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Scientifictionist, v. 2, issue 1, November 1946-January 1947
Page 13
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FOR 'EM AND AGIN 'EM Wherein the Reader Speaks Cloistered Minds Science fiction fandom has been congratulating itself of late upon its own astuteness in anticipating and predicting the release of atomic energy. Deservedly or not, this reaction is just one facet of an attitude of superiority and condensation toward non-fans that has been prevalent for a long time. It has been fostered by both well meaning but misguided souls and others with a personal axe to grind, until a great many fans really believe they approach, if not attain, homo superior. Like the rest of us who have been exposed to what we laughingly call an education, they haven't been taught to distinguish between fact and the propaganda continually flung at us from the press, radio, and pulpit by the apologists for the status quo. In short, they haven't learned to think for themselves. It isn't too difficult, then, to understand this smug, complacent attitude adopted by some of the "authorities-on-everything" one encounters in fandom, especially when these individuals by their ability to turn out reams of articles, letters, comments and criticisms become looked upon by their fellows as having achieved a position of preeminence. How well earned or deserved this recognition may be is a moot question; the point is, it has been established. If the recipient of this accolade is sincerely interested in fandom and not merely out for ego-boo and realizing that his utterances carry a certain amount of authority, his procedure would be weigh carefully what he had to say and, when factual evidence was obtainable, consider it carefully when presenting his remarks. On the other hand, an opinion or expression of belief indulged in when factual evidence is lacking should be identified as such and not made to appear as though it resulted from careful and considered investigation. Headlong rushing into print in any one of a dozen transitory fan journals is the course followed all too frequently by the pompous creature mentioned above. He crouches behind the sanctity of his typewriter and, after a cursory glance at what may well be the result of years of scientific research and development, screams his opinionated pontification to all fandom, exhorting one and all to use the scientific method -- though he wouldn't know the scientific method if it sneaked up and bit a sizable chuck out of his gluteous maximus. It's fortunate that this type of character is in the minority, else fandom would be a sorry place indeed. Unfortunately, though, he seems to feel that if he makes a great enough row and kicks up enough dust he will deaden the sensibilities of his audience and so overwhelm them with his antics that his position will be still further enhanced. This type is the most annoying, of course, but there's another breed -- the one who chooses to remain in semi-obscurity, rousing out of his lethargy just long enough to beat out a sneering remark or two, satisfied that he has disposed once and for all of the annoying creatures who insist that the march of science is not to be halted by the die-hards and the lunatic fringe. That human progress has ever proceeded over his prostrate carcass doesn't seem to deter him, and, unlike the poor, he will probably always be with us. It would be unfortunate if any among those to whom I shall refer presently should take offense at the foregoing remarks. Let me say at this point that this is completely impersonal, grounded in some eleven or twelve years observation of the antics of fandom. The existence of character types herein delineated, as well as others possessing varying degrees of these traits, is not a matter of conjecture. It's quite probable we all know several of these weird birds. The primary purpose of this discourse is to answer certain comments in regard to Technocracy made in the letter section of the 5th issue of Scientifictionist -- specifically to those of Messrs Tom Jewett, Jack Speer, Joe Kennedy, and Alastair Cameron. That these gentlemen know little or nothing of Technocracy's analysis or synthesis is self evident. In this they are not alone, thanks for the silence afford- page 13
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FOR 'EM AND AGIN 'EM Wherein the Reader Speaks Cloistered Minds Science fiction fandom has been congratulating itself of late upon its own astuteness in anticipating and predicting the release of atomic energy. Deservedly or not, this reaction is just one facet of an attitude of superiority and condensation toward non-fans that has been prevalent for a long time. It has been fostered by both well meaning but misguided souls and others with a personal axe to grind, until a great many fans really believe they approach, if not attain, homo superior. Like the rest of us who have been exposed to what we laughingly call an education, they haven't been taught to distinguish between fact and the propaganda continually flung at us from the press, radio, and pulpit by the apologists for the status quo. In short, they haven't learned to think for themselves. It isn't too difficult, then, to understand this smug, complacent attitude adopted by some of the "authorities-on-everything" one encounters in fandom, especially when these individuals by their ability to turn out reams of articles, letters, comments and criticisms become looked upon by their fellows as having achieved a position of preeminence. How well earned or deserved this recognition may be is a moot question; the point is, it has been established. If the recipient of this accolade is sincerely interested in fandom and not merely out for ego-boo and realizing that his utterances carry a certain amount of authority, his procedure would be weigh carefully what he had to say and, when factual evidence was obtainable, consider it carefully when presenting his remarks. On the other hand, an opinion or expression of belief indulged in when factual evidence is lacking should be identified as such and not made to appear as though it resulted from careful and considered investigation. Headlong rushing into print in any one of a dozen transitory fan journals is the course followed all too frequently by the pompous creature mentioned above. He crouches behind the sanctity of his typewriter and, after a cursory glance at what may well be the result of years of scientific research and development, screams his opinionated pontification to all fandom, exhorting one and all to use the scientific method -- though he wouldn't know the scientific method if it sneaked up and bit a sizable chuck out of his gluteous maximus. It's fortunate that this type of character is in the minority, else fandom would be a sorry place indeed. Unfortunately, though, he seems to feel that if he makes a great enough row and kicks up enough dust he will deaden the sensibilities of his audience and so overwhelm them with his antics that his position will be still further enhanced. This type is the most annoying, of course, but there's another breed -- the one who chooses to remain in semi-obscurity, rousing out of his lethargy just long enough to beat out a sneering remark or two, satisfied that he has disposed once and for all of the annoying creatures who insist that the march of science is not to be halted by the die-hards and the lunatic fringe. That human progress has ever proceeded over his prostrate carcass doesn't seem to deter him, and, unlike the poor, he will probably always be with us. It would be unfortunate if any among those to whom I shall refer presently should take offense at the foregoing remarks. Let me say at this point that this is completely impersonal, grounded in some eleven or twelve years observation of the antics of fandom. The existence of character types herein delineated, as well as others possessing varying degrees of these traits, is not a matter of conjecture. It's quite probable we all know several of these weird birds. The primary purpose of this discourse is to answer certain comments in regard to Technocracy made in the letter section of the 5th issue of Scientifictionist -- specifically to those of Messrs Tom Jewett, Jack Speer, Joe Kennedy, and Alastair Cameron. That these gentlemen know little or nothing of Technocracy's analysis or synthesis is self evident. In this they are not alone, thanks for the silence afford- page 13
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