In a message dated 2/23/01 3:08:24 PM Eastern Standard Time, littles@lycos.co.uk writes:

<< Nope, the English are guilty as well. But hang on, wasn't it you who came on the lyst a few days ago and said that British fans tend not to like H/C and the Americans do, cause for the Americans it's "normal"? Why the change of story?>>>

Perhaps I expressed myself badly and wasn't clear enough. I never said that the Americans were the only ones writing h/c. I simply expressed the thought that it seemed to me that when protests happen, it is mainly British fans who don't seem to like the h/c genre and, in some cases, even want to exaggerate the situation and call h/c "sadistic." In American zines and among American fans, I have rarely encountered this attitude. Perhaps it is because by sheer weight of numbers there are more American fanzines for different fandoms all around. H/C is a misnomer for the genre, in my opinion, anyway. Because it has been my experience that the stories labelled h/c and the ones that seem to grip the greatest number of fans the most, are those that have what I call a high "angst factor." It is the "angst," whether it be caused by emotions or physical danger or *whatever* that makes this kind of story gripping.

But, back to the British/American thing... it occurs to me that some of my favorite "h/c" stories were written by Brits and were written early on in Blakes 7 fandom. Stories like "Haunting of Haderon," "The Machiavellia Factor," "Mindfire," "Between Black and White," and many, many other early B7 stories. These were the first "angsty" stories in the fandom... and they were all written by Brits. In fact, very few AMericans in those days had even heard of B7. So, I have to ask -- what has changed in England that would make the fans now claim that high emotion and angst and h/c are somehow "out of character" and "Americanization" of Blakes 7? We learned to do it from YOU guys, if you go by the early *British* Blakes 7 stories.

<<< Not saying it at all. Just wanting to propose a deal-- you don't have Avon making gushy speeches about his feelings, and I won't have Spock organise a union on the Enterprise and stage a sit-down in the transporter room. Remember what happened to Doctor Who: 26 years with the Beeb, 90 minutes in America. Half-human, indeed.>>>

Well, no thanks. I think I'll pass. For one thing, I don't give a flying flip what you want to write about Spock or anyone else. Why should I? Write whatever you please. And I think I'll do the same, regardless of whether it suits you or not.

<<< So long as we're fans of the same series.>>>

So, am I misunderstanding you or are you telling me that unless I see everything the way that *you* do, we aren't "fans of the same series"? That's the way that sentence reads to me. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

<< Never said I wanted to change your mind. If you want to try to change mine, feel free, but what you said goes double. I think you're confusing me with Diane Gies. >>

I'm afraid you have also confused me with this. I didn't mention Diane Gies in any way, shape or form and I have no idea what she has to do with this conversation. Is she on this list and did I miss her posts?

Annie