Factsoflife

Factsoflife was a Yahoo group that had moderated posting, with 632 members at its close. The group's peak period was in 2000-2002. While posting diminished rapidly in 2008, when it was active it had as many as 1500 messages a month. Discussion ranged from celebrity news to discussion of favorite characters and episodes, as well as where the series could be seen.
The group was connected to a website at Sitcoms Online.
==Description==
==Sample Posts==
March 28, 1999
I hear you, but, as an out lesbian I want to say that FOL was a family
oriented show. It never dealt with any hard-core issues of the time
like TV shows do now. I feel that if FOL was on the air now things woud
be different. Facts is a Sociology Prof's dream, Tootie-African
American, Natalie-Jewish, Blair-affluent, and Jo-gay. I understand
about no subtext realating to Jo's sexuality but it wasn't OK at that
time to be as out as we are now. S
How many weeks until summer???
March 28, 1999
I suppose it would be a possibility if it took place in the
90's. But there were two on-air lesbian kisses in the 80's:
L.A. Law and 21 Jump Street. I'm sure there were
several more characters at that time. So, again...Jo
gay? I just don't think so. She got married. They could
have married off Blair instead if they wanted to end with
a wedding.
March 28, 1999
So what if Jo or Nancy are gay. Would it shadow your image f her if she
came out? Or would you feel the same way. FYI, I realized my sexuality
at a very young age b/c of Jo. She was a role model for me when I
coudn't find any on TV. Just my two cents. 
March 28, 1999
It doesn't matter weather Jo is Gay or not but, why are we discussing it
anyway? Regardless of weather she is or not, it is Rude to just come out
and, say someone is without the person saying they are. And, now it would be
nice if we could not talk about it anymore. Jo is Just a Character on the
show. There's my 2 cents. Jo is still my favorite character regardless.
January 2, 2001
I have a question. What is all that homo/hetrosexual
stuff about Jo about? I am fairly new to this group
and I had to delete most of my E-mail about it. Could
anybody explain it to me?
January 2, 2001
Some people on the list feel that Jo was sort of a homosexual character
before it was acceptable to have a homosexual on TV. They do not all think
that Jo is gay, simply that she embodies some characteristics that a young
gay female might have. Many people who are bisexual/gay have said that
they really looked up to Jo when they were growing up, and really
identified with the character. If you want to read more on this topic, you
can search the archives on the website.
January 3, 2001
Did anybody else have a problem with the episode Dieting? It was just resolved
so quickly and easily. I know that was how they handled things on sitcoms, but
it's like there was no thought into what actually causes a person to do those
things. They treated it like it was a switch you could turn on and off, sorry,
it just bothered me a little. It made anorexia seem too easy.
Anyway, I don't know about anybody else, but I am going through withdrawls...I
miss my two episodes a night. ;o)
BTW, in response to the querstion about whether I meant Blair or Lisa in my
question, I meant Lisa, not her character, but her.
God bless, And counting down until the Nancy Intimate Portrait on Friday!
January 3, 2001
> Who made up such a stupid rumor? I've never heard anything about Jo being bi or gay. Where'd u hear this?
This isn't really a "rumor". No one thinks Jo is gay, and I said
that in my original post. I was merely saying that some people on
the list looked up to Jo as a gay person on TV, before there were gay
people on TV. The discussion was around before, but really got fired
up when Margaret Cho's movie came out, in which she does a routine
about Jo being gay.
January 5, 2001
If they are seriously going to kill Jo in the reunin movie I am going to be soooooo mad. I don't know about anyone else, but (since Jo is one of my favorite FOL girls) it really is going to just about ruin it for me. What is the point of killing Jo anyways? Then it's like she is gone. I'm just going to be really mad. So if earth quakes occur the night that the movie is on (and Jo is dead) it's just me letting off some steam.
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