Annie wrote:
About as pathetic as grown men and women wandering around hitting a tiny ball with a stick (golf) .... [some more hilarious examples cut] Just about *any* hobby can sound pathetic to those who aren't interested in it. Some people like to catalog insects (B7 reference! <g>) and others like to catalog things in their favorite tv show. Where's the difference?
There are some very obvious differences between sporting pursuits and television/computer-based pursuits. My usual retort to those who classify fandom with trainspotting (ie most of my acquaintance) is that nearly everyone watches television (some fans less than average), non-fans are content to sit and watch, while fans try to participate in social and/or creative ways.
Tavia