BNFs and FMFs: Random observations

Meta
Title:	BNFs and FMFs: Random observations
Creator:	EB
Date(s):	Mar 6, 1994
Medium:	mailing list post
Fandom:	multifandom
Topic:
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BNFs and FMFs: Random observations is a 1994 essay by EB.

It was posted to Virgule-L and quoted with an author pseud.

This essay was written in response to Neos, BNFs, FMFs.

Some Topics Discussed

• BNFS
• newbies/novices
• power in fandom
• FMF was a term another fan used to refer BNFs and stands for "Frequently Mentioned Fan"

From the Essay

Whatever one chooses to call them, BNFs (Big Name Fans) exist. They are simply people whose fluency in the community allows them a degree of authority, credibility, and --dirty word-- *power* greater than that of a newcomer.

However, power is not always abused, and "BNF" is not necessarily pejorative. The behavior and attitudes of specific individuals on specific occasions determine the significance of "BNF" status. I would like to point out that a BNF, or veteran, will have a very different view of the BNF phenomenon than will a novice. To a novice, the difference between herself and a BNF will be glaringly apparent. (Let us not forget that "novice" and "veteran" refer only to social presence in the community in many cases; many of us were creating slash scenarios, stories, and artwork long before we knew the community existed.) To a BNF, who has come to take her status for granted, the issue may seem to be moot.

Examples from my own experience:

At the one and only slash con I have attended, a couple of experienced members of the community acted as mentors to me, explaining and advising in the most benevolent and fascinating way, and making the experience of the con a positive one, whereas without them it would have been boring at best, and quite dreadful at worst.

As also mentioned before, when I first started developing my ideas for a piece of fanfic, one or two people who knew the fandom very well asked pertinent questions, helped clarify details, and generally gave encouraging feedback.

A couple of other people, again Veterans (with a capital V), told me in no uncertain terms that the ideas were completely ridiculous, and it took me several weeks to recover sufficiently to even *consider* still writing the story.

Several weeks and the cogent advice of yet another oldtimer, who reminded me that just because my ideas did not appeal to one or two people who're set in their ways, didn't mean I shouldn't explore my own vision and see where it takes me, and if anybody owns the franchise, it sure as hell ain't any of us.

And then there was the BNF who told me that fanfic needs diversity and fresh ideas.

I got on with it, and the results have been extremely rewarding, but the entire incident stands out in my mind as an example of BNF syndrome at its worst, where the opinions of the veterans roll over the explorations of a novice and may, depending on the novice's spine and her support network, crush out the novice's interest in and potential contribution to the community completely.

At this point, when I smell a rat, I try to see Whose Ego Is Getting Fed, At Whose Expense. A lesson I learned a long time ago and far away...

Fan Comments

My impressions about the BNF phenomenon are:

- I think the ones that are perceived by others as BNFs don't necessarily notice that they are. It's like at a party: if you are the center of the party you rarely notice it; it just appears to you that everyone is having great fun (including yourself of course); only the people not in the center of the attention notice that there is a structure.

- I think that BNFs can't directly create themselves, they are created by other fans. One becomes a BNF if there is a sufficient number of other people who lavish their attention on this person, i.e. talk to them more than to other people, listen more to their recommendations, mention them more frequently (that would link to what someone else posted about - was that FMF (Frequently Mentioned Fan)?) etc. My impression on this list is for instance that the people who I perceive as BNFs on the list get more follow-ups to their postings than others.

- I think there are three kinds of BNFs: - those who don't perceive themselves as a BNF and don't know that others do - those who don't perceive themselves as a BNF and are surprised (and flattered or annoyed) that others do - those who are aware that others perceive them as a BNF and think they are something better because of that

- I think there is a kind of BNF jargon, a certain way to make jokes, mention anecdotes, a certain 'tone' in how people say something. People do this because it is the way they are used to talking with their friends who are also into slash, because of their long history in fandom, because it has become natural to them. And it's as natural as with any other kind of group that concentrates on a certain topic (listen to how computer people talk!). Some people probably aren't even aware that they use a kind of 'jargon'; some appear to use it consciously in order to show they really *are* a Queen Bee (again, same as in other kinds of groups, too. Computer people are a very good example for this as well...).

- I think in order to become a BNF one has to: - edit (good?) zines or - write good stories or - write many stories or - have been very long in fandom, know a lot of people, *and* talk about it a lot

And I think that all this is hardly surprising because it's very much like any other more or less close-knit society (computer wizards, students in a class, musicians, etc.)