my deep thoughts of the month

Here is my question of the day for you all:

One of my favorite things about fandom (and I think a lot of people share this) is the sense of community that's evolved with it -- the fan to fan connections. But there's this thing that comes up in pretty much meta discussion we have, and that's the question of what we mean by community.

What do we mean by community? What does it take to be a member of that community? Is it a matter of self definition, so that what it takes to be part of the community is acknowledging and accepting yourself into it? Or is community framed by actions, a structure based on us all doing the same things together? You read fic, you write fic, you make art, you participate in fannish infastructure and interact with other fans, therefore you are a Fan; you make slash and see slash, therefore you're a slasher? Is it just a general sort of collegiality? Is there an ideological component -- some fixed ideas or thoughts that we expect members of the community to generally share or agree on, as a base?

What do you guys think?

the only problem with CuteOverload is it makes me want a kitty!

pearl_o: http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2006/05/and_happy_stepm.html

ficbyzee: oh NAWWW

pearl_o: ...this reminds me of liviapenn.
pearl_o: DON'T ASK ME WHY.

ficbyzee: *dies*
ficbyzee: she has a thing for scenarios like that! she posted the whole 'dog eats cats head' thing, remember?

pearl_o: She did that in my comments.
pearl_o: As a letter.

ficbyzee: *giggles* I know.

pearl_o: heeee.
pearl_o: I am that poor baby and liviapenn is the giant puppy!

ficbyzee: *snickers*

pearl_o: *You* are obviously the one taking the pictures.