the link isn't working for me.

spikeylover | February 22, 23:59 CET

Nevermind

[ edited by kurya on 2006-02-22 22:01 ]

kurya | February 23, 00:01 CET

Link all fixed now. That article's a corker.

Simon | February 23, 00:01 CET

"What was Datelinehollywood.com trying to satirize when it published that article? What would make the Buffy the Vampire Slayer magazine believe such absurdity? What does it even mean to be a "fan"? And why won't Joss return any of my calls?"

Wow. I ask these same questions in the mirror every morning as I shave. Major cringeworthy.

ZachsMind | February 23, 00:11 CET

I'm a virgin! How appropiate for my SN....

holymother | February 23, 00:12 CET

Out of interest has anyone actually read the article mentioned in the official Buffy magazine?

Simon | February 23, 00:15 CET

Sorry, I have this new mental block when posting things here where I forget to include the link. This is also commonly refered to as being stupid.

gossi | February 23, 00:15 CET

Link to the "Grocery List" article...you know...the same one in the subject. *sigh*

[ edited by ringworm on 2006-02-22 22:24 ]

ringworm | February 23, 00:20 CET

I've seen this word 'lives' before but I still don't really understand what it means.

Great article. Somewhat affectionate but also objective and informative. I still feel a bit embarrassed (by association) over what happened to that guy at the SF Chronicle, clearly some can take it much too far but then you have events like the Angel food drive where fans affect real and significant change in people's lives so fannish dedication is definitely a double edged sword.

Incidentally, is that shopping list online ? (i'm only half kidding as well ;).

(also, I can't believe that Macbeth isn't available in Klingon, seems like it'd be right up their alley)

Saje | February 23, 00:25 CET

It took over my life long ago.

Speaking of, I have notes on my book and there's one thing that I need fandom help with.

So I put a poll up in my LJ. I turned anonymous comments on, so you can answer anonymously in the comments. It's okay to say, "Allyson, I sincerely can't stand you because you think you're all that." You know, just give a reason in context of what I'm asking?

It's here, if you have time to give me a hand with these things.

It really has taken over my life. But I'm totally okay with that.

Allyson | February 23, 00:27 CET

It took over my life long ago.

Yeah, it took over mine about 6 months ago. I'm easing back out of it a bit now. Although, I too have a book on the way. We should start a clubLiveJournal group. My book takes a slightly different angle, though, of basically being a tale of obsession, and a look at the industry and how that shapes how people respond to art in the 21st century. Or, basically, it's a bunch of pretenous shit. But it's quite funny.

I've filled out your LJ poll, Allyson. Although I had to log in to vote.

gossi | February 23, 00:36 CET

> I still feel a bit embarrassed (by association) over what happened to that guy at the SF Chronicle<

that story has a happy ending. He finally got to meet Browncoats face to face, after which he concluded "they're not the least bit scary." :)

miyu_tVP | February 23, 00:46 CET

The Official Buffy magazine printed it as fact? Do they not read Whedonesque? ;)

killinj | February 23, 04:37 CET

I think i balance out my "fan life" and my "real life" pretty well. I've got a career i love, a girlfriend i adore and a busy social life yet i still find the time to enjoy my personal obsessions such as good television shows and rock music.

Just because i happen to be able to name every episode of Buffy and Angel in the correct order and know every word to pretty much every Pearl Jam track doesn't mean that i can't have a non-fandom life too! ;)

Buffysmglover | February 23, 05:17 CET

I've got a career i love, a girlfriend i adore

Damn. Girlfriend takes second to job! :~P

Rogue Slayer | February 23, 05:27 CET

LOL! Okay, that was a slight slip that makes me very glad that my gorgeous better half isn't much of an Whedon fan (outside of Firefly/Serenity, which she adores) and therefore probably won't see that minor error in relationship management judgment.

Thanks for pointing it out, Rogue Slayer. If by chance she does see it i'll know who to thank for highlighting my error. Not to mention who to send the bill to for all the flowers i'll need to send to make up for it! :D

Buffysmglover | February 23, 06:03 CET

Curiously enough, the article listed some of the texts which have been translated into Klingon, but neglected to mention that the New Testament has been so translated (http://klv.mrklingon.org/)

Maybe it's just me, but the thought that someone would translate religious texts into an artificial language just seems to be so dissonant on so many levels, and more consistent with the message (fans are weird and excessive) of the article.

jclemens | February 23, 08:18 CET

Thanks for pointing it out, Rogue Slayer. If by chance she does see it i'll know who to thank for highlighting my error. Not to mention who to send the bill to for all the flowers i'll need to send to make up for it! :D

Hey, we chicks gotta stick together! :~P

Send the bills here:
1630 Revello Dr.
Sunnydale CA 99999

BTW, so curious what your job is? Female Body Inspector??

Maybe it's just me, but the thought that someone would translate religious texts into an artificial language just seems to be so dissonant on so many levels, and more consistent with the message (fans are weird and excessive) of the article.

What? Klingons don't deserve eternal rest in the arms of baby Jesus? I'm sure our dear and fluffy Lord would disagree. That being Joss, of course...

Rogue Slayer | February 23, 08:30 CET

So the translation of the New Testament into Klingon can have been approached by two sorts of people: The devout, and the non-devout.

The motivation for a devout Christian to translate the Bible into Klingon is... well, I'd call it marginal. Two motives spring to mind: 1) evangelizing the Trekkies, and 2) personal devotion--that by translating the New Testament into Klingon, the believer so doing would be forced to examine the text to new depths.

The motivation for a non-believer to do so is a mystery to me. I can't see intentionally spending that much time with a text one does not personally value.

So, I may just be blind to why people might do it, but as a sci fi fan with an active Christian faith... this still seems a bit whacked to me. Don't mean to be judgemental, it just doesn't click here, that's all.

I wonder if the writer considered mentioning it and dismissed it. If he's familiar with Klingon translations of Shakespeare, he probably ran across The Klingon Language Institute, which mentions the Klingon Bible Translation Project immediately prior to the Klingon Shakespeare Restoration Project. So why not mention it? Perhaps the author was scared enough of fans in general, and decided that religious fans might be doubly fanatic...

jclemens | February 23, 10:22 CET

Thanks so much to the Whedonesquers who came over to my LJ to help me out with my poll, and for the time people put into the comments.

It's been incredibly helpful.

Allyson | February 23, 12:32 CET

Short answer: fandom for me is the opportunity to give something back to a person who touched me and ultimately helped me through their creative output. Cringeworthy but I’m gonna say it anyway, send love out into the world and some might just come back to you (preferably of the non-creepy, non-stalkerish kind).

miranda | February 23, 14:21 CET

I've met a lot of great friends through fandom, not to mention my best friend/the love of my life, so I'm always interested in discussing fandom. Also interesting to compare different fandoms and interest groups as I've been part of music-centric, tv-show-centric, game-centric, etc fandoms.

zeitgeist | February 24, 03:55 CET