Sep. 2nd, 2004

definitions

Sep. 2nd, 2004 01:30 pm
amedia: Close up on young man looking at the camera (Kookie from 77 Sunset Strip). Caption: wanna play ... boy detective? (kookie)
I belong to a small listserv for Rat Patrol fans who are vigilant to keep tabs on potential sock puppeteers (we had a dreadful infestation of sock puppets a few years ago). The fandom_wank community has been mentioned a number of times, and one of our members asked precisely what fen mean when they say "wank," as she knows what the British mean and this seemed somewhat different. So I posted a response, which grew from an attempted definition to a general rumination on the concept and the community. It was fun putting it together, and I thought I might share it with y'all--comments welcome!

****
Despite the risk of appearing to pontificate, I shall attempt to answer [listmember]'s question, based on my own observations. As a side note, you realize what we are doing is something like what the first dictionary-creators (and dictionary-revisers nowadays) were/are doing: detecting the use of language while it is still in the process of evolution and therefore conjecturing our definitions based on observed usage.

As I understand it, the term "wank" has acquired astonishing versatility.

Originally, of course, it is British slang for "masturbate," and came to be used on the Internet to refer to people who whine excessively in public (e.g. on a listserv or in an online diary), flaunting, exaggerating, and publicizing what would ordinarily be petty personal grievances. It has been extended to refer to people who behave badly in Internet forums in a "drama queen" kind of way, especially if they harass, deceive, or otherwise injure other participants.

The purpose of fandom_wank is to subject these wankers - i.e., people whining in public - to what may be the only remaining deterrent to Internet misbehavior: public exposure and ridicule.

What I find fascinating about this phenomenon is the tension between the reputation of fandom_wank and the attitudes actually displayed therein. The reputation of fandom_wank is that it is a place where people are flippant, cruel, and mocking. However, if you read it in any depth, you realize that the people on fandom_wank are actually promoting a fairly high moral standard: beneath remarks such as "the stupid - it burns, preciousss!" you will frequently find expressions of outrage at the damage - emotional abuse, betrayal of friendship, splintering of community - perpetrated by the wankers - and a corresponding value placed on kindness, trustworthiness, and collegiality.

The verb "wank" has also picked up a secondary meaning; in addition to referring to the act of whining excessively, it has also come to be shorthand for "pointing out someone's bad behavior on fandom_wank." (This form seems to be used only in the passive.) Thus, some who wanks (sense 1) may well be wanked (sense 2).

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