If we, as K/S fans, do not collectively, and SUDDENLY stop "feeding the flames," it is certain that no one ever will.
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| Title: | If we, as K/S fans, do not collectively, and SUDDENLY stop "feeding the flames," it is certain that no one ever will. (this essay does not have a title; the title used here on Fanlore is a line from the essay, and one that hopefully describes the content) |
| Creator: | Della Van Hise |
| Date(s): | 1978 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS, slash |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
If we, as K/S fans, do not collectively, and SUDDENLY stop "feeding the flames," it is certain that no one ever will. is a line from a 1978 essay by Della Van Hise.
It was printed in Naked Times #1.
The first issue of the long-running and highly influential Kirk/Spock zine series, Naked Times, included an extensive (two pages, single-spaced) editorial that had roughly three sections. The first explained why the zine was ultimately printed in four different shops -- 1) a paper shortage due to a strike, 2) the editor's unexpected move from Miami to San Diego, 3) the main printer in San Diego, despite agreeing in advance to print material "of a homosexual nature," refused to follow through with the contract. The second part of the editorial was Van Hise's extensive comments on bigoted people, the importance of keeping one's personal and professional beliefs and duties separate, and Christianity. The third part of the editorial addressed the virulant tensions in Star Trek fandom at the time regarding Kirk/Spock fan material.
Some Background
The first printed Kirk/Spock zine (Alternative: The Epilog to Orion) had been published about 18 months earlier. This fanwork set off a storm of fan reactions, some printed in R and R, Interstat, Probe, and other places.
Some further reading: Open Letter by Winston A. Howlett Regarding His Review of "Alternative: Epilog to Orion" by Winston Howlett (1976), Care to Debate That? The K/S Relationship... Con (1977), and "Alternative" Thoughts by Gerry Downes (1978). This second essay by Downes was published in Della Van Hise's husband's zine, Enterprise Incidents #6.
For more context, see Timeline of Slash Meta.
Excerpts from the Third Part
Please understand that this goes far beyond our enjoyable world of fandom and gets into the whole human rights Issue, which I hope is an important part of everyone's lives. If we believe as strongly about this as our letters and fictionalized writing would have me believe, then I think we should be willing to take our beliefs one step further and to stand up for what we know to be right within ourselves.
One other which which has become increasingly disturbing to me personally is this "rift" which has developed in fandom during the past year or so. I can only hope that someone will soon say: "Let's bury the hatchet." I, too, am as "guilty" as the next person for "feeding the flames" of these arguments, but perhaps it is time for ALL of us to stop throwing stones in fandom, and take our views into the "real" world where they can do the most good. It is almost certain now that these petty quibblings which run rampant within the pages of INTERSTAT can never be resolved one way or the other to everyone's satisfaction, so what's the point in continuing them? It has gone beyond the realm of literary criticisms now, and has started getting "personal," which I don't think anyone even intended. Personal attacks and outraged name-calling won't solve arguments. I'm not speaking of calmly written discussion on varied points of view, but of the ridiculous and unprofessional antics which we've allowed ourselves to become sucked into head first. True, we must stand up for what we believe is right, both in fandom and in the "real" world, but surely it isn't necessary to resort to the tactics that BOTH sides have been guilty of recently (including me).
Someone recently said that "it's no longer relevant who threw the first stone," but I will always find that difficult to accept. If the first stone had not been tossed, there would not now be the landslides in fandom which are growing more serious all the time. Nevertheless, if we value fandom as much as I think we do, perhaps we should squelch these arguments once and for all. If there were any realistic chance for a "final solution" to be reached, I would doubtlessly think differently, but as we all know, each "side" is set in their beliefs, and will probably never change thair views. What more can be accomplished by throwing the same words at the same people over and over and over again? Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just learn to live together again, and to be content within our diversity?
I'm not saying that either side should "give up," but that the "healing" must begin somewhere. Let it begin with us. We won't appear the "weaker," believe me. It always takes the "stronger" person to be willing to lay down arms and make peace. If we, as K/S fans, do not collectively, and SUDDENLY stop "feeding the flames, " it is certain that no one ever will. In a way, we can even look on it as a small victory — we are willing to accept a truce of mutual peaceful co-existence with those who do not share our beliefs. Can the other side do the same? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But it has to begin somewhere! All it will take is a mass refusal of our "side" to participate in it, and the war will end. Granted, it'll take time for all the wounds to heal, but the sooner we start, the sooner it can be stopped. Please think about it.
If the "other side" is unwilling to lay down their arms as well, we can know that this stone throwing and letters of hatred and anger are doomed to a vicious circle. If WE don't support the arguments, the "other side" will have no one to argue with but themselves, and that won't last very long.
Sooner or later, the wounds WILL heal, and we can get back to what fandom is supposed to be — Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.
What do you think?