Sometimes I wonder if a lot of the problems in long standing fandoms boils down to age difference. I don’t mean “oh, those pesky kids” vs. “ugh, old people,” though it often does take that form. Rather I can’t help but wonder if a lot of it has to do with generational differences and experience– not only what age you were when you entered fandom but also what level of technology you came in on. Fandom is, for better or for worse, become more and more mainstream. Because of that, people are more willing and able to joyously share their fan experiences.
If you are an older fan, a good amount of the fan experience has been about shame– hide it from friends, family, freak out if anyone ever mentions fanfic (”oh dear god, did they find my tumblr???”)– and about struggling to find people like you. Talk to an older fan about pre-internet fandom; it’s a whole other ball of wax, which I can only assume involved secret handshakes and wearing certain flowers on your lapel to correspond to the waxing/waning of the moon. Even now those older fans worry about their bosses finding their fic or a family member catching wind of it.
So much of fandom was nerdy, taboo, and weird, and while we still see some of that (especially when discussing slash), I think the difference in technology has changed things.
I’d definitely agree with this, particularly the conclusion. I suppose technically I’m an older fan (I’m 36), but I never really engaged with other fans until tumblr. At least not on this scale. I’ve always let my geek flag fly (I was the weird Star Trek fangirl in high school), but tumblr has let me really embrace my love of these things.
So I get the squee but I also understand the discussions. I’ve never been afraid of showing my fandoms, but now I have a closet full of Doctor Who shirts.
And I remember the shock I felt the first time I saw Doctor Who merchandise in the store.
So I guess, being in that weird not quite a millennial not quite gen x age bracket, once again lets me see both sides.