The Talisman sang out from somewhere above in its clear and sweetly triumphant voice

[splix]

A year and two days ago I wrote this:

Now I have the first disc of Sherlock Holmes from Netflix to watch, the one with Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch [can that really be his name, Benedict Cumberbatch? It sounds like a Victorian Calvinist vicar or something].

I mixed up the name of the show, I see. But it made me smile, for from such small seeds are mighty obsessions born, or something like that.

I have been fannish all my life. I can't imagine a life without my fannish adorations, from being dazzled by the first burst of music and text-crawl in Star Wars to posting Sherlock vid links on El Jay, and while I'm not much of a fannish butterfly or early adopter, I'm grateful for all the myriad shinies that have sparked my imagination and very often, my heart.

And I'm even more grateful for the lovely people I've met through fandom. Twenty years ago I never would have dreamed it would be possible to connect with so many other like-minded folk, and not just on a fannish level. Another LJ friend, awhile back, said anyone who mocks friendships made on the internet hasn't a clue. That is purest truth. You are some of the most interesting, creative, intelligent, witty, sparkly people I have ever met.

You are marvels.

*

And to make you smile, another pic I snaked from killerweasel.

Comments

[asatomuraki.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. People who dismiss online friendships and friendships that started online are simply people who don't get it. You hear about all the stories of people defrauded or something by people the 'met online.' The reality is that most people online are just like anyone else, possibly more so, because of the lack of inhibition that comes with the layers of anonymity.

Actually, I think that when it comes to finding people who are compatible with you, especially if you are an N personality or simply think differently than most, the internet can be very valuable. I met my very best friend in the world online ... nearly fifteen years ago. Screw the naysayers.

[splix.livejournal.com]

I feel really bad for those who've been taken for a ride via the internet, but there are predatory people everywhere and always will be; certainly the net makes it easier for those people, but the net can't be held solely responsible for fraud.

And I agree; I've found the greatest degree of compatability and comfort via net friends. It's a lovely thing. :)

[sneezer222.livejournal.com]

Cumbersmaug! Love it!

[splix.livejournal.com]

Hee! I fear the Cumbervoice is going to undo me entirely in this movie. :D

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

Well, I do so agree with your remarks about people on the Net. and for me, El Jay. The wit, intelligence, kindness, humour, gentleness and openness - plus talents - are incredible. The trouble with modern man is he uses his eyes too much, and not his heart/mind/head. He sees, but hears not!

And may I say that you, dear Alex, are one of those whom you thank - fabuloso! Thank YOU and blessings be upon you and your beloved BC (while he lasts, but he seems pretty set solid! teehee)

[splix.livejournal.com]

I've had mostly lovely experiences because of LJ and the people on it. And thank you so much! Blessings back, and yes, I think lovely Benedict is going to be around for a while. :D

[elis.livejournal.com]

I remember telling my grandmother that I was going to a Highlander convention in Denver in 1990-something and her telling me that I should stay with my cousin because there was no way that all these internet people I was going to see were anything but low-lifes and axe murderers. The irony in that is that said cousin, though not an axe murderer, has always been a somewhat marginal low-life and a drug addict and, at the time, was living in a proto-crack house.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I got some of that from my family when I told them I was going to meet up with internet friends too. I get that it was still a relatively new phenomenon, but wow, the fear and suspicion was almost overwhelming!

[evocates.livejournal.com]

CUMBERSMAUG. That name amuses me amazingly. I think it's just how it sounds.

I found my best friend through online. People just have to be discerning, and really, acknowledge that people are people everywhere, and just because you see only their words doesn't mean that they don't feel.

[splix.livejournal.com]

His name lends itself to much delight. :D

It's difficult to believe there are still people who are inordinately suspicious and scornful of relationships formed online - I can only conclude that they're Luddites or something. I shake my head.

[killerweasel.livejournal.com]

My mother refers to the people I know online as my 'invisible freinds' even if I've met some of them in real life or even if I talk to them on the phone on a regular basis. The majority of my friends are online because I'm much better at dealing/interacting with people when I'm not face to face.

[splix.livejournal.com]

I suppose there is some degree of invisibility. There are people I know online that I've never met, but I've known them since I started in fandom in the late 90s. Some of them I think of visually in terms of their user icons. :D

Probably the final results aren't in yet, but I think that the net has been a blessing to people who aren't very comfortable with face-to-face interaction but still desire social contact.

[killerweasel.livejournal.com]

When my mother says it, she's mocking the fact that I don't have a whole lot of rl friends (cause that's the way she rolls *shakes head*).

Long ago and far away, like 10 years ago or so, I used to belong to an online rpg/messageboard/quiz site called Pyroto Mountain. I mainly knew people by their wizard handles (that's where I first started calling myself killerweasel), and they would have GTs (get togethers) in various parts of the world where you'd actually be able to meet the person behind the wizard. I went to number of these once I'd shoved my social anxieties to the side enough to allow myself to do it. Anyways, it was fun to see who people were and how many of us turned out to be NOTHING like the wizard they were in the game.

Example: there was a notorious horrible bastard who went under the name 'Soup'. I had an ongoing feud with him and was sortof terrified to meet him in Toronto. He turned out to be one of the nicest people I've ever met (course he was Canadian, so that's sortof a given lol).

We would go to bars and museums and stuff and call one another by our game names. I was so amused to be called 'killer' by a bunch of guys who were at least 5 inches taller than I was. :P

Honestly, I think that without the internet, I never would have managed to do so well battling my social anxieties. I'd probably be one of those people who never venture outside of their house.

The game ended, everyone went their own way and I don't see/hear from any of them any more. But I'd like to think they helped me turn into who I am now. :)

[splix.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - that's not very kind. Family, sometimes.... sorry about it.

What a cool story about your RPG, though [especially Soup - that made me smile] - I've heard stories like that and want to tell the naysayers that they're so very wrong, and there are a thousand examples of why and how. And I am certain they helped shape you, in the most positive way! :)

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is also brilliant.

[splix.livejournal.com]

I'm just waiting for the first pics of Smaug, and maybe, just maybe, the Necromancer. Then the interwebs will explode. :D

[the-little-owl.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the marvellous compliment. And the picture: LOL. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie and more of BBC's Sherlock. (I know only the episodes of the first series.)

[splix.livejournal.com]

:) You're most welcome. Isn't that great? Hee.

Oh, I hope you enjoy the second series! It's so excellent. Cumberbatch and Freeman are absolutely wonderful together.

[green-key.livejournal.com]

It's so amusing how we're drawn into fandoms, isn't it? I also had posts about Sherlock in 2010. I was really drawn in this time because of Reichenbach (wahhhhhhhhh) and also when keelywolfe posted to her LJ, "Great show, but it's so slashy I don't really need to write about it." Which sparked a conversation online and off, and then we rode the slippery slope together. It's been awesome. *G*

Another LJ friend, awhile back, said anyone who mocks friendships made on the internet hasn't a clue. That is purest truth.

I've met so, so many people via fandom, online and off, and I've come to realize that I don't really differentiate between RL and fannish friends all that much. In fact, I probably should more. But I tend to think of those I know via LJ, etc. as friends just like any other, with certain communication limitations. :)

That pic is fantastic. :D

[splix.livejournal.com]

Great show, but it's so slashy I don't really need to write about it.

Ha! I had the same thought. Ahahahaha.

I tend to think of those I know via LJ, etc. as friends just like any other, with certain communication limitations. :)

That's a great way to think of it!

Isn't it? Ehehe. :D

[inyadreems.livejournal.com]

They're teasing us over The Hobbit way too early. It's not faaaaair.

My mother gave me stern warnings not to go when I met online friends for the first time. It was just after a teen girl had disappeared with a US marine she'd befriended. Chance would be a fine thing!

You are so right. Fandom widens our world.

[splix.livejournal.com]

They definitely are, it's frustrating! And yet I can't stop peeking! Agh.

Your mother, the cliff-climber? Heh....

It definitely does, doesn't it? I'm very grateful for fandom. :D

[silsbee329.livejournal.com]

Aww. :)
So true. I have 'met' some of the most wonderful people through fandom. I really feel like we are a support system for each other, and just a whole lot of fun for one another. *hugs*

[splix.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely place, and I'm so glad I'm here. :D

[honscot.livejournal.com]

Cumbersmaug. *snort* Too funny.

To tell you the truth, I still can't really wrap my head around the fact that the man's name is Cumberbatch...

[splix.livejournal.com]

OMG, I was just thinking about you this morning! It's nice to see you - hope you're well.

Hee! I'm used to it now, although sometimes I just mutter his name quietly because I like the way it trips off the tongue. It's got that Beetlejuice resonance: Cumberbatch, Cumberbatch, Cumberbatch! :D

[honscot.livejournal.com]

Ooh, bonus points for the Beetlejuice reference!

I am well, thanks. I've been away from home, spending about 2-1/2 weeks with my mother. She can't live alone, so when my aunt (who my mother lives with; I think you knew that) decided she was going to Florida on the spur of the moment, I went over there to stay with Mum. They have no Internet - the HORROR. But I survived and I'm home now, yay! Thanks for missing me. :)

[mooms.livejournal.com]

Love Cumbersmaug! *g*

I agree with what you say about online friends. I have made friends through fandom and forums, who will be in my life for ever and when I was really sick in 2007, I cannot express the level of kindness and support many of them provided. As far as possible, I have tried to meet them in real life too, because I am a face to face person and have been quite successful, although there are some I wish I could meet and haven't managed to yet (including you!).

Of course, although I have been lucky, I have heard about people, who have been deceived by cyber friends with a whole alternative identity and there are definitely some very strange people out there. Not us, of course. *g* *Whistles innocently and scrapes toes along ground*

[splix.livejournal.com]

Isn't that funny? I have an image of him all curled up and supple on a pile of treasure and snarling at intruders. Rarrr.

I think it's fantastic that your online pals rallied around you when you were ill. I hope I can meet you someday....I'm thinking maybe I shall put Russia off and head back to Ireland or England. I have so many online friends in the UK and I'd really love to meet at least a few!

I have heard about people, who have been deceived by cyber friends with a whole alternative identity

Oh yes, in fandom too. That's...it boggles the mind. But in the grand scheme of strange, I think most of us are pretty benign. :D

[angel-gayla.livejournal.com]

I have missed the Sherlock fandom train, but I've been with you since Star Wars via the Ewan board and Viggo & Sean (me via LotR) and I do consider you a REAL friend, even though we have never met in person.

[splix.livejournal.com]

I consider you a real friend also! Who knows, maybe someday our paths will cross. :D

[foxrafer.livejournal.com]

I'm always grateful for finding Rings fandom on LJ because it's where I met so many lovely people.

[splix.livejournal.com]

I feel lucky to have met my fandom friends, wherever they're from!

[twinkelbelpeach.livejournal.com]

I've met so many of my friends through fandom that life would be totally different if I'd never fallen down that rabbithole. And I wouldn't trade those friends for anything.

[splix.livejournal.com]

Well said! Nor would I. :)