Why is the Kitten board so cool? Help me with a paper :)

[elfie]

Hi everybody!

Want to help me with a paper about why the Kitten board rocks?

I used to watch Buffy and hang out online, but then school got in the way. Now I'm doing a paper on queer online fan communities as an excuse to go and visit some cool sites and feel productive.

Anyway, I've been lurking around for a bit but I finally figured that if I want to make this whole "paper" thing legit I should actually ask some questions rather than just reading everyone's fan fics and not doing my other homework.

So, if you have a little bit of time and wouldn’t mind answering some of my questions, that would be amazing!

Thanks!
Elfie

Questions:

1) Did you participate in fan communities before the internet (that is, did you ever used to go to conventions, read fan fiction or fanzines, etc.)?

2) If so, how has your experience in online communities been different?

3) Do you feel that the Kitten Board provides support or affirmation that you don’t find in other places?

4) Are you attracted to the Kitten Board more because you like the show (and Willow and Tara) or more because you like the community that has grown here?

5) Do you feel that belonging to the Kitten Board has allowed you to have your opinions considered in a larger context than they would be otherwise?

6) Do you think that queer online fan communities have allowed queer people or fans to gain a greater public voice, outside of the community itself?

Feel free to include anything else about why the Kitten board is so cool or why you like coming here.

Thanks again

[urnofosiris]

1) Did you participate in fan communities before the internet (that is, did you ever used to go to conventions, read fan fiction or fanzines, etc.)?

Nope.

2) If so, how has your experience in online communities been different?

-

3) Do you feel that the Kitten Board provides support or affirmation that you don’t find in other places?

It did at a time when I really needed it. I must admit I did not look for it in other places and once I was out and about ´offline´ support was great and abundand, but it really helped to read other people´s stories and recognize my own self and feelings in it. Still does.


4) Are you attracted to the Kitten Board more because you like the show (and Willow and Tara) or more because you like the community that has grown here?

I came here because of Willow and Tara, I staid here because for me, this is a cool, great place to be and it is the one place where Willow and Tara remain what they are and stand for: lesbian gay type forever kind of lovers.

5) Do you feel that belonging to the Kitten Board has allowed you to have your opinions considered in a larger context than they would be otherwise?

Not like that, but the opinion of others here has helped me to see certain important issues in a larger context. It made me more aware of LGBT issues all around the world and how seemingly small or unimportant things can affect the larger picture for better or worse.


6) Do you think that queer online fan communities have allowed queer people or fans to gain a greater public voice, outside of the community itself?

Definitely, given the fact that some people have whined about us in other forms of media as well proves that.

[maudmac]

Hey, elfie. Good luck with your paper!

The Kitten board is so cool because it's full of Kittens, of course!

1) Did you participate in fan communities before the internet (that is, did you ever used to go to conventions, read fan fiction or fanzines, etc.)?

I did. Back in the early '90s, I was really into the Rocky Horror Picture Show fandom. I subscribed to print 'zines, which fostered the same sort of communities you find online now. We had fanart, fic, news/rumors/gossip about RHPS people, all kinds of stuff. We had pen pals, this sort of nest of people who were all pen pals with each other. We sent each other pictures and mixed tapes. We came out to each other and we supported each other through whatever personal difficulties anyone was having; we shared of ourselves and trusted each other. And we met when we could. I ended up meeting at least three of my pen pals and I can tell you that many a relationship was born from that nest of pen pals, just from one 'zine. Those people, my friends from that 'zine, they inspired me to come out to my family, much as the Kitten has inspired so many to come out.

2) If so, how has your experience in online communities been different?

It's really interesting how similar the experience is. The only real difference is things are more immediate online. No more writing a fic and mailing to the 'zine publisher and waiting for it to appear in the next issue and then having to wait until the issue after that for some feedback. Months! No more writing letters back and forth - now we have the board, PMs, IMs, email, etc.

But the quality of the experience is pretty much the same.

3) Do you feel that the Kitten Board provides support or affirmation that you don’t find in other places?

With regard to sexuality, no, not for me, personally, but definitely for many of our members. I'm older, I've been out now for about fifteen years, I have many gay friends and support in real life. All my non-gay friends are supportive, as is my family.

With regard to W/T specifically, yes, definitely. I only had a few friends who watched Buffy at all and none were W/T shippers. They were more sort of general fans of the show. So for W/T stuff, I didn't then and don't now have anywhere else to go but here.

4) Are you attracted to the Kitten Board more because you like the show (and Willow and Tara) or more because you like the community that has grown here?

Both, really. Initially, it was all about the W/T. At first, the Kitten was just where I got my W/T fix between Tuesdays. But it didn't take me long to notice how nice, thoughtful, and articulate everyone was here. It was so different from other boards. (No flaming! Better spelling!) And then I began seeing the Kitten more as a community than just a sort of repository of W/T goodness. The Kitten is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. I've met some wonderful people here over the years, people I really can't imagine not having in my life now.

5) Do you feel that belonging to the Kitten Board has allowed you to have your opinions considered in a larger context than they would be otherwise?

I'm sure, yes. If for no other reason than the fact that we have members from all over the world, members from all walks of life, people I would never in a million years have even known existed otherwise. And we're all able to communicate here.

6) Do you think that queer online fan communities have allowed queer people or fans to gain a greater public voice, outside of the community itself?

Absolutely. Online communities are definitely noticed out there in the world, not just in other online communities or fandoms, but the media sometimes notices us when we get worked up over something. Especially that one thing we got worked up over there a while back. Without overstating the influence of online communities, I do think that people in the media turn to things like online fandoms, blogs, etc., sometimes to gauge the pulse of popular opinion about something. Because it's easier than conducting some survey or poll. If you want to know what "people are saying" about something on TV, a movie, music, politics, events, whatever it is, you can get a quick take on it by finding an online community devoted to it. This probably leads to some distorted ideas, because I think the online fan probably has some important differences from the fan who isn't actively participating in an online community of some kind. But I often see articles in the news that reference fan reaction to, say, the season finale of a TV show, and these articles sometimes even quote posts. So, yes, our voices do sometimes carry quite far even when we think we're just talking amongst ourselves. And online communities are also very good at organizing efforts to deliberately get our voices out there.

[Scarecrow]

Awesome.

I actually considered for my research project that I completed today studying this place. It's fantastic, the changes and developments would make for a wonderful acedemic study. In the end I did a horror board but hey, still love the Kitten.

Check out Kirsten Pullen's article "Everybody's Gotta Love Somebody, Sometime: Online fan Community" as I've found it very useful!

The names karen Ross and Virginia Nightingale may also be handy to know, they've written a lot on fandom in general!

Anyway, on to the questions!

1) Did you participate in fan communities before the internet (that is, did you ever used to go to conventions, read fan fiction or fanzines, etc.)?

A: I went to a few Doctor Who conventions and made a fair few friends (who i sadly have negelected in recent years) but that was the extent of it. The internet was a revelation, allowing access to a global fan community.

2) If so, how has your experience in online communities been different?

A: More time! Conventions come and go but forums are forever! And I branched out to other fandoms and discovered this place, the wonderful world of Willow and Tara! There's more diversity and more opinions, this isn't just local groups or national cons, this is where EVERYONE comes and this is where a new age of fan community has begun.

3) Do you feel that the Kitten Board provides support or affirmation that you don’t find in other places?

Well, I haven't been here as much in recent times but I still love it. It really did confirm my love of the girls, the relationship was by far the most romantic partly because the restrictions forced it to be but it benefitted ina ground breaking piece of TV. This place helped me learn more and develop ideas, I learnt a lot here and it stimulated my active interest in alternative sexuality, 'queer theory' and forms of textual analysis.

It also allowed us fans to come together and support each other through the hard times and it's a testiment to everyone here that we're still going despite the events in Buffy.

4) Are you attracted to the Kitten Board more because you like the show (and Willow and Tara) or more because you like the community that has grown here?

Well, it sinteresting. I came because of the show and i liked Willow and Tara but became a full time fully fledge shipper whilst here. Then doomsday happened and I was so horrified my enthusiasm left me and I sadly drifted away. The reason I'm here now is I missed the place and thats very much the people, the discussions, the ideas and the creativity on display here!

5) Do you feel that belonging to the Kitten Board has allowed you to have your opinions considered in a larger context than they would be otherwise?

Back in the day I would certainly say so though I haven't had too much of a voice here lately. But as a rule the Kitten is very keen on teaching, learning and debating in every area.

6) Do you think that queer online fan communities have allowed queer people or fans to gain a greater public voice, outside of the community itself?

I think they have certainly helped, fan communities have had a greta number of studies done on them and queer ones in paticular often yeild fascinating results. It allows a greater voice and allows a greater unity, globally, as I said before. This can cross over into the real world as peoples confidence grow, as they are supported by others and as they are recognised as a specific group, as the Kittens were.

Hope these answers helped!


- Scarecrow

[xita]

1) Did you participate in fan communities before the internet (that is, did you ever used to go to conventions, read fan fiction or fanzines, etc.)?

I never went to conventions, i read some fanfic (xena, babylon 5). I didn't actively participate in any fandom.

2) If so, how has your experience in online communities been different?

NA

3) Do you feel that the Kitten Board provides support or affirmation that you don’t find in other places?

I always felt that it did. I have worked hard for this place to be a place where kittens could feel completely comfortable with their sexuality. I hope in at least as far as that is concerned, it has happened.

4) Are you attracted to the Kitten Board more because you like the show (and Willow and Tara) or more because you like the community that has grown here?

Now, it's the community. I feel like I can share things that are going on or make people aware of stuff.

5) Do you feel that belonging to the Kitten Board has allowed you to have your opinions considered in a larger context than they would be otherwise?

Oh yeah, it's a large audience that I thought had deminished till we moved and people had to reregister. We always have about 30 people on the board but it's never the same 30 people, it's a very lurky community that is widely read.

6) Do you think that queer online fan communities have allowed queer people or fans to gain a greater public voice, outside of the community itself

I think so. I think anyone online is not really at all surprised or shocked by anyone's sexuality. Of course, I may be sheltered but I just don't see it. I was reading about for instance the most popular pc game ever, the sims, and people who play it have come to accept the homosexuality in it without a problem. Granted that's not online but who with a PC isn't online? these are the same people.

[elfie]

Thanks to everybody who replied Your answers are really articulate and are helping me a lot. We have to make our argument into a website, so I'll post the link in the next couple of days when i get it done

thanks again for being so wonderful...

-elfie

[WebWarlock]

Hope I can still squeeze this one in.

1) Did you participate in fan communities before the internet (that is, did you ever used to go to conventions, read fan fiction or fanzines, etc.)?
I have participated in a number of online forums going all the way back to the good-old BBS days. So more or less constant since about 1987.
I have never been to fan convention, and I have no plan on going to one.

2) If so, how has your experience in online communities been different?
Somewhat. On some boards I was the resident troll, others a valued member and others still only an occasional poster. But what I have seen before I do see here, a common ground for people of similar beliefs to share those beliefs. It is like any social construct.

3) Do you feel that the Kitten Board provides support or affirmation that you don’t find in other places?
In the past yes, less so now. Why? In the past the Kitten Board was a solace in a climate that was extremely hostile. Now, as Buffy-related boards die the same death as the show that spawned them, the Kitten has evolved and changed. The primary focus, it’s core, is still there, but it has embraced new truths.
There is also the, if you excuse the gender use, “Brothers in Arms” effect. We all went through something profound together. That changed us in some subtle and not so subtle ways.
In terms of sexuality. I can say that no here has ever treated me less because of my heterosexuality. I was always treated as someone that shared something with others here and I would be judged on that and not by which gender I slept with. Odd thought isn’t it? Too bad the rest of the world is not as enlightened as the Kitten.

4) Are you attracted to the Kitten Board more because you like the show (and Willow and Tara) or more because you like the community that has grown here?
Again, in the beginning it was for Willow and Tara and today it still is since this is the source for any official Willow and Tara goings on. But that is not to discount what make the Kitten real, the people here. There are millions of discussion boards out there, many of which I could discuss the same topics on, but only this place is the Kitten.

5) Do you feel that belonging to the Kitten Board has allowed you to have your opinions considered in a larger context than they would be otherwise?
I am not sure what you mean, but my answer is no. I have no trouble voicing, expressing or otherwise stating my opinion. On some things it is true that the Kitten amplified my voice. More likely it was that my voice was lifted up in choir of similar voices and together we were louder.

6) Do you think that queer online fan communities have allowed queer people or fans to gain a greater public voice, outside of the community itself?
Not being queer myself I really don’t know. Even today I find things out that many here take for granted. If anything this place has helped me shed some of my ignorance. So I am in that sense a member of “the outside community”, and what I have learned only makes me more understanding and sensitive (and sometimes enraged) about the reality that many of you have to face.

Warlock

[elfie]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all of your help with my paper - I translated it into a website as well (a requirement for the class), so if you want to check it out, here's the link:

http://www.stanford.edu/~noralev/PWR2/

It looks best in Firefox, if you have a choice of browser.

Thanks again for helping me out! If there is anything up there that you would like for me to remove (a quote of yours or anything), please let me know. Also, I will be out of the country for a while (turned in all of my papers/projects and I'm leaving today!) - I'm sorry if it takes me a while to respond, but I'll do my best to check my email and the board.

Thanks,
Nora

[maudmac]

Nora! OMG! It's beautiful! Thank you.

Overall, the Kitten board is a place where members freely discuss their everyday doings, joys and downfalls. It’s hard to conceive of a more supportive environment.

That brought a tear to my eye. Kittens are the best!

I hope you have a great vacation.