with on your LiveJournal. The fact that all due respect because I am one of you are involved in so many different your strong supporters here, if you aspects of fandom would also be a real win TAFF then like any of the other asset, I think; you’re not the sort of fan candidates you’ll be going to Eastercon who only goes to Corflu (or Novacon) next year primarily because that’s although clearly you do fit in well where this specific race is running to there, and I think that’s right for TAFF and that’s what you’ve posted your too. bond to confirm! And if you win then I’m going to make myself very you’ll be one of the administrators, and unpopular with this next statement, you and your European counterpart and if I lose I can blame it on this (currently Bridget Bradshaw) will get to one thing, but I really think we need have this discussion for real and you’ll to go beyond fanzine fandom and have to decide what to do about the reproduce as a PDF), and I don’t know might win an MVP, but he’d never win how many copies there were or if a Brownlow Medal. many made their way outside the That’s a good point. Us Americans UK. The reason I mention it is that it have little use for ‘fairness’ in our was mostly on the subject of under- sports, but the Canadians added it garments (hence the title), featuring to the NHL in one of their awards a few other topics that seemed to be (the Smythe, perhaps?) In an fellow travellers, including me on the interesting analogy, Stan Mikita subject of high-heeled shoes. The rest was the most penalized player for of the cast list is Guy Lomas enthusing several years early in his career about bras, James Bacon enthusing and won the fair play award later! at the length you might expect about And you are right, all streaks nylons, Abi Brown ranting about do some to an end. One day my poor suspender belts and shopping, Giulia Tigers will start winning again (though De Cesare laughing about authors and I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll live to see underwear – and, perhaps of greatest it). relevance for your theme, an edited Love ‘n’ hugs, reprint of Sue Mason’s article ‘Friends Cheryl of Foundation Garments’ from Attitude Don’t stop believin’ Cheryl! It’ll hap- #7 in February 1996 (an issue that also pen! featured Alison Scott’s article ‘Vacuous Tits’: bras again rather than corsetry but you may still find that of interest And now...Steve Green! too, not least for the fanhistorical Hi Chris, aspect of when British female fans Mea culpa. I wrote in my latest started talking about this sort of thing column that Georges de La Tour’s work loudly and in public). You might also A Correction from Cheryl Morgan “languished in near-obscurity for more recall Flick’s own article in Plokta Chris dear, than 350 years following his death in #31 about corsetry and all sorts of Very minor quibble. The 1652”, whereas I instead meant “more dilemmas she was having at the time. Brownlow Medal isn’t an exact analog than 250 years”: he was “rediscovered” You know, I’ve never got to read any of MVP. It is given to the “best and by the German scholar Hermann Voss of Flick’s zines. I hadn’t even heard fairest” player of the regular season, in 1915, then brought to wider public about that one! I do remember her and it is voted on by the umpires, attention through an exhibition in article in PLOKTA which was the who are perhaps best placed to judge Paris in 1935. first article I ever read in a PLOKTA. matters of “fairness”. Obviously you Good to know. I would never have Best wishes – and I really hope we get have to be good too but, to use a local caught that. to meet again at Easter! analogy, someone like Terrell Owens Incidentally, I’ve never seen my first name hyphenated before. Hardly usually have a few answers, but John- seems worth the bother. niac is usually the one that gets the John Purcell may already have nod. It’s big, the biggest single-piece discovered that the excellent retro- computer we have in the collection. It movie The Call of Cthulhu can be I work at a job where there are doesn’t weigh as much as the Cray-1 ordered from the H P Lovecraft a lot of fun things to look at and play nor is it as large as the piece of SAGE Historical Society, via its website with. The Registrar around these parts, that we have, but it’s BIG. (www.cthulhulives.org). Well worth the Warden as she is often called, Johnniac came on line the day twenty bucks. would kick me if she knew that i re- my Dad was born and was one of the Cheers ferred to working with artifacts as play- first ten computers to use the Von -- Steve ing. I love some of the machines that Neumann architecture. We’ve had it for And I highly recommend buying it! we have around here and I’m always almost 20 years after it sat out in the Thanks much Steve! looking for fun new ones. parking lot of another museum for a When asked which is my fave, I couple of years! As always, I had a great time at Silicon. I stayed at the hotel, which I don’t normally do, and just had a wonder- ful time with The Lovely and Talented Linda, Jason Schachat and the SF/SF crew and friends. Howeird, that fantastic photographer whose camera is constantly clicking, took these photos at the Con! Clockwise from Upper Left, Mike Miyaki conked out on a lobby chair, Me accepting Kevin Standlee’s Ken Uhland Award (Thanks, Kevin!), Johanna, Andy’s back (in his awesome Japanese thingee), a Guy I know but can’t remember his name, Me and The Lovely and Talented Linda at Pancho’s Crosstime Cantina, Chris and Richard, Me pouring a Drink Tank for Bosin, and the best Sandman Mystery Theatre costume I’ve ever seen!