From: rose@cecily.UUCP (Rose M. Delckum)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: Re: ALL: Soaps on Usenet, Chgo Sun-Times Fri 12/25/92
Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1993 13:33:41 GMT
Organization: The New Alaska Riviera
X-Newsreader: Arn V1.00 beta rel2

In article <9301050058.AA01382@lynx.corp.frame.com>, James Drew writes:

> Sue (IDSWB@ASUACAD.BITNET) writes:
> 
> >>  But viewers generally don't take soaps too seriously.
> >>  "There's a mantra people use repeatedly," Baym said.
> >>"I.O.A.S.  It's only a soap."
> 
> WHich doesn't mean it isn't important.  B-)
> 
> >  Another mantra people use is saying what we want to happen, in reverse.
> >  for instance if we want santa to bring us something for Christmas, we
> >  say he wouldn't bring us that item.  Therefore, hoping that TPTB will
> >  hear us and do the opposite, like they usually do.
> 
> Originally the Days of Our Lives mantra (started by yours truly): "Marlena
> is really dead... Marlena is really dead... Marlena is really dead..."

     *Ahem*.  Let's give credit where it'd due, Jimbo.  As I recall, back when
I was a newbie, circa 1988, in one of my first postings, I replied to Ms. V.A.
Hamilton's whining about her beloved Diana leaving (so I guess it was 1989).
I mentioned my fandom was the kiss of death--characters *I* liked didn't
just put on funny hats and leave, they were transformed into bad guys and
killed off (and look what happened to Nick!), and whatever I wanted to see, 
invariably I got the opposite.  I jokingly remarked perhaps I should say the
opposite of what I wanted, and thus fool the powers that be in the universe
into doing what I wanted.  You and Vic were the ones that took that idea
and transformed it into practice, beginning the Days mantra.  

Unfortunately, the powers that be seem to be psychic.  They still
do the opposite of what I want them to do! :-)

> 
> The belief being that if you say it often enough, you'll eventually come to
> believe it.  Only *then* can the writers prove you wrong and surprise you.
> 
> (As even most non-Days soap fans know: it worked.  Marlena has been back for
> a year and a half now.)

     Roserooni
> 
> ------------------------------
>                              |     "What's that noise?" I asked Val.  "Sounds
> Jim Drew                     | like an electric razor."
> jrd@frame.com                |     "Ron's shaving," I was told.
> (Furry: Randy Puritan)       |     "Shaving?  Ron?  The guy who thinks everyone
> "Innocent, but not naive."   | would look better with a beard, even Madonna?"
> B(2)h t c k s g+(p) rv p e   |     "Who said anything about shaving his
> S8/5 g l+ y+ o+ a+ u++- j++  | *beard?*" Val said, and scratched idly at his
> {opinions: mine != frame's}  | chest.
>                              |		- Marc Lynx, "Awl's Fare"
> 
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"You can blow out a candle        |      Rose Delckum
 But you can't blow out a fire,   |      rose@cecily.UUCP
 Once the flames begin to catch   |      rose%cecily@uunet.uu.net    
 The wind will blow them higher"  |      uunet!coplex!cecily!rose
             --Peter Gabriel      |
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