Fandom 1994-2000-ish/Part Three

In March 2012, Arduinna posted an article on her Dreamwidth journal about some fannish memories. The topic: the period from about 1994-2000 with a focus on mailing-list-based Western media fandom. 
It is reposted on Fanlore with permission. 
==Time to talk about actual mailing lists!==
===General List Etiquette===
===Gen v Het v Slash===
===By the Mid-90s, There Were Other Options===
===Public and Private Lists===
===What Did People Talk About, Anyway?===
===RPF===
===Spoilers===
===Posting Fanfic===
===TPTB on the Lists===
===Getting/Trading Source===
===Getting to Know People on Lists===
==Comments==
Arduinna's essay stirred up many memories and generated much interest which is reflected in the multiple comments on her DW post. A selection of the longer discussion threads have been broken out below into rough thematic categories. Note that there may be overlap in some of these threads/discussions. Click on the links below to read further. Go to the original post to read all comments. WebCite for Comments Page 1; WebCite for Comments Page 2; WebCite for Comments Page 3. 
*"....it's the end of this third post -- the part about making friends -- that makes me all misty-eyed..." kass posted 31 March 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for "....it's the end of this third post -- the part about making friends -- that makes me all misty-eyed..." 
*On the extent of gen fandom in The Professionals and the need for similar posts on non-Western media and/or non-slash traditions. copracat posted 31 March 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for On the extent of gen fandom in The Professionals and the need for similar posts on non-Western media and/or non-slash traditions. 
*"... I actually find it harder to get to know people now than I ever did during our mailing-list days." mollyamory posted 31 March 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for "... I actually find it harder to get to know people now than I ever did during our mailing-list days." 
*On invite-only mailing lists, RPF in Usenet days, the outrageous cost for commercial TV episodes on VHS tape, and age restrictions in fandom spaces fransezka posted 31 March 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for On invite-only mailing lists, RPF in Usenet days, the outrageous cost for commercial TV episodes on VHS tape, and age restrictions in fandom spaces. 
*How the essay is generating a wave of nostalgic posts. klia posted 31 March 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for How the essay is generating a wave of nostalgic posts. 
*Lack of computer skills in the 1990s kept many fans from finding slash fandom; making up for lost time. moth2fic posted 31 March 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for Lack of computer skills in the 1990s kept many fans from finding slash fandom; making up for lost time. 
*On age statements (and lying about one's age); VHS videotape copy trees. ladysorka posted 1 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for On age statements (and lying about one's age); VHS videotape copy trees. 
*International VHS videotape trees were often the only way for fans in other countries to watch shows. lilacsigil posted 1 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for International VHS videotape trees were often the only way for fans in other countries to watch shows. 
*On Forever Knight fandom's first RPF story; meeting your life partner through fandom. batdina posted 1 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for On Forever Knight fandom's first RPF story; meeting your life partner through fandom. 
*"...My whole life as it is now is from those email list/IRC days...." ithildin posted 1 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for "...My whole life as it is now is from those email list/IRC days...." 
* On webrings, spoiler spaces, Y!groups, efiction and listening to the Song of the 56k modem. ninetydegrees posted 1 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for On webrings, spoiler spaces, Y!groups, efiction and listening to the Song of the 56k modem. 
* "...early anime/manga fandom worked in a similar fashion to what you've described..." mikeneko posted 2 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for "...early anime/manga fandom worked in a similar fashion to what you've described..." 
*Star Trek newsgroups, the Star Trek gen and slash divide, and the formation of the K/S Fanfiction Archive. killabeez posted 2 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for Star Trek newsgroups, the Star Trek gen and slash divide, and the formation of the K/S Fanfiction Archive. 
*"...oh my god, the tribulations of VHS!.." and "...one of my best fannish experiences...was when torch posted a new XF story, one part a day..." some stars posted 3 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for "...oh my god, the tribulations of VHS!.." and "...one of my best fannish experiences...was when torch posted a new XF story, one part a day..." 
*On founding and moderating the glass-onion, a multi-fandom mailing list. sophia helix posted 3 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for On founding and moderating the glass-onion, a multi-fandom mailing list. 
*"...Because fuck that: I knew how to program my VCR and everyone else's..." alethia posted 3 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for "...Because fuck that: I knew how to program my VCR and everyone else's..." 
*On having to buy both a NTSC and a PAL-capable VHS player. lydia petz posted 3 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for On having to buy both a NTSC and a PAL-capable VHS player. 
* I am "...noticing how I got into fandom in the mid-to-late 90s...and how those experiences have shaped my attitudes as a fan. out_there posted 3 April 2012, accessed 23 April 2012 WebCite for I am "...noticing how I got into fandom in the mid-to-late 90s...and how those experiences have shaped my attitudes as a fan." 
==References==
Category:2012 Meta