I think the current obsession with "fan culture" is by definition exclusive. The more we insist we are some kind of coherent and different-from-the-norm group, the greater the barriers we place to entry. I'm getting a little tired of the current emphasis on sociology myself, and would like to see a few more spaceships and bacteria. More Science. More Fiction.

We're an interesting bunch, statistically, but I don't think we're quite as different as we like to make out. We need a way to reassure the curious that they will *not* be instantly labelled and permanently branded if they so much as dip their toe in the water. There needs to be a light, non-threatening low (emotional and financial) cost "Intro to Swancon: Welcome to the safe shallow end" phase before we require newbies to cough up lots of dough for the dubious pleasure of being branded One Of Us.

Stopping now.