Wise words

[dalekboy]

"...they don’t think they need saving. I mean, they haven’t changed for years, have they? They’re not designed to be wanted because they don’t want to be wanted, not really. They want to be left alone to do their thing, and they don’t want any loud new people in the room. They serve a dwindling audience, and they have to be aware of that — so they have to be in it to simply serve that audience, to provide that presumably cosy experience to their people until the last light goes out. Otherwise they would have done something different years ago."

That's Warren Ellis talking about sf magazines, but he could be talking about the majority of sf fan clubs and conventions in Australia.

Just because your friends turn up, doesn't mean it's good.
Just because it breaks even, doesn't mean it's a success.
Just because something runs, that doesn't mean it's still relevant.

More on this later...

Comments

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Its even more true of most fan clubs than it is of the magazines.

[dcrisp.livejournal.com]

This was one of my concernes about the MSFC for a while. It seemed that everybody there, whilst being great friends and getting on with each other, were all old school. There didnt seem to be new people coming along. There were no problems with the people who were there, just that there was no new blood coming in and staying.

Thankfully this has changed in the last 6 months and there is a handfull of NEW NEW members.

Theres exciting times to be had

[bigevilogre.livejournal.com]

Sounds a lot like how I've been feeling just as a person. Add to that "Hard work, dedication, persistence, and confidence don't amount to a hill a birdpoo"

[angriest.livejournal.com]

I think those magazines are typical of SF fandom in general:

- do not try new things.
- do not progress.
- do not welcome new people, unless they are identical to the old people.
- tradition is more important than a good idea.

Obviously there are many exceptions, but that does seem to be the general rule of the subculture.

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

Being someone that is very much in favour of trying some new things - up to and including of the fact that some of it is sure to be less successful than others, I can see what you mean.

But I also believe that the capacity for change is out there.

The obstacles of getting through the 'but its tradition' and 'you can't do that because it didn't work last time' or 'you'll alienate everyone who currently goes'

I dont' think any of those things is any reason to not try something - and while the result may not work, it may also be a wild success.

I am hopeful of the idea that we are doing when we get dates from someone - heard from them lately?

As far as conventions in Perth go, they need to change to either be the kind of conference that can afford to utilise hotels properly, and the kind of conference that hotels /want/ OR they need to NOT be in a hotel. That's the biggest change I forsee over the next x amount of years - depending on opposition.

There's this myth that things should be cheaper function wise in Perth, and it's just blatently untrue. The hotels have the monopoly on what little function space is available across Perth for everyone to use for all the reasons people want function space. They can run things the way they like, at a price that suits them - and they do. They all almost have come to run the same way wanting a certain amount of guaranteed revenue in the $$ figure that would make you blanch at the very least.

At least in Perth it's got to be Change or Die really.

[vegetus.livejournal.com]

ooer, I have one more...

Just because your girlfriend is threatening to leave you because of it, doesn't mean you're putting in enough time.

I don't think the SF scene is any different to other groups though, you'll always find people hanging on to the past and not wanting to change.

[sonictail.livejournal.com]

I'm finding this discussion on here facinating, i've wrestled with idea to get JAFWA attendence up and things improving. I've done the time on committee, we implemented new ideas, tried new things but I believe it comes back to the one thing.

Apathy.

Today you can download anything, watch it when you want in the comfort of your own home. why socialize in person when the internet can provide. I make a effort to get together with my mates and watch the shows, attend fantastic planet meets {when I can :p} and goto clubs. I just wish that all media ended with "now get up off your arse and go discuss this with people that you may or may not know IN PERSON"

:p