"Mundanes": a term as gratuitously offensive as "breeder"?
Oliver
If becoming a fully-fledged furry means I have to endorse such a
description of my parents, as well as a friend of a quarter-century's
standing, well, include me out! (Oh and they're all "breeders" as well
-- the horror, the horror!) The term "mundanes" implies a smug elitism
at best and is gratuitously, pointlessly offensive at worst, and just
because it's not confined to furrydom doesn't make it any more
acceptable.
I'm thankful that many, perhaps the majority, do not use the word.
However, I think those furries who do say "mundanes" as a kind of
(unconscious) insult have got a helluva lotta nerve, given that they
seem happy putting up with the furry fundies, far-rightists, wingnuts,
whackjobs and beastiality-apologists who riddle their midst!
It's like "vanilla" as a derogatory adjective, meaning no-frills or
plain ("vanilla DVD", "vanilla sex" and so on). I mean, what the
heck's wrong with the taste of vanilla?!
Farry
>If becoming a fully-fledged furry means I have to endorse such a
>description of my parents, as well as a friend of a quarter-century's
>standing, well, include me out! (Oh and they're all "breeders" as well
>-- the horror, the horror!) The term "mundanes" implies a smug elitism
>at best and is gratuitously, pointlessly offensive at worst, and just
>because it's not confined to furrydom doesn't make it any more
>acceptable.
Some may use it in a smug elitist sort of way, I guess, and maybe others
use it defensively, and maybe some use the term when thinking
specifically of unimaginative reactionary people, and maybe it's used by
some as a sort of gang culture thing. Pfft. Don't really care. After
seeing this sort of thing argued up, down and sideways in this group in
years past, it's just the same old thing. You can't do anything about it
so it's pointless making yourself unpopular over it. After all,
following the monumentally stupid decision that the FA moderators made
(about two years back?) about what art was acceptable, and I'm sure you
know what I'm talking about, then what can you do other than using the
site with caution (including the forums) and just using it for what you
want.
--
Farry
naorhyreply
<oaco...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>If becoming a fully-fledged furry means I have to endorse such a
>description of my parents, as well as a friend of a quarter-century's
>standing, well, include me out! (Oh and they're all "breeders" as well
>-- the horror, the horror!) The term "mundanes" implies a smug elitism
>at best and is gratuitously, pointlessly offensive at worst, and just
>because it's not confined to furrydom doesn't make it any more
>acceptable.
Actually the term MUNDANE simply means 'Normal." As in 'It was such a
mundane task I fell asleep.' It in no way is a derogatory word, then
some people can make any word sound filthy. Why GAY originally meant
HAPPY - CAREFREE.
I am mundane, my wife and kids are mundane. Depending upon the
subject matter that is. For example I know zip about horse racing,
football, basketball etc. Even though I can design & build rockets,
write bad stories, paint, brew Ale, Beer & Wine, create ceramics
molds, build model railroads, operate a darkroom etc etc etc.
I have no problem being called NOOB, BREEDER or MUNDANE. It simply is
the truth in many cases.
As to the term BREEDERS, that generally is used by same sex
individuals in regards to hetrosexual individuals. Okay, I'm a
breeder. Big deal. I'm also left handed. The truth certainly
doesn't insult me. I have made it a point that I will not say
anything about anyone that I will not say directly to their face.
All you have to remember is that we all bleed red (well you HUMANS
bleed red...) and that indivual means just that. How boring would it
be is we were a group mind with no differences down to the cellular
level?
Gee, my pain meds have finally kicked in. I don't even know what the
Hadies I'm talking about. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.........
Dan Skunk
news:fd726ece-d8d1-4222...@x35g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
Maybe you should complain about *other's* being elitist after *you* stop
being elitist yourself.
Anyway, I think that gets used more in fun than in furries *really* thinking
their better than non furries.
Dan Skunk
"Farry" <fa...@see.replyto.header> wrote in message
news:h4fb84dprr7i11gkd...@4ax.com...
That seemed like a good decision to me.
Why should they bow to intolerance and start censoring people for having
interests others don't like?
Doesn't that just mean more intolerance?
> --
> Farry
>
Ben
I think it's pretty stupid. In my experience there are a lot of very,
very boring people out there worthy of the term "mundane", but a
disinterest in furry shouldn't be an instant qualifier. Heck, some
furries who sit around their entire lives in their parent's basements
are more worthy of the term "mundane" than someone who just isn't into
furry.
Farry
>"Farry" <fa...@see.replyto.header> wrote
>> ... After all,
>> following the monumentally stupid decision that the FA moderators made
>> (about two years back?) about what art was acceptable, and I'm sure you
>> know what I'm talking about, then what can you do other than using the
>> site with caution (including the forums) and just using it for what you
>> want.
>>
>That seemed like a good decision to me.
>
>Why should they bow to intolerance and start censoring people for having
>interests others don't like?
>
>Doesn't that just mean more intolerance?
Ho hum. I shouldn't have mentioned that, since I've absolutely no
desire to see that unpleasant little storm spill onto this group, so long
after the fact, so I'll not comment further. Especially since I'd just
be summarising the many very good arguments that were made by people
there at the time, which would just be repeating stuff to no point. You
can have this one.
--
Farry
Joe Strike
(Er... what's a 'noob'?)
Oliver
> Actually the term MUNDANE simply means 'Normal." As in 'It was such a
> mundane task I fell asleep.' It in no way is a derogatory word, then
> some people can make any word sound filthy.
You're honestly saying that 'mundane' means *nothing more* than
'normal' in that sentence, that there's no derogatory implication
whatsoever?
> As to the term BREEDERS, that generally is used by same sex
> individuals in regards to hetrosexual individuals.
Well, they shouldn't. Many heterosexuals are childless by accident or
design, and I don't believe such terms as 'buggerer' or 'carpet
muncher' have ever been acceptable in return.
Ben
> On Jul 22, 2:08 pm, naorhyreply @ yahoo.com (Reese Dorrycott) wrote:
>
>> Actually the term MUNDANE simply means 'Normal." As in 'It was such a
>> mundane task I fell asleep.' It in no way is a derogatory word, then
>> some people can make any word sound filthy.
>
> You're honestly saying that 'mundane' means *nothing more* than
> 'normal' in that sentence, that there's no derogatory implication
> whatsoever?
It would be hard to make a case that there is no insult or derogatory
undertone in this phrase. But I'd like to see them try, anyway.
>
>> As to the term BREEDERS, that generally is used by same sex
>> individuals in regards to hetrosexual individuals.
>
> Well, they shouldn't. Many heterosexuals are childless by accident or
> design, and I don't believe such terms as 'buggerer' or 'carpet
> muncher' have ever been acceptable in return.
Agreed. Furries don't like to be insulted "Fursecution! O NOEZ!" so why
do they do it in return, and come across as elitist assholes half of the
time?
GreenReaper
> do they do it in return, and come across as elitist assholes half of the
> time?
Well, at least we all agree that furries are, indeed, the elite. ;-)
Honestly, I've heard the term "mundane" far more in science fiction
fandom. Furries sometimes use it too, but I've seen quite a few use
"nonfur" instead, which seems a less prejudicial and more specific
term.
"Mundane" is a stereotype, and has about the same accuracy as "furry
fan" has in the mind of CSI writers.
--
Laurence "GreenReaper" Parry
Ben
Indeed. And my problem with the use of terms like "Mundane" is that it
forms a clique mentality, where everyone who doesn't share your
interest, hobby, whatever, is seen as "boring", which is somewhat
synonymous with the word "mundane".
Joe Ekaitis
. . . Heck, some
> furries who sit around their entire lives in their parent's basements
> are more worthy of the term "mundane" than someone who just isn't into
> furry.
Can I get an "AY-MEN!", brothers and sisters?
Ben
> Ben wrote:
> .. . . Heck, some
Why, thank you. ;)
Brian O'Connell
news:fd726ece-d8d1-4222...@x35g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
<big ol' snipperoonie>
Actually, "mundane" has never actually been a term exclusively used by
furries. The term originated in Piers Anthony's Xanth novels, being the name
for both the land "Mundania" and the people therein "Mundanes" (both being
representatives of the real world). Along the way, various fandoms started
using the term to describe non fans, and by the 90s, pretty much all fandoms
called the non fans "mundanes".
In other words, the term "mundanes" isn't offensive, derogatory, or
insulting in any way, nor has it ever been. I have no idea where this myth
arose from, except possibly historical revisionism in yet another pathetic
attempt at defaming furry fandom (when we already have so many concrete
examples which do perfectly fine on their own).
Oliver
> In other words, the term "mundanes" isn't offensive, derogatory, or
> insulting in any way, nor has it ever been.
A statement so blithely sweeping that it only takes one counter-
example to prove it wrong.
Ben
Etymology and application are different concepts.
naorhyreply
NOOB: Referring to a players experence within any game universe.
Also a beginner in that paticular game, often noted by constant
questions interferring with gameplay. Often does not bother to read
the FAQ.
"Do I smell a NOOB? Bwaa hahahahahahaaaa" (inseret massive gunfire
here.)
Used as an insult by players who are losing due to there
incompatince/stupidity, while believeing themselves to be LEET (Elite)
players while all others are NOOBS. No matter that the player they
are trying to insuly mave actually be a DEV (Developer) of the game in
question.
See also NOOBLINKS.
naorhyreply
<oaco...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>You're honestly saying that 'mundane' means *nothing more* than
>'normal' in that sentence, that there's no derogatory implication
>whatsoever?
Yep.
Our real life is mundane, thus we all have a fantasy life to inject
colour into it. Nothing more, nothing less. Be that fantasy life a
hobby (such as model trains) or sports (being a masive football fan.)
In my case its writing my talentless trash or watching NASCAR races.
>Well, they shouldn't. Many heterosexuals are childless by accident or
>design, and I don't believe such terms as 'buggerer' or 'carpet
>muncher' have ever been acceptable in return.
I don't think that I have ever uttered those words myself.
naorhyreply
<doge...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>Actually, "mundane" has never actually been a term exclusively used by
>furries. The term originated in Piers Anthony's Xanth novels,
Wrong again.
Main Entry:
mun·dane Listen to the pronunciation of mundane
Pronunciation:
\?m?n-?da-n, ?m?n-?\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Middle English mondeyne, from Anglo-French mundain, from Late
Latin mundanus, from Latin mundus world
Date:
15th century
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the world 2 : characterized
by the practical, transitory, and ordinary : commonplace <the mundane
concerns of day-to-day life>
synonyms see earthly
— mun·dane·ly adverb
— mun·dane·ness Listen to the pronunciation of mundaneness
\-?da-n-n?s, -?da-n-\ noun
— mun·dan·i·ty Listen to the pronunciation of mundanity
\?m?n-?da--n?-te-\ noun
Brian O'Connell
news:48866124...@news.critter.net...
> On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:03:01 -0700, "Brian O'Connell"
> <doge...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>Actually, "mundane" has never actually been a term exclusively used by
>>furries. The term originated in Piers Anthony's Xanth novels,
>
> Wrong again.
>
>
>
>
> Main Entry:
> Pronunciation:
> \?m?n-?da-n, ?m?n-?\
> Function:
> adjective
> Etymology:
> Middle English mondeyne, from Anglo-French mundain, from Late
> Latin mundanus, from Latin mundus world
> Date:
> 15th century
>
> 1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the world 2 : characterized
> by the practical, transitory, and ordinary : commonplace <the mundane
> concerns of day-to-day life>
> synonyms see earthly
> - mun搞ane搖ess Listen to the pronunciation of mundaneness
> \-?da-n-n?s, -?da-n-\ noun
> - mun搞an搏暗y Listen to the pronunciation of mundanity
> \?m?n-?da--n?-te-\ noun
Well that gets a big DURH, I'm talking about its use in fandom. Here's a
more cogent example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundanes
As you can see, my claims as to the Xanth novels having influenced the use
of the term is correct.
Brian O'Connell
could ever be right about ANYTHING, here's the article in question:
Mundane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Mundanes)
Jump to: navigation, search
This page is about science fiction insider terminology. See Journal of
Mundane Behavior for the scholarly journal. See Wiktionary for the adjective
mundane.
Look up mundane in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
In science fiction and related fandoms, a mundane is a person who does not
belong to a particular group, according to the members of that group; the
implication is that such persons, lacking imagination, are concerned solely
with the mundane: the quotidian and ordinary.[1]
Some examples:
In science fiction fandom, some fans classify all non-fans as "mundanes" or,
for short, "danes".[2]
Goths also commonly refer to non-goths as "mundanes" or "norms".
In historical reenactment fandom, too, such as The Society for Creative
Anachronism, some participants classify all non-participants as "mundanes".
Similarly, one's "mundane" name is the legal name one goes by in the outside
world. "Mundanes," sometimes shortened to just "danes" (not to be confused
with people of Danish descent), is also a term for normal everyday clothes,
as opposed to historical garb.[3]
In the science fiction television series Babylon 5, telepathic humans
(especially Psi Corps members) classify all non-telepathic humans as
"mundanes". The classification is employed mainly, but not solely, by
telepathic characters who have telepath-supremacist ideologies (such
ideologies being one of the issues dealt with by the series), and was
deliberately chosen to mirror the classification in science fiction
fandom.[4]
In fantasy literature the term or some equivalent is often used to apply to
non-magical people or the non-magical society. It is used in Piers Anthony's
Xanth novels, and Bill Willingham's comic book series Fables (often
shortened to "mundies" in the latter). The Harry Potter series uses the term
muggle in the same way.
In furry fandom, it is used to describe non-furries, or "humans".[5]
In Sanguinarian circles or "houses" the word Mundane means "non
vampire/vampyre/Sanguinarian" or human. Some consider it derogatory but
because it is a very private group(s) and there are many different Houses
with different lingos and Terminology. See Sanguinarius.org for Real
Vampires
In text-based online role-playing games, the term is commonly used to refer
to the player as opposed to their character, typically shortened to "mun".
According to a document titled The Mundane Manifesto, mundane science
fiction is science fiction which does not make use of interstellar travel or
other common tropes of the genre.
Otherwise, within the scope of the software communities of free and
open-source software some proponents[citation needed] of the respective
movements classify those which do not know enough about their views as
"mundanes", signifying their normalcy, their lack of being beyond the
regular users of computers.
[edit] See also
Mundane astrology
[edit] References
^ rich brown, Dr. Gafia's Fan Terms
^ C. J. Cherryh, "FIAWOL and All That"
^ "The Fanfiction Glossary"
^ Message by J. Michael Straczynski on Byron's attitude towards "mundanes"
in Babylon 5
^ Simo, "The New Furry's Dictionary"
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundane"
naorhyreply
<baron.w...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
> I'm fairly sure I've seen "mundane" used in some SCA contexts... Or
>should we purloin "muggle" from Harry Potter?
>--
There is actually an SCA song titled FREAKING THE MUNDANES.
Though I think I LIKE A MOOSE is funnier.
Oliver
[Quoting Wikipedia]
> In furry fandom, it is used to describe non-furries, or "humans".[5]
Thank God for those quote marks, or Wikipedia might be implying that
furrys are a bunch of sad-sack psychotics -- sorry, "sad-sack
psychotics" -- who seriously regard themselves as not "human". :-)
Brian O'Connell
The point is, that term has been used in fandoms other than furry, for
longer than furry fandom has been around.
It's like claiming the swastika is a purely nazi symbol, when it's clear
that cultures around the world were using it for thousands of years prior.
Huh, does it count as a Godwin when you're making a valid comparative point?
Oliver
> The point is, that term has been used in fandoms other than furry, for
> longer than furry fandom has been around.
Wha -- I thought furry fandom had been around since Neolithic cavemen
scrawled images of animal-headed anthros on the walls of their
dwellings?!
You furries so totally lied to us, man!
Joe Strike
Considering those cave-wall anthros had their weenies hanging out -
http://www.davkadeergirl.com/2008/06/angels-selling-knives.html
- it proves everything the mundanes have been saying about us!
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen
> Agreed. Furries don't like to be insulted "Fursecution! O NOEZ!" so why
> do they do it in return, and come across as elitist assholes half of the
> time?
Actually, the term "fursecution" is used by anti-furries making
strawman arguments more than by furries themselves. So I guess the
real question is why do anti-furries come off as elitist assholes all
the time?
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen
> Actually, "mundane" has never actually been a term exclusively used by
> furries. The term originated in Piers Anthony's Xanth novels, being the name
> for both the land "Mundania" and the people therein "Mundanes" (both being
> representatives of the real world). Along the way, various fandoms started
> using the term to describe non fans, and by the 90s, pretty much all fandoms
> called the non fans "mundanes".
>
> In other words, the term "mundanes" isn't offensive, derogatory, or
> insulting in any way, nor has it ever been. I have no idea where this myth
> arose from, except possibly historical revisionism in yet another pathetic
> attempt at defaming furry fandom (when we already have so many concrete
> examples which do perfectly fine on their own).
Quoted for truth.
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen
> Why GAY originally meant HAPPY - CAREFREE.
Uh-huh. And it still does. -:P
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen
> It's like "vanilla" as a derogatory adjective, meaning no-frills or
> plain ("vanilla DVD", "vanilla sex" and so on). I mean, what the
> heck's wrong with the taste of vanilla?!
Nothing's wrong with it, just like nothing's wrong with "mundane".
Ogg
Brian O'Connell <doge...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Actually, "mundane" has never actually been a term exclusively used by
>>>furries. The term originated in Piers Anthony's Xanth novels,
>>
>> Wrong again.
>
>Well that gets a big DURH, I'm talking about its use in fandom. Here's a
>more cogent example:
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundanes
>
>As you can see, my claims as to the Xanth novels having influenced the use
>of the term is correct.
As I can see, you said 'originated'; but as the Wikipedia article
points out, the use by fannish groups, notably the SCA in the
1960s*, predates Xanth (1977) by a considerable amount. I first
read it in a glossary of established 'fannish' slang in 1968.
Anthony's use may have made it better known to those not (yet)
involved in any organized fandom, but I am sure that he would be
the first to deny any claim of having originated it.
In any case, its use in fandom has generally had a slightly snobbish
or separatist connotation, though not always (see the SCA members
referring to their own 'Mundane Names'); whether this makes it
'offensive' is up to the listener. I consider it milder than
the Yiddish word 'goyim' but stronger than 'gentile'. I guess
it depends on whether you are offended by being described as
'ordinary'.
Words for 'those people Not Like Us' are likely to occur in any
special-interest or cultural group. Heck, geocachers refer to
the people not playing the game as 'muggles' (as in 'this area
has a lot of muggle traffic, so be discreet.') I don't think
one needs to suppose that any disparagement is intended - nor
suppose that it is _not_ intended! - when such words are used.
Ogg
*The SCA is of course an outgrowth of 1960s science fiction fandom.
I do not know whether they originated this usage, or whether it
was already common in fandom before that. Diana Paxson or Karen
Anderson (an FC guest of honor a couple years ago) would be good
people to ask.
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen
> Words for 'those people Not Like Us' are likely to occur in any
> special-interest or cultural group. Heck, geocachers refer to
> the people not playing the game as 'muggles' (as in 'this area
> has a lot of muggle traffic, so be discreet.') I don't think
> one needs to suppose that any disparagement is intended - nor
> suppose that it is _not_ intended! - when such words are used.
Ogg knows best as Ogg was alive back when GPS devices were steam-
powered. -=)
naorhyreply
<xyd...@aol.com> wrote:
>real question is why do anti-furries come off as elitist assholes all
>the time?
>
They have more money?
naorhyreply
<xyd...@aol.com> wrote:
>Ogg knows best as Ogg was alive back when GPS devices were steam-
>powered. -=3D)
Yeah, and I was setting up the heleoscopes so it would know where it
was in the first place.
Doug Winger
wrote:
"Mundane" used as a term for non-fans was in use back in the
late 1930's, both in Fanzines and correspondence between SF fans, and
was in common use in the later 1940's. It's been around a while.
At worst, it's mildly derisive; inferring that the individual being
referred to lacks the imagination or "sense of wonder" necessary to
appreciate science fiction.
SEE ALSO: "The Enchanted Duplicator," Mundanian, Mundania.
Fans Are Slans,
- Doug
Oliver
started! I can feel the blood rushing to my unworthy cheeks in a way
that's vaguely evocative of tumescence... ;-)
naorhyreply
Tell me you didn't drink that water that was delivered to your table.
Telll me you didn't.
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen
> They have more money?
In my experience, no, they generally don't... which is probably why
they feel the need to dump on furries to make themselves feel better.
Ogg
Doug Winger <just...@socal.rr.com> wrote:
>In article <g67trl$m53$1...@reader1.panix.com>, Ogg <ur...@panix.com>
>wrote:
>
>late 1930's, both in Fanzines and correspondence between SF fans, and
>was in common use in the later 1940's. It's been around a while.
Solid! Perhaps you can edit the Wikipedia article to clarify this?
Ogg
Doug Winger
wrote:
Aside from having little desire to edit the Wikipedia article, I no
longer have access to the publications I'd require for citations and
not even a completely clear memory of exactly which ones I'd need to
reference. While I know Wikipedia doesn't have as strict a policy on
citations as most, what remains of my past scholastic training would
have me gritting my teeth over the lack. It wouldn't be good form.
My previous post is factual and accurate to my best knowledge- which is
pretty good concerning this subject, though not perfect- but I can
produce little evidence supporting it aside from my memory. I do recall
reading, from several sources, that it first being a common catchphrase
used when a fan was speaking of his life outside of fandom and then
quickly coming to be used to mean anything not related to fandom as
well as when speaking of non-fans. I seem to recall reading that, while
it was initially entirely benign, it sometimes took on its sharper tone
after Time Magazine's rather condenscending review of the 1939 WorldCon
("Goshwowoboyoboy!") and would be used to refer to those that, "didn't
get it," though I'm not entirely certain of that.
A cursory Google and a few quick visits to sites I know of produced
only a single supporting quote, dated early 1940; "...more mundane
activities," when the author- a member of the British Fandom- was
writing about the non-fannish portion of his life. There were a number
of later examples of its use both in the sense of non-fans and
activities outside of fandom, and it shows up in some "Fancylopedias"
written during the post-war period, but I could find nothing earlier
than those online (while admittedly not searching all that hard).
- Doug, Committing Low-Grade Fanac
- EXTRA CREDIT- Other Avenues of SF To Peruse To Discover The More
Things Change, The More they Stay the Same And Otherwise Work Up A
Good, Thorough Tizzy: Clean Up Fandom Crusade, Boondoggle,
FIAWOL/FIJAGH, Faan, Feud and a slew of others I can't recall offhand.
naorhyreply
<just...@socal.rr.com> wrote:
>A cursory Google and a few quick visits to sites I know of produced
>only a single supporting quote, dated early 1940; "...more mundane
Don't forget the infamous Hypnobioscope!
For simple rough research, try YAHOO as well as Google.
http://alcor.concordia.ca/~talfred/sf-def.htm
1940's
"Within a few years of the creation of the term "science fiction" a
subculture had evolved composed of writers, magazine editors (and,
later, book editors), reviewers and fans; stories and novels written
within this subculture shared certain assumptions, linguistic and
thematic codes which were embedded in the growing literature, and a
sense of isolation from the external "mundane" world for which those
codes remained cryptic. This whole living matrix, not just the
fictional texts that had initially occasioned it, came to be called
"science fiction" ( GENRE SF)."
http://fanac.org/Fannish_Reference_Works/Fan_terms/Fan_terms-06.html
MUNDANE
(1.) (n.) Someone who is not a fan. ("He is a mundane; they are
mundanes"')
(2) (adj.) Pertaining to the world outside fandom. The dictionary
definition is "common, ordinary".
(3). (n.) Mundane is also the name of the country Jophan lives in
until he is inspired by the Spirit of Fandom to seek Trufandom on the
other side of the Mountains of Inertia in The Enchanted Duplicator.
Researchers Note: The Enchanted Duplicator was first published in
1954.
http://www.filk.com/filk_history.htm
In addition to writing filksongs sung at the 1940 Worldcon, Jack Speer
was also responsible for Fancyclopedia I in 1944. In 1959, Richard H.
Eney enlarged this into Fancyclopedia II, which included the following
definition of Filk Song credited to [Nancy] Share: "A type of music
which, if it weren't fannish, would be called a folk song; fan
parodies or pastiches of this or other types of mundane chansons."
Fancy II's definition of Poetry also bears on Filk:
I am quite certain that the rest of you are more than competent to
research this subject further. As for myself, I think the point has
already been made on this echo by others. The word MUNDANE preceeds
SF fandom, and certainly FURRY FANDOM. Some of us, known as
Greymuzzles by you youngesters, can well remember letters, fanzines
(printed by spirit duplicators) and small gatherings in the 50's &
60's (though in my case it was school friends in the 60's) where the
term was well known and always attributed to some more ancient
creator.
I do wish I still have my box of letters from Asimov, Clarke, Norton
and many other less well known names as I well remember one of them
complaining about the 'foolish mundane reporter who came by in the
40's.' Unfortunatly I had a father who's one belief was, if it wasn't
cash in his hands it had no value. Thus while I was in the Far East,
he emptied my room into the garbage can because I wasn't paying him to
store my 'junk.'
Personally, I would like to see further research on this (and other)
SF Fan based subjects as so much has been lost over the years.
Stories like The Golden Memograph, which told so much about Fanzines
in the memograph era. And though some of you may not wish to admit
it, Furry Fandom is a child of Science Fiction Fandom, thus has a
geneology. One that should be explored, and enjoyed.
Now please excuse me, on Mark VII Orcerator Genetic Rearranger seems
to be going into overload. Darn it, and I just had it turned on
Cranium Island.
"Kiko! Get that squirrel out of the <PHOOM...> Oh.... fargs.. Kiko,
get me the address for Doug Winger and a shipping crate. Fast!"