Fandom and the people in it are evolving constantly. When I came into fandom in the 1990s, things were just beginning the big migration online. Back then, most things were done by email, as in there was often just one, maybe two lists, for a show. One for general discussion, one for fanfic. As things expanded, they might break off another list for slashfic (because that was still icky for a lot of people).
Web forums came and went for a time, but it wasn't until I was in Stargate fandom that I came to LiveJournal because a lot of fanfic was being posted here. Finding so many shows having comms for general discussions, fanfic, specific pairings, etc. was a major change, and I loved it. A place for everyone to play, but easily presented almost like your own personalized zine of fandom.
Since LJ is dwindling, there's just not as much discussion taking place, and everyone's scattering to various forums. I'm also a lot more leery of joining in at comms than I used to be. Too much fighting over ships and other crap. I'm finding that I'm much more likely to discuss things in my own LJ or those of people I know than in a group for it.
I'm also watching a lot more shows, yet not getting the fannish urge, except maybe reading fanfic. It's sort of strange, but maybe the more fannish interests are spread out, the less you can be old-fashioned fannish? In the bigger picture, it also means there's more fragmentation of fandom itself, so you don't always know where to find it.
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Date: 2013-04-15 02:44 am (UTC)Web forums came and went for a time, but it wasn't until I was in Stargate fandom that I came to LiveJournal because a lot of fanfic was being posted here. Finding so many shows having comms for general discussions, fanfic, specific pairings, etc. was a major change, and I loved it. A place for everyone to play, but easily presented almost like your own personalized zine of fandom.
Since LJ is dwindling, there's just not as much discussion taking place, and everyone's scattering to various forums. I'm also a lot more leery of joining in at comms than I used to be. Too much fighting over ships and other crap. I'm finding that I'm much more likely to discuss things in my own LJ or those of people I know than in a group for it.
I'm also watching a lot more shows, yet not getting the fannish urge, except maybe reading fanfic. It's sort of strange, but maybe the more fannish interests are spread out, the less you can be old-fashioned fannish? In the bigger picture, it also means there's more fragmentation of fandom itself, so you don't always know where to find it.