What's the big deal about privacy anyway?  Slash is all over the 
net!

A few years ago I would have never thought this would be an issue 
that needed to be clarified, but with the open atmosphere of the 
Net many newer fans honestly don't understand why some of the 
older fen are so "paranoid" about participating in slash fandom.  
Some list members won't even list their addresses on the VP intro 
page, and many use pseudonyms on the list.  While mailing lists 
like VP and countless web sites devoted to slash make the topic 
seem open and acceptable, in the real world it is not.  

Besides the fact that fan fiction violates copyright laws, in 
some states, slash can be considered an illegal form of 
pornography, and having slash zines, mailing them, or 
distributing them can be illegal.  Fans who hold sensitive 
positions such as librarians, teachers, or anyone working with 
children can be lose their careers for participating in slash 
fandom.  Many jobs have a "morality" clause and employees can be 
legally fired for participating in slash.  While The Powers That 
Be on some shows have a more benign attitude about the potential 
homo-erotic content of their programs, many still do not, and the 
content of the shows themselves could be affected by an 
aggressive slash fandom (though when this happens it often has 
more to do with the homophobia of network execs and how straight 
they want their show to appear).  Actors' careers can be 
negatively affected if the people who hire them perceive them as 
being "recognizably gay" or "reading" gay.  

Slash fandom has always been a counter-culture phenomenon 
existing somewhat uncomfortably with general fandom.  Privacy 
issues are important to individual slash fans (many of whom are 
in the closet even to their spouses) and to their shows.  We all 
need to remember this and respect it.

It is for these reasons that Veniceplace will always be a 
*private*, invitation-only list.  If the existence of this list 
becomes publicly known, I might have to shut it down.  

Flamingo
