Snowflake Challenge: Day Fifteen

[tangeriner]

In your own space, share a favorite memory about fandom: the first time you got into fandom, the last time a fanwork touched your heart, crazy times with fellow fans (whether on-line or off-line), a lovely comment you’ve received or have left for someone. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I remember that the first thing I did when I first got online (mid-90s) was search for the X-Men. I was really intense about the X-Men at this point in my life -- I was a very socially awkward teenager who really bonded with the idea of the X-Men. I eventually came across sevenall's All in Your Head and then stared at it for weeks, wanting to read it so badly, but the idea of getting stories about my favourite characters (Angel and Psylocke) for free was mind-boggling. I thought I would somehow have to pay, so I resisted as long as I could before I gave in and just read it. I was so inspired, I started writing and posting my own fic (Release) and that, as they say, was that.

Comic fandom also brought Dexcon, which ran for a good many years. I probably attended about half of them, the first one when I was only 18 and the only one who wasn't legal yet to drink (Dexcon was traditionally held in a pub). I was lucky it ended up being held in Toronto, and my parents let me hop on the train and go into the big city for a day to meet up with Internet people. I think I said three words, but it was awesome -- it was the first time I really met fellow fans. And I kept going back, because I really felt like I fit in, and that was rare.

♥♥♥

Comments

[kitchendinah]

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Getting to see you (and everyone else) was always my favorite part of the con. Miss you IRL.

[pollymel]

I could be all deep here, but frankly "I know, right?" is about the sum of it. ;) So many awesome people, so little time.

[kerithwyn]

Ditto. Oh, miss you all so much.

(Fond memories of my first DexCon, being nervous and not letting go of Melly's hand. ^_^)

[tangeriner]

You guys, filling my DW with warm fuzzies. You're all the best. ♥

[pollymel]

You started it. Now I'm all nostalgia-y about the hanging out with you all and stuff.

Sometimes I feel sorry for people who didn't start fandom in comics, because we had so many advantages, like choose your own canon, adventure or romance or horror or whatever all mixed up, knowledge that if you did horrible things to characters it was all part of the game (can you imagine Amanda S or Benway using death warnings?), innate acknowledgement of nerddom, integration of slash/het/whatever, fabulous characters for everyone! and a really fabulous group of people. Then I remember issues and go back to my imaginary happy place. ;)

[pollymel]

That sounded really negative, there were very minimal issues, considering y'know, fandom.

[tangeriner]

I had a line I deleted in the original post about how comics fandom was the perfect first fandom, and it was. It really, really was. There was something for everyone!

[tangeriner]

Miss you, too! That really was the best part of the con, always.

[pollymel]

I have an absurdly happy memory of meeting you in person for the first time and handing you the wind up Rictor that Dia had bought for you. DexCons are some of my favourite memories, and it was totally because you guys were so awesome.

[tangeriner]

Haha, I totally still have that vibrating Rictor. He brings me so much joy, still, years later -- not only cuz he's hilarious, but because of the memories attached. ♥

[pollymel]

He is deeply hilarious. Deeply.