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1

Thanks for all the reports! I had a friend that went down there this weekend, and it's always nice to hear what's going on. =) Hope you had fun!

Posted by wench | March 23, 2008 9:28 PM
2

Thank god for Slog and coverage of things like this. Can you imagine if Fancher had written a column about this? Christ in heaven.

Well done, team.

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | March 23, 2008 9:49 PM
3

Hobbit filking is never to be wished on friends or relations, failsafe one has a large supply of cotton balls to stuff one's ears with ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | March 23, 2008 9:56 PM
4

Paul, your reports have been some of the most fascinatingly weird dispatches in Slog history. Thank you.

I would rather gouge my own eyes out than read sci-fi. I barely understood what the fuck you were talking about with some of these posts. All the sickly booze mentioned made me feel sick.

Yet, I could hardly wait for each installment. Well done.

Posted by kerri harrop | March 23, 2008 10:21 PM
5

I think Norwescon has distorted your sense of time.

Clarke died less than a week ago; not "last month."

Posted by stinkbug | March 23, 2008 10:33 PM
6

When I checked out Slog after getting home from Norwescon today, I cringed, expecting to see another edition of Stranger hipster-ironic "HAW HAW HAW LOOK AT ALL THOSE PATHETIC GEEKS" mockery. It was a wonderful surprise to find what seems to be genuine interest in the experience (if not in every activity).

Everybody who goes to NWC has their favorite bits, and bits they absolutely can't stand, and nobody who goes (nobody with any sense, anyway) expects everybody to love everything. That sense of acceptance and safety is a big draw for a lot of people; for a few days, you can forget how shitty the rest of the world usually is and play around, even if the rest of the world thinks you're weird. Sure, there are some people who are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out on the very edge of the bell curve of "socially normal." But at least they've got a place where they can get together, and that's pretty cool.

That said, you are a brave, brave man for trying the filking.

Posted by stresskitten | March 23, 2008 10:43 PM
7

@4 - oh, I don't know, you might enjoy one of the 2008 Hugo nominees, Michael Chabon's "The Yiddish Policeman's Union" ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | March 23, 2008 11:07 PM
8

I have seen enough Norwescon posts to last me the rest of my life. Please make it stop.

Posted by SeattleBrad | March 23, 2008 11:46 PM
9

I'm with kerri @4...your posts were well-done and provided a great peak into a subculture that I know fucking zilch about. It ain't my cup of tea at all, but I loved reading about it.

Posted by gnossos | March 23, 2008 11:48 PM
10

Yeah this was awesome. I wish they'd do reports like this for the porn convention!

Totally great, and, where can we get one of them alien fuck toys?

Posted by catnextdoor | March 23, 2008 11:49 PM
11

NERDS!

Posted by Ogre | March 23, 2008 11:53 PM
12

oh it's terrible. i saw some pics about Baghdad bomb on intimatemingle.com which is a dating site for interracial singles. i really can't believe it.

Posted by coco 4 love | March 24, 2008 12:56 AM
13

my god. i send this message wrong.

Posted by coco 4 love | March 24, 2008 12:59 AM
14

Paul = SLOG hero

Posted by KELLY O | March 24, 2008 1:02 AM
15

These dispatches were great. Back in the late 90's I was on a business trip to Seattle and after an exhausting day I checked myself into the SeaTac Red Lion. As I'm standing at the desk, I see all these fuckers in costumes wandering around and I think the rat race finally got me. I finally flipped. Freaked my ass out until I realized all the Trekkies and hobbits and robots were part of this Norwescon thing. Weirdest, most disorienting experience (sans psychedelic substances) I'd ever had.

That being said, wouldn't you like to be the lucky guy or gal who got some Xena Warrior Princess time after hours? Man, talk about a place to get some oddball fantasies met.

Posted by Bob | March 24, 2008 4:58 AM
16

Thank god I looked up "filking." I about lost my cookies when I mistakenly thought Paul was referring to "Hobbit felching."

Posted by Spoogie | March 24, 2008 7:19 AM
17

Next we'll be hearing about how there's this thing called TiVo. You can record shows and watch them later, like on a VCR! How nifty.

I realize not everyone is fannishly inclined, but fanfic has been around since Star Trek originally aired. That's well over four decades, if you're too hung over to do the math. When Harry Potter was huge a few years ago, fanfic was talked about all over then, too. So really, you are far, far behind the pack with the whole "These people WRITE THINGS!" revelations.

Posted by Emily | March 24, 2008 9:09 AM
18

Emily, I think there is already a company that works like your Tivo idea. Still, if not, that is a good idea!

Posted by infrequent | March 24, 2008 9:21 AM
19

agreeing with stresskitten @6.
thanks for your openminded and evenhanded coverage. Norwescon *is* a safe and happy place, especially for teens who are likely to get abusive treatment from their "peers".

you did miss (i think, since i didn't have regular net access over the weekend) the most powerful expression of the comfort zone - the dances.

Posted by ironymaiden | March 24, 2008 4:40 PM
20

One slight correction. Slash is fanfic that puts same-sex characters together in romantic or sexual situations/relationships. Slash fic can be rated anywhere from G to NC-17. I'm not telling how I know this, though. *hides* :D

Posted by CorasMama | March 26, 2008 10:43 PM

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