1/02/2000

Hi

I live in the UK where I am a University Administrator.  I loved watching
the guys when they were  first on t.v. in the 70s, and am now once again
totally and utterly hooked by the love they so obviously share.

In my teens, I used to make up stories (which I have now  discovered are
slash) about the guys, albeit on the  romantic side of their relationship,
rather than just cold sex,  after all it was their love for one another than
was so  important. I did it without even realizing that their were others
around that did it too, and that I wasn't "odd" or alone in it.  I've never
told anyone about these stories - even though I have continued to "write"
them ever since then, albeit mostly in  my head. However, since getting into
fandom during 1999, I have written several stories and have several more "in
progress".

I love watching episodes, songvids and reading stories about them, there's
nothing quite like sitting down with a nice glass of wine and a good zine. I
enjoy both slash and gen stories, but do have a preference for the former. I
want to see Starsky and Hutch together - as they should be - and what better
way than in a 100% committed relationship. I enjoy all types of stories,
soppy, PWPs, work-related, total relationship ones and all the others - the
important ingredient for me is their love. It's their love that shines off
the t.v. screens, and it is this that leaps of the pages at you when you
read.

I love watching them together, love the looks, the caresses, the total
togetherness, the fact that they cannot keep their hands or eyes off each
other. No other partnership has ever given such total oneness as Starsky and
Hutch portray. Long may it continue.

Since joining fandom, I've made some really good friends and look forward to
these relationships continuing. I look forward to continuing my involvement
and my enjoyment.

Nikki

Subject: Re: [VP] Message to Mamabird 
       Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 15:09:11 +0100
      From: Nikki
        
Hi Flamingo and all,

A little late in the day and a lot of what I want to say has already been said by many, but 
Flamingo's post touched me so much that I want to respond as well - even if it is only reiterating 
what many people have said.

I love VP - I've only been here since March and it was through Mamabird that I became a member and 
I've loved it ever since. I have made some wonderful contacts through this list and thoroughly enjoy 
the discussions that take place. Okay, I know that I don't contribute all that much, but part of it 
is due to the time difference. I'm in the UK and by the time I get home from work each evening (I 
don't have the luxury of checking VP) at work, discussions are in full flow or even have ended and 
what I want to say has been said, and I think to myself, "hey people have read this once, they don't 
want to again...". Or it seems a bit daft to respond to the first post when it has been moved on by 
other. So I don't say much.

I throw in the odd question - which has always been answered and I'm very grateful for it. Also due 
to various other things, that I won't bore you all with, I often find I cannot get to my mail every 
day and so a few days go by and then things have really moved on. I do a lot of my stuff at the 
weekends, when most other people have a 'real' life :) But I still feel very much a part of it and 
read all of the VP posts.

The story discussions are really enjoyable and this time especially was super, because it contained 
stories that I knew and thus I was able to contribute. I think it is really neat of the authors to 
throw open their stories for open discussion, receiving LoCs is one thing where someone can privately 
say that they do not like something - but to be prepared to have it said publicly is quite something 
else. I think all those that have allowed their stories to be discussed in such a way are very brave 
people. Flamingo's concern that very few people discussed her previous story is well felt and I know 
that I'd feel the same too. But hey Mamabird, it could be because there are a lot of newbies on this 
list and we haven't had the chance to read the stories that some of the 'older' (not using this in an 
ageist term - I hasten to add. Yep, I work somewhere where PCness is so important) members. I like to 
contribute to these discussions, but am limited by what I've been able to beg, borrow or download 
from the web :) and have only just started to purchase stuff.

Flamingo's line of the nicest hood on the net is very true, it is a great list and I'm very happy 
here and feel truly at home. People are friendly and it is so nice to see that even when there is 
some disagreement, it is handled in an adult way and there isn't sniping and bitching. The first time 
I read a controversial post I thought, "oh dear" (or words to that effect ;) ) "all hell's going to 
break lose", because that is the sort of thing I'd seen happen elsewhere - did it no. It was all 
handled in a wonderful way - this is the only place where it seems that the lack of face to face 
doesn't matter, people do not feel constrained by it.

I feel 'safe' and secure here. I'm on SHFanfic and I do not get this feeling of belong or of safety 
over there. Okay there are a lot of posts, but quite frankly I delete most of them almost 
immediately, and actually feel rather intimidated and sometimes annoyed by the number of posts. There 
isn't the freedom to say what you feel there, and if I do post I spend so much time trying to compose 
something that avoids emotive terms and any reference to slash. I posted a bio there and said that I 
enjoyed slash and gen etc. and I held my breath and pressed send, fully expecting some repercussions 
and "how dare you say that word on here."

I also get a little tired of the totally non SH related posts that go on and on and on. I enjoy some 
of the stories that are posted and it is for this reason really that I don't just ditch the list. But 
if I had to choose between VP and SHFanfic  - which may well happen next year with additional 
commitments - I'd have no hesitation, fanfic would go. I find that there is very little discussion 
that goes on there and I find it very cliquey, something that VP isn't. Having said all of this, I 
have made a few person contacts through Fanfic, but I guess that is how it tends to stay - personal. 
So I do hope that I'm not offending anyone here, Fanfic has it's place and for as long as I can I 
will keep as part of it, but for me VP is the place to be.

I'd love to see some stories on VP and really like the things that Flamingo and others post. I guess 
part of the reason that I do not add my, "and me" to the praise etc. that people pass on to Flamingo, 
is again because it has been said and I'm wary of filling up my list-sisters mailboxes with such 
stuff. So, although it is late in the day Mamabird - I really, really loved your Aegean saga - I 
hadn't come across the Olympics and wish that I had - I think you mentioned you hoped to get them 
posted somewhere (time permitting of course) and these posts were wonderful, a great mixture of 
humor, love, sex, fun and togetherness. And just to throw in another plea on behalf of many, I'm sure 
- I want to see the end of Total Eclipse.. please.. pretty please....

Being really quite new I've only just become aware of how important it is to writers to receive 
feedback on their stories and how much they do value LoCs. So I'd like to make a plea on writer's 
behalf's - go on give feedback, it will be welcomed. Praise of course is wonderful, but as important 
is constructive criticism. I know a lot of people feel worried that they do not know the 'correct' 
way to phrase a LoC - indeed with the first one I sent, I started off by saying just this and 
apologizing if it wasn't the 'right' or 'professional' way. The recipient reassured me that there is 
no 'right' way - so go on folks, say what you feel. You can be as enthusiastic and emotional as you 
like (believe me) and it is welcomed, really. Okay so end of ad. for writers :))

The lack of offers to help could stem from a number of things: the general feeling by some people 
that, it's okay someone else will offer - which, going off at a tangent, is what I think is one of 
the problems with the Huggys. We have to nominate and then vote. A lot of people will feel, "it's 
okay so and so will nominate that story/zine/web-site", so I don't need to bother - I'll vote. This 
adds up and there are a lack of nominations. Sorry long tangent - this message isn't over coherent, 
but it is heartfelt and honest, so please forgive and bear with me. Back to reasons for not offering 
help:  or they feel that they do not have the skills necessary, or feel shy to volunteer, or, in my 
case, do not want to in case they couldn't fulfill their promise. Taking on another commitment may be 
too much for some people and they do not want to let everyone down.

Back to Huggy's again - jumping about here - I think one of the problems may have been that when you 
first brought them up, it almost corresponded with the time you had problems with your mailbox and 
thus a number of us asked questions - either through the list or personally -  to do with what 
constituted a short story etc. etc. and the question didn't get answered. I admit, I didn't ask 
again, because I thought, "why bother, I'm keen but..." I know, bad thought - but I'm honest enough 
to admit it. Finally a couple of people did ask again and once the answers were received, it put me 
in a position to be able to nominate. So it was very unfortunate timing I think Mamabird. Add to this 
the number of newbies and their lack of reading etc. and they may feel that they do not know enough 
stories etc. to be able to nominate.  Someone who has been on this list for a few years now, told me 
that the newcomers now outweigh the 'old-timers', this may be misinformation but... I've  now done 
it, but I admit my choice has to be limited to what I have read, and may not cover adequately what is 
eligible or not. Plus people are notorious for not doing things until the last moment.. And finally, 
now that we can vote by email, well one can wait until 31st August ;) So it isn't disinterest - just 
a concatenation of events.

I love reading slash and am greedy to get my hands on as much as I can. I actually enjoy gen as well 
as long as it deals with the love aspect of the guys, because that is the most important aspect of 
their relationship - IMHO - sex is an incidental. I don't want to see they go off and get married or 
even with women, so as long as they are together that is great for me. I'd love to see some stories 
on here - okay I hear you ask why don't you write some. Well I am writing stuff, just haven't got 
much finished yet ;) but one day.... Also the beauty of the odd bit that has been posted here is the 
quality of it, it is true to characters and is of high quality writing and that I know for so many is 
so important.  Right, this is already a lot longer than I'd intended to - once I get started I find 
it hard to stop. I hope you are still with me and forgive the somewhat incoherent bits :) My defense 
Your Honor is that it is heartfelt and honest. I love this list, have made some wonderful friends and 
love what is shows about Starsky and Hutch - I'm eternally grateful to Mamabird for inviting me to 
join all you wonderful people. So please, please Mama don't feel that you have done anything wrong or 
that we are disinterested - I for one am not. For me VP is just right.

Nikki
(off to be slightly less passionate)


