Alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated

alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated (ASCEM) was a usenet group created for the purpose of posting erotic fiction set in the Star Trek universe. 
ASCEM had a strong slash leaning, due to the flamewars associated with Alt Startrek Creative that caused many slash authors to leave the newsgroup.
The fiction from this site was archived beginning in June 2000 at AESCM-S.
All ASCEM submissions are archived at Trekiverse.
February 2000 was the month with the most posts: 3848.
 
An associated mailing list, ASCEM(L), acted as a mirror for ASCEM usenet posts. See Differences Between the Mailing List and the Newsgroup.
==History==
ASCEM began as a USENET group. It was originally alt.sex.fetish.startrek in 1994 but spam caused a migration to the alt.startrek.creative hierarchy as alt.startrek.creative.erotica in December 1995. 
The spam unfortunately followed, and by July 1997, discussion had developed on the group about becoming a moderated group to the point that the proposal was brought to alt.config. The proposal was originally called alt.startrek.creative.treksmit Some sources have suggested that ASCE was the result of the slash debate on ASC,The Legacy of K/S on the Internet: Online K/S Fiction, an article in Legacy #1 (2007) however ASCE predates the cited debate.
ASCEM began in August 1997, as did the associated mailing list, ASCEM(L).
You can read more about the Alt.startrek.creative Slash Wars.
ASCEM was founded and initially moderated by Alexis and Ruth Gifford. Ruth also served as the FAQ Maintainer.
ASCEM(L) was initially moderated by Anneinchicago.
==The Differences Between the Mailing List and the Newsgroup==
An associated mailing list, ASCEM(L), acted as a mirror for ASCEM usenet posts. ASCEML, unlike ASCEM, allowed real-time posting with no moderation after the subscribed account was determined not to be a spam account. Navigating this was a challenge for both the maintainers and the readers. From a 1998 discussion: 
On the first day of 1998, anneinchicago explained some of the work that went into maintaining this community: 
In 2000, anneinchicago explained at alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated the difference between a newsgroup and a mailing list: 
==Some History and Stats Regarding the First Year ==
From a January 1999 post by Katie Redshoes at alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated: 
Image:stats1998-1.jpg|a screenshot of the stats in Katie Redshoes' 1999 post
Image:stats1998-2.jpg|a screenshot of the stats in Katie Redshoes' 1999 post
Image:stats1998-3.jpg|a screenshot of the stats in Katie Redshoes' 1999 post
==The First FAQ==
See FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) OF ALT.STARTREK.CREATIVE.EROTICA.MODERATED or An Introduction to the TrekSmut World of ASCEM(L) by Ruth Gifford. (1998)
== Memes and Themes ==
A subgroup of ASCEM, TSU, developed in 1998 as a response to the students (now known as aca-fans) who were part of fandom to study it for their college theses, etc., as well as for pure fun. The Star Trek fandom came down hard on both sides of the issue, with many fans annoyed by the academics' "intrusion" into the safe space of fan community, and others excited about the prospect of academizing—and to a degree legitimizing—fannish practice.
Also in 1998, Varoneeka posted a parody of recent troll incursions, Hi. I'm a Rude Person, which included the story "Ricker and Troy Fuck". This started a wave of Rude Person badfic stories.
Soon after, UKJess posted a parody of classic Kirk/Spock stories, Ah'm Norra Rude Person, written in broad Yorkshire. A second wave of Rude Person stories followed, where the basic Kirk/Spock plot was re-written in various ways - in Minnesotan dialect, in Silicon Valley speak, in the style of Joseph Conrad, etcetera.
==No Sex, Please... It Sounds Unfriendly==
From a fan in 2001: "The fact that a *moderated* group exists for Trek erotica, in addition to the original, says disturbing things about the volume being posted. *Shudder* (I don't like to even *think* about my friendly neighborhood SF characters, regardless of series, having sex. I'm probably in a minority.)" comment by Phillip at Gen Fic Crit
==What About RPF and RPS?==
In 2003, fans had a discussion about whether erotic real person fiction was allowed on the list. Is RPS allowed?; archive link (April 15, 2003) 
Some topics discussed: visibility, the differences between RPF and RPS and acceptability, label it appropriately, slashing Galaxy Quest characters with real Trek actors, what the moderation on this list is for, the line between written RPS and RPS fanart. 
There was no real conclusion, at least in this discussion, other than it used to be the only thing not allowed.
Hypatia Kosh: 
Birgit/syredronning: 
Ruth Gifford:
 
Alara Rogers: 
Ruth Gifford: 
Farfalla: 
Hypatia Kosh: 
[Julie]: 
 
[Hypatia Kosh]: 
==Slash Wars==
See Alt.startrek.creative Slash Wars.
==The K/S Netfan-Printzine Fan Wars==
See The K/S Netfan-Printzine Fan Wars.
== Moderators ==
* Stephen Ratliff
* Seleya
* Acid Queen
* Sorlak
== Staff ==
* Stephen Ratliff - FAQ Maintainer (2002–present)
* Acid Queen - Status of Stories FAQ (2004–present)
Note: Golden Orgasms Awards Staff and Trekiverse staff are considered to be part of the newsgroup staff, but are listed with those articles
== Previous Staff ==
Former staff and members.
=== Moderators ===
* Alexis
* Ruth Gifford
* Anneinchicago (ASCEML)
* Dina Lerret (1998-2002)
=== FAQ Maintainer ===
* Greywolf the Wanderer(2000-2002)
* Ned Fox (1999-2000)
* Ruth Gifford(1996-1999)
* Christine Faltz (1995-1996)Posted the first FAQ (Proposed) January 7, 1995 to a.s.f.s. Prior to this date there was no FAQ. The last time she posted the FAQ was May 5, 1996 to a.s.c.e. (Accessed October 11, 2008)
=== Status of Stories ===
* Juls - Status of Stories FAQ (-2004)
==Attention of Mainstream Press==
From a 1996 article: 
==Fan Discussion: Cliques, Newbies, and Fitting In (1998)==
In April 1998, a fan named Emily Salzfass wrote: 
==Fan Discussion: Changing Platforms and Fan Communication (1999)==
In 1999, there was much discussion regarding the group's organization, structure, and function, something that was an ongoing topic. One fan commented at length about fan communication, spontaneity, fandom silos and splintering, different platforms for fan discussion, and her fear that ASCEM was going the way of the doomed printzine:
==Fan Discussion: Platforms and Backlog (2000) ==
==Fan Discussion/Meta ==
* Something to say about ASC* archive's state; archive link (June 15, 2000)
* The smell of napalm in the morning; archive link (June 21, 2000)
* More than a few words about the ASC* Archive; archive link (June 27, 2000)
* Trek Archive was ...about the ASC* Archive (long); archive link (July 18, 2000)
* The Rule of Sturgeon (was Re: The Nameless Genre) (December 2000)
* ASCEM History ... before we loose it... (February 15, 2008)
== References ==
Category:Fiction Writing
Category:Star Trek Newsgroups
Category: 1997 Newsgroups
Category:1990s Newsgroups
Category:2000s Newsgroups
Category:2010s Newsgroups
Category:2020s Newsgroups