Neil asked about why some people become fans and others don't. While I
agree that introvert vs extrovert makes sense in this regard, I'm not at
all sure that this is all there is to it. I've pondered this question a lot
as my other half protests that there is little worse, in his opinion, than
a 'fan' of anything.
In his case, which may well extend to other non-fans, I can think of
several possible reasons for Fan Avoidance Activities:
(1) Equating 'fan' with 'nerd' and, therefore, avoiding any activity that
smells of fandom in a wish not to become (or appear) a nerd.
(2) Equating 'fan' with someone who goes out and buys lots of merchandise
attached to the show, thus making Evil Corporate People lots of money.
(3) Equating 'fan' with someone who has insufficient imagination or
go-for-it to do something more useful, more original or more active with
his/her time than the often computer-based fan pursuits (and let's be fair
to OH: his chosen pursuits do not include bowls, pubbing or whatever else
whoever suggested, more the fell-running, rock-climbing, theatre-going
stratum).
Tavia