X-Message-Number: 19072
From: "Lee Corbin" <>
Subject: Re: Are most science fiction fans disengaged from practical living?
Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 09:11:01 -0700

In Message #19065, John Grigg writes

>> Ben Best DARED to write!:
>> Science fiction fans are mostly disengaged from practical living, 

> Is this really true of most science fiction fans?

It seems most doubtful.  Of course, if we included all those who can
get really lost in fantasy from time to time, all the watchers of
soap operas, etc., we'd have a near majority of the population.  And
you just can't say that they're "disengaged from practical living". 

> But considering my interest in "fantastic" films, roleplaying games,
> computer games, fantasy film commentary magazines and comic books...,
> well, I'm pretty much a lost cause.  And when Alaska used to have
> them, I attended all the local Star Trek conventions, too.  I would
> go in "uniform" as Starfleet Lt. Cmdr. Grigg...  Yes, my case is
> that advanced.

I knew people so immersed in the world of chess that it seemed
unbelievable.  Yet, although always very poor, they managed
without any other problems in the "real world".

But since the subject is SF, perhaps you've known a variety of
trekkies and people with a high interest in role-playing games
and so on.  Did you ever by chance learn enough about their
lives to perceive anything pathological?  That is, were their
activities debilitating in any way?  From the sound of it, yours
evidently were not, but rather seem to have enriched your life.

> And what if a science fiction fan marries a fantasy genre
> fan?  Should they fall in love and get married?  AND have
> children??  Is there any hope for them?  I need answers here!

Okay, so you're definitely pulling everyone's legs  :-)

Lee

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