You-Tube has a spoof of Buffy and Edward, it was slightly amusing, Chelsea will have to school me in bringing it to this thread... again.
She's gonna be irritated with me for not remembering what to do.

This is true, I know from experience sadly. But you have to have them.

Restraining orders don't work worth a hoot.

I've read the books, and that just about sums it up. In print, I can suspend my reality, but in life, I would be getting a restraining order.

*falls over in a fit of giggles*

Sherri, thanks for the post! That covers my thoughts on Edward (having not read the books but get the gist) entirely!

Ok, this gave me a laugh this morning


Apparently, the fanggirls have a death wish.

Most wait the entire year solely to display costumes they've worked hard on at these conventions. I recall an authentic (k. nearly that. it was SOO lifelike) Chocobo. For those who do not play Final Fantasy take a look here: http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/738...
Or other costumes: http://animedog.org/Otakon2k2/72702-Otak...


Halloween comes once a year and we don't laugh seeing the extraordinare costumes. In fact, we give prizes. So why is it so bad for others to dress up at a con? It's fun. Entertaining. For a weekend, you can "act" out the role, then return to your every day life. It's ADULT LET'S PRETEND game. *giggles*

Now the otaku, excessive obsessive mania types who 27-4 breathe their fandom and do not give themselves a life outside that fandom...I'd worry. Those who know the ins and outs of their fandom but break away to do other things...they're cool and fun to chit-chat with.

Sparkly vampire chasers? I don't think they're abnormal. I simply do not want to be around that sandbox when recess begins.

Exactly Larry. Thanks, I wish I could say things so simply... :)

One person's obsessive mania = another person just breathing in life.

In response to cosmic sher's post...

No, I don't think that not participating in obsessive mania makes you abnormal. But I don't think that those who do participate in obsessive mania makes them abnormal either. Everyone has some sort of passion, tick, whatever that is going to be judged as weird or obsessive by others, so it has always been my philosophy to not throw stones.

I think that at times there can be a fine line between being passionate about something and being obsessed with something. A line gets crossed somewhere, and there a plenty that cross back over the line and a few who don't/can't.

Thanks for passing along Heather's information Larry, now if you could let Heather know........... ;-).

Sherri's post is interesting. I want to think about it a little more before I respond, but I will say this...within alternative subcultures the same structures, in my experience, emerge as in the larger culture. For example, there are people in the punk subculture who will pick on others for not being "punk enough" and pretty much imitate the mainstream cultural people they to whom they say they are an alternative. I don't know that it has to do with "followers" or "leaders" but I can say, personally, that I was never one of the cool kids in the alternative culture scene back in Chicago, and in some ways I liked that. I was always confused by the astounding cruelty some Smiths fans could, for example, visit on people and then sing along with:

It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes strength to be
Gentle and kind

I'm not saying everyone had to be perfect, but the hypocrisy was palpable.

So I don't think you're abnormal, Sherri. At least not for failing to scream at Robert Smith:)

I have nothing against D and D people. Or people obsessed with fantasy football. Or people into collecting snowglobes. As long as you're not bonkers. And even then, probably.

Like The Beatles Non-fans, you mean!:)

Okay, I do confess that I adore Hellboy. I think I might partially swoon if ever meeting him. ;)

For a few years in my 20's I lived with/hung around a bunch of guys who lived for playing D&D/Shadowrun role playing games on the weekends. It was a serious thing, all the planning, staying up late both Fri & Sat in the game, working on the characters all the rest of the time. I played with them some, and I really enjoyed it from the POV of a writer & actress, but I could never understand their obsession with it. They weren't quite the guys who dressed up for ComiCons & the like, but almost.

And I guess I never understood anyone becoming so obsessed with something that was fantasy. Is it because people have serious lack in their own lives? Do they simply wish that the world was different, more magical? Is it bordering on a mental illness or projective displacement?

I have always been fascinated with magic, the occult, fantasy, dark matters, you name it, but I've never felt compelled enough to make my entire life surround it. Maybe my dogged pursuit of knowledge - researching things of a spiritual nature, ancient religions, origins of fairy tales, quantum physics and fractals, psychology, sociology, different cultures & their myths - combined with my love of reading and discovering new stories, could be considered in the same vein. But I really try my best to keep a level head about what is real and what is simply a story/game/band/movie/etc.

So, does this make me the abnormal one because I wasn't ever the screaming teenager panting & swooning over Robert Smith of the Cure (even though I loved listening to his music)? Is this another difference in those that are more naturally followers than leaders? I'm really curious about this.

Okay, Heather. I'll tell Jim. :)

Jim wrote: "Heather wrote: "There is great fun to be had by throwing caution to the wind and refusing to give a damn about what others think."

That is an extremely hard concept for me, and only has been accom..."


:) It used to be for me as well Larry, but then I realised that I would never ever be able to please everyone, and even if I could, I would be miserable, so I just gave up. It was liberating, and even better, I'm happy. You might as well be who you are, everyone else is taken...

Heather wrote: "There is great fun to be had by throwing caution to the wind and refusing to give a damn about what others think."

That is an extremely hard concept for me, and only has been accomplished with large quantities of alcohol.

Like the Beatles fans?

There is great fun to be had by throwing caution to the wind and refusing to give a damn about what others think.

Michelle wrote: "I do understand, your point, there are people, I am one, who prefer to control ourselves, I have never let myself go with uncontroled abandon about such things. It is quite entertaining to watch th..."

I am one who prefers to control oneself also, but don't you ever wonder what joy there might be if you would totally immerse yourself?

I do understand, your point, there are people, I am one, who prefer to control ourselves, I have never let myself go with uncontroled abandon about such things. It is quite entertaining to watch the frenzy of a crowd. People are people

It's nostalgia.

I think why I find Twilight so teeth grating it's back to that teen-melodrama and angst. Why do I want to relive that? Ug. I remember the squees of NKOTB obsessive fans and that makes me want to cringe. Oh I do like to listen to them but not drool/foam at the mouth gushing when they walk by (or in this case the movie is on).

I suppose it's the crazy SQUEE obsession invading a territory long thought unreachable. I mean you have your dark Anne Rice vampires (Masquerade I believe??) walking about New Orleans every year. And now these SQUEE fans (not all are squeeing fans mind) who just...ug :P

I probably was "old" even as a teen. I don't get obsessions but I am a fan of multiple things. And sometimes as a joke I'll squee over things to laugh at myself :P

Btw - I DO have ST ringtones on my phone. And BSG. Cause the chimes are fun.

I can see your point Wingedbeaver, you find it disturbing that women gush over a character that was written as flawless dream boat, note that I did not say he was flawlessly written. And I find it disturbing that people don prosthetic ears, make odd hand gestures and spend hundreds of dollars on collectibles in admiration of Star Trek. I think the fact that it is adult, or that Twilight was aimed at teens is moot. I've seen adults dress up like Harry Potter. I worked at a bookstore during the midnight release of Half Blood Prince and I saw adults knocking over children for a place in line. That is obsessive in my eyes, as are those adults who throw Harry Potter themed parties and yet no one seems to judge them too harshly as Harry Potter transends numerous demographics, whereas Twilight does not.

Point being, we all have different likes, dislikes and obsessions. Some are fanatical about bands, t.v. or movie stars, t.v. shows, and some are fanatical about books. All of our obsessions are bound to be found weird by someone who doesn't share similar intrests.

At least Trekies are obsessed with something that was/is aimed at adults. I'm bothered by adults being overly obsessed with a book written for teenagers. Again, enjoying is OK, obsessing is scary.

LOL, you should be scared. Twihards tend to travel in droves, squeeing at ear splitting levels. Take ear plugs.

I'll agree, there are those among the Trekker crowd who unnerve me with their prosthetic ears and cell phone/communicator mod kits, but as yet, I've seen them mostly confine their outrages to the safe confines of game shops and conventions.

Oh good gravy, there will be Tweelighters at DragonCon this year. I help a friend at her book booth. Now I'm scared.

Let's hear it for smoldering...:)And Michelle, I think it amazing that you are with your first love.

Sherri, I'm not sure why women are making such a show of the books, they're good, but not that good. Its weird and slightly annoying, but I suppose its good to find such enjoyment in life from time to time, even if it is about a not so well written book. Hell, you should have seen the way I lusted after Gavin Rosdale when I was younger. I would put these twi-hards' enthusiasm to shame. And men are guilty of it too, let us look at all the Trekkies. Is it really so different to live long and prosper as it is to squee over these books?

I am with my first love Heather, maybe that is why I loved the first one so much. I do not gush over it though. I am not a gusher...I smolder

Enjoying them, liking them, even recommending them as fun reads is one thing, but I'm talking breathless, arm grabbing, wided eyed GUSHING -- from the cashier at Barnes & Nobel while I was checking out. And that was just a bit....much.

I enjoyed the Twilight series for the same reason I enjoyed Harry Potter, nostalgia. You never forget the angst, passion, and sheer stupidity that are induced by your first love. I dare say that it is most young girl’s naive belief that she will spend eternity with her first love, which is perhaps why the first love cuts the deepest. It gave that young girl in me a wee bit of guilty satisfaction that the fairy tale came true for Bella, as that is the very nearly the only way any of the living will attain it.

Michelle, the scene you mentioned is my favorite as well, I loved the Frost tie in as he one of my most beloved poets.

I agree that Edward was a wonderfully tormented character, though I can't say any of the characters developed. This series was brain candy, but I ate it up.

I have to admit, my 16 year old had these books lying around for a while before I read them, My thinking is this, one, I have always loved the "vampire myth" for many reasons,and b, it reminded me of the early days of my romance with my husband, for I am a hopless romantic. But really, do I have to admit I love Justin Timberlake, cuz without shame, I do...

Sherri wrote: "I'm about tired of seeing the things and hearing 40 year old women gush over them."

This is what bothers me about the whole Twilight thing. I understand that there are some well written YA books that can be enjoyed by many ages, but I unfortunately read this one and its very clear what the audience was supposed to be. It reads like a 14 year-old girls diary. There is no way anyone not a teenage girl should find it interesting. Sorry if I'm offending anyone, but I find it a little sad that people my age can get so obsessed with something that should be so below their intellect level. I think it must be the same condition that makes 40 year-olds listen to bands like NSYNC or Backstreet Boys.

I think she developed Edward better through Midnight Son than through any other relm, tie it in with Twilight and he is very well rounded and tortured. Bella is not presented well in the screen play nor is Edward's torment well written in the screen play. When Edward and Jacob have to spend time together in the tent, is the part I felt she brought more to the characters.She brought more to Rosalie, and Esme, in the last book.

Great article Sherri.

"More and more often, on nights when my brain is just too weary for Ian McEwan but not soft enough to settle for "The Mentalist," I find myself switching off the set and nestling into the sofa with a page turner about a girl who reminds me of nothing so much as the savior of Sunnydale High."

Yup, that just about sums it up. And I love that they even managed to mention Jim Butcher.

Hehheh, even Salon is pondering the Vampire.

http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2009/...

I read a series once, blanking on the name, where vamps were actually fallen angels cursed to a life on earth for all eternity is search for absolution. Demons were vamps who chose to embrace their vampiric traits.

In most series, however, demons are humans who sold their soul, or fallen angels.

I gave up after Tokyo Babylon, Demon Diary and part of Angel Sanctuary. Of course, the Japanese/Oriental ideas of demons are not the same as the ones derived from Western/Christian influenced literature. That's what made the Liz William's book fun.

There's another pair by Camille Bacon-Smith that took a stab at demons being something other than what they are stereotypically. I also liked Josepha Sherman's Son of Darkness, and I wish she'd write a sequel!

There are tons of demons in manga/anime, though I haven't read it.

Maybe I'm thinking along the lines of manga/anime fads. They have a lot of demons in that material.

Hellboy?

LOL. Despite there being no tables dedicated to demons, who better to know how to be devilishly alluring than a minion of hell? But I like em bad :)

I only keep up with Anita these days through a sarcastic site for those who feel deeply betrayed by LKH and her bad porn. Yeah, Merry Gentry has this great political/mystery plot under layers of color coded repetitive pseudo-sex. They are better in summary.

I dunno about the demon fad, I haven't noticed them getting any tables to themselves in the bookstore. Unless, you know, we are talking The Exorcist, and Liz Williams isn't writing that kind of book. I think I have a review on it, and I know some other folks do.

*laughs at Sherri* That's about the time I did hop off the train although I did like Micah at points. Merry Gentry was so wonderful right at the beginning then crashed into the Anita Blake porn style. I haven't been able to read past book 2 or 3. I forget which.

I'll have to peek at Detective Inspector Chen. Chinese mythology? So there!

But didn't the demon fad phase out already?

I really enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series take on demonology. And I am about to being reading a book called The Deomon's Lexicon, has anyone heard of it?

Michelle, I am intrigued. I read and enjoyed Twilight, but was disheartened by the later books, mainly due to lack of character development. How do you feel the characters evolved? And please don't perceive my question as me being rude, I'm merely curious. :)

Don't worry, Tanja. I just had to built up my crabby old lady cred by picking on Heather :) And I got off the Anita Blake train after book 10 and I can't even make myself read the Merry Gentry books anymore. My taste in porn is so...eclectic.

One author I'm waiting to dive into is Justine Musk. She's got a different take on the vampire that intrigues me. However, demons are on the rise. Lilith Saintcrow has the Dante Valentine books out and another series I've not read yet. Liz Williams "Detective Inspector Chen" books look REALLY good (read the first one, VERY good -- Chinese mythology, near future tech, and demons!)

When I first heard Rob's voice, I about fell out of my chair, I didn't realize that was him singing on the soundtrack, I bought the score.
In interviews he admits he wants to sing and he is disheartend that he cannot just go to open mike night.
I am a fan of twilight books, because of the character developement. It is good to change things up, from burning into ashes to sparkly vampire is a creative idea, and after all, that is what creative writting is all about.

I think I'll pass on the Twilight movies even though I know there's three planned (first released, second in production and third on board). Hmmm. I may watch Rob Pattinson in something /else/ in order to prevent teeth gratting.

And someone asked eariler if I heard Rob Pattinson sing and the answer is yes. I'm trying to learn to play Never Think on the guitar. I've been playing a few years and this song is really hard to learn. The guy has some talent, though I'm not sure its acting.