Subject: [VP] a very timid hello
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 19:29:58 -0400 (EDT)
From:  AGold


Hi - I've kind of been hanging around for a while working up the 
nerve to introduce myself.  So, here goes - (but please, be 
gentle, I'm a "virgin" to fandoms, slash and computers!).  For 
the heck of it one night I decided to type in a search for S&H 
and lo and behold, I found out I wasn't the only one who loved 
the show then and now!  As I said, I had never really heard of 
fandoms, or fanfiction.  I thought I had hit the jackpot when I 
found the S&H stories archives.  I read all the stories, and 
wanted more.  I had gotten a description of slash, and it didn't 
really interest me - didn't seem to fit in with what I wanted to 
read.....but.....

I must have read all the gen stories at least twice, and was 
trying to find a way to get more, and I talked to a couple of 
people individually on-line who were very anti-slash.  I was not 
anti-slash when I talked to them, but I think because I said that 
I didn't think I was interested in it, that they felt free to go 
off about it. I guess that I hadn't explained myself well enough 
to them, because that wasn't where I was coming from - at that 
point I just didn't think it would hold my attention. However, I 
don't judge people based on what they read, write, think, 
believe, etc.- I'm strictly a "live and let live " type. 

It ended up being a sort of heated argument, and I know that I 
won't be talking to those 2 again.  And, I don't mean this 
harshly, but I don't have room in my life for people who feel 
comfortable judging others.  Anyway, I decided to check out the 
slash fanfiction that was available on line, partly because of 
how anti these people were, and also out of desperation for more 
S&H.  I went to the slash fanfiction archive pages, and read 
every story on there!  Alright, I admit it, I read some way more 
than once!  And yes, I was wrong...it certainly did hold my 
interest!

So, here I am...Flamingo has been AMAZING, and reading all the 
messages that go back and forth, everyone seems friendly and 
warm.  I shouldn't be surprised - what else would I expect from 
fans of the best relationship show ever!

Audrey


Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 20:54:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: AGold
Subject: Re:  [VP]: Slash ponderings (was: a timid hello)


When I first started watching S&H I was about 12 or 13 I think, 
and I strictly watched because I was convinced that someday 
Starsky and I would get married!! Talk about obsessed...  Then, 
as I matured (somewhat) , I found what kept my attention was the 
intense and beautiful friendship between the two - and as I said 
to someone (cant remember who), I have always felt that theirs 
was a "romantic" relationship, just not in the traditional sense.  
When I first got the explanation of slash, it just didn't 
interest me...it didn't fit in with my fantasies I guess. But the 
whole impact of the show for me was the relationship - the love 
that was clearly and unashamedly demonstrated .  The slash 
fanfiction that I have read has been able to bring forth that 
love and the feelings between the two beautifully - and the part 
that I can't understand is how people could condemn love - have 
they even read the stories?  I made my decision b4 I read any 
slash stories (although I certainly didn't condemn or judge 
readers/writers of slash).  Once I had read them, I was so glad 
that I took that step.  Otherwise, I would have missed out on 
some great writing, and meeting some great people.

Audrey


Subject: Re: [VP] and how did YOU get into slash?
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 1999 20:44:19 -0500 (EST)
From: AGold
To: veniceplace@jbx.com


My intro to slash is kind of funny.  I was trying to send a note 
to a friend online about this great S/H story I had just read, 
but I accidentally sent it to the wrong address, which, 
miraculously enough, happened to be VP.  Ok, that's a lie.  But I 
am sure given my history on VP it's believable enough.

My real intro was after I discovered fandom and fanfic for the 
first time not too long ago.  Having been a diehard fan since the 
beginning, I devoured all the gen stuff online in a very short 
time.  I dropped a note to Flamingo thru the gen. archive page 
telling her how much I loved the story "The Goliath", and asked 
for info on how to get my hands on more.  I had read a 
description of slash, and I mentioned that I wasn't interested in 
it.  I didn't think it would hold my attention.  Flamingo 
graciously sent me a nice note with info to get me hooked up with 
ways to buy gen. zines.  

Being the obsessive type, I was having a hard time waiting for my 
first (gen.) zine to come in the mail.  I had read all the gen. 
stuff online multiple times, and sheer desperation led me to the 
S/H archive, and I was hooked.  The first story I read was "My 
True Love Gave To Me", and it was great.  Better than great.  
Blew me away.  I stayed up that night until I had read every damn 
S/H story I could find online.  And of course, I had to write 
Flamingo and tell her how wrong I had been.  It wasn't that I 
didn't like the idea of them as lovers, or that I cared what 
others read or wrote.  I just didn't think it would hold my 
interest.   Of course, getting into a couple heated discussions 
with some very anti-slash fans also made me curious.  At that 
point I hadn't read any slash yet, but regardless, I couldn't see 
how in the world someone could object to what another fan chose 
to read or write.

This may be where I differ from most on the list tho - I still 
enjoy reading both gen and slash stories.    The 2 stories on the 
gen archive "The Goliath" and "The THousandth Man" are 2 of my 
favorites.  As are the slash ones "Crystal Blue Persuasion" and 
"Solace", and "My True Love Gave To Me" and "Risk" and I could go 
on and on!  And also, I may be one of the few to be a one fandom 
woman.  I am only interested in this fandom.  For whatever 
elusive reason, the show just grabbed a hold of me and has never 
let go.  I have never seen a show come close to offering as 
beautiful and intense love and chemistry.  And in my oh so humble 
opinion, never will!   I love the emotion that slash stories 
offer.  I find the sex erotic about half the time.  I guess it 
depends how well it's written.  I don't think that I would 
necessarily find a story about any other 2 men erotic, I think 
it's only because of who it is that's having the sex.  Of course, 
I was wrong about slash to begin with, so who knows!

Audrey
Oh, by the way, I have checked and double checked and I 
definitely am sending this to the right address.   I hope.
