Thong Throng
| Forever Knight Faction | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Thong Throng |
| Abbreviation: | |
| Date(s): | 1996 |
| Leaders: | Wicked Cousin Tippi |
| Founder: | |
| Type: | joke |
| Focus: | LaCroix's underwear |
| Wars: | |
| Community: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Thong Throng were a joke faction that existed within Forever Knight fandom circa 1996. Members were Cousins who speculated about the type of underwear worn by the character LaCroix.
The joke appears to have largely evolved outside the main [email protected] mailing list, which was at the time relatively decorous, since some members were under age. However, at conventions and in small e-mail loops, fans were free to speculate hilariously about the underwear worn by various characters. At possibly different times, it was suggested that LaCroix wears a thong, either leather or silk.
However the joke began, it evolved over time. The thong became purple silk, grape-flavoured, and, at least at times, decorated with a feather.
Cousin Tippi
Precisely who made the original joke is a matter of some dispute. However, the general consensus seems to be that Wicked Cousin Tippi was involved, if not from the start, then certainly in the evolution of the faction. In 1996, she included "Dollar Bill Wrangler of the Thong Throng!" in her signature to posts on FORKNI-L. She also contrived to work mention of the thong into several of her comic tales, particularly in her Eternal Champion series.
Origin and Evolution
The following is excerpted from a series of posts made to [email protected] in June 1996 in a thread entitled "Weird Cousin Tippi":
- Quoted by Amy Denton, 12 June 1996:[1]
- Post by Cousin Tippi, 12 June 1996:[2]
>"I know about the grape flavored thong." - Nigel Bennett w/ Gillian Horvath at Syndi-Con>"That was Cousin Tippi's idea." - Nameless con goer also at Syndi-Con
Ya HA! So it was YOU! Perri told me at the Arlington LK[1] party that SOMEONE ratted me out! She wouldn't say who, tho.
But you've got it wrong! It wasn't my idea! Well, okay, the grape flavoring was my idea. What can I say? I was possessed when I wrote that E[ternal] C[hampions] story. But the whole Thong in General was started by someone else entirely! Oh but what short memories these listgoers doth possess!
See, now, if I actually ever *go* to a con, I can't just go up to Nigel Bennett and say, "Well hello Mr Bennett, I'm a great admirer of your work." Nooo. Because the minute I walk through the doors someone's gonna go, "Look, it's the thong girl." And that will be the death of any intelligent conversation!
- Post by Cousin Tippi, 12 June 1996:[3]
Heather asked:>If it wasn't you Tippi, who was it?? Inquiring minds what to know. :-)
See, that's just it. I don't know. I've posted a couple times asking who the heck started this whole thong thing. Nobody came forward! I honestly don't think it was me. In fact I know it wasn't me -- it started out as a purple thong with a feather in it, and I *know* I didn't say that! ;)
- Post by Gehirn Karies, 12 June 1996,[4] (with "quotation boxes" added for legibility):
When I asked back in March, after TJ's interview with The Master, I gratefully received the response form [Name removed by request] that I've copied below.<<<<<Did you ask for a copy of beginning of the thong thread? i've been off-list 'cause of finals and then skimming recently and i think i remember you asking for a copy. Here you go, if you're looking for it and i'm sorry if you're not! :)
[Name removed by request]
>Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 23:21:27 -0700
>From: [Name removed by request]
>Subject: Re: Saint Lacroix
>To: Multiple recipients of list FORKNI-L <FORKNI-L@p.......>
>
>Cousin Tips quotes and responds:
>
>>>i'd take my chances 'cause i know, whatever he does, whatever his
>>>motivations, intent, discontent, whatever - it'll be exciting, in any case
>>>(to say the very least)!
>>
>>Well we're in agreement there! ;) Through it all, we're still Cousins!
>
>****, yeah. No way did i just pick a faction out of the blue. i may have
>sounded really anti-LC lately (i am *not* happy with this season :) but i'm
>a Cousin, i'll always be a Cousin. He'll sicken me; he'll anger me; he'll
>dress up in a leather thong, do a lap dance and completely embarrass me but,
>deep down, i'll always love that wacky, wacky guy, LaCroix :)
>
><insert canned laughter and nauseating "family togetherness" music here,
>please
>
>
>[Name removed by request]
Tippi:
<<< In fact I know it wasn't me -- it started out as a purple thong with a feather in it, and I *know* I didn't say that! ;)However, I heard somewhere that the purple one with a feather was from a couple of gals con hijinks. Seems the subject is cyclical.... Ah ... not that I'm at all interested in this thread.... <wcg> I'm a boxers kinda fan....
Faction Icon
In 2012, Greer Watson created an icon for the Thong Throng as part of her project to create a set of icons for all the Forever Knight factions. The design composits a screen capture of LaCroix with a picture of a male thong, which she tinted purple to fit the faction history. Small gold hearts were added for effect.[5]
List of References
- ^ "LK" refers to "Last Knight", the series finale. Many fans, knowing that watching the episode would be an emotional event, got together to watch it.