Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Why are we like this?
Front-Ranger:
I went to a seminar in February called Web 2.0. Learned a little about how things are evolving on the Web. It was mostly technical stuff but there is a lot to be learned from a sociological viewpoint. Some of the people on this message board won't be surprised to learn that over half of the content on the Web right now is consumer-generated. Internet communities are being formed like ours every day. I like to think that ours is one of the most diverse, more cultured, hip, and attuned to the human condition. That starts to explain how addictive it is! Why are we like this? Well, this message board is fuel for our passions, and keeps them burning brightly. That's why we are like this! IMHO anyway.
Brown Eyes:
Heya Friends,
Well, I've been reading this very excellent thread for a while and I've been a little scared of jumping in ... It seems like the main question could lead to some *interesting* revelations.
:-\
So, I'll start with a few simple observations... I love the film as a film and will never tire of watching it or picking it apart in discussions. It's interesting to see how my interest in the movie and my participation in these boards have evolved... Participation in these boards has taken on a life of its own. Spending time on Bettermost is definitely far superior to watching bad TV, etc. so in my true leisure time I often can't wait to log on here. And, I would definitely agree that there's a lot of escapism involved here for me too. I just think it's amazing fun to have this big group of people who understand all of our obscure references, Brokie-language and jokes (jokes that no one besides a Brokie would get or find funny). Talking about BBM with people in my real life is annoying and stressful to me. And, I don't have much patience for talking to BBM "novices" in the real world (I don't mean newbies here... I think it's great when new people join in here. New members here clearly come here with a great deal of insight into the film). I have too many emotions tied up with the film to be able to talk about it casually with people. So it's nice to be able to assume that people here know what you're talking about and you don't need to constantly explain everything.
On a more personal level... I just moved here (well actually about a year ago) and besides people at work, I haven't had much time to meet many new people. In an unfortunately Ennis-like way, I'm noticing that I'm becoming very circumspect about trying to make new friends or about letting conversations with new people go too far... for fear of having to come out to them. This was all much easier in college and during grad school... dealing with this in the professional world is a whole different ballgame. I'm also single... so this new loner quality of mine is not helping in that department either. I never used to be like this... I've always had a large circle of friends (and I still do... only they all live far away now). I don't know... I'm hoping this is a phase that will pass (I don't mean my Bettermost days... I mean my lack of interest in going out much).
ps. Yeah, Chris, it's great to see you around! Where you been?
wolf:
I'd be interested to see just how many of us, or what percentage, fall into the 'fan' demographic. My guess would be very few, if any. THAT in itself, amazes the heck out of me. Adds weight to the epiphanic powers of BBM, if weight were needed. Wolf is certainly well outside the demographic. Star Trek amore notwithstanding.
Generally speaking, there are phenomenons which stubbornly (and magnificently) hover above our feeble attempts to describe them. These magical, unknowable, mysterious things are created when remarkable forces align. Depending on your view of quantum physics, these can be repeatable or unrepeatable events. I don't think BBM is repeatable - yet unlike your typical unrepeatable quantum event, it IS observable. So we can observe something that can't be repeated, but cannot describe the event. Boy, are we in some strange place :o ;D
W
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: wolf on June 18, 2006, 11:34:10 pm ---I'd be interested to see just how many of us, or what percentage, fall into the 'fan' demographic. My guess would be very few, if any. THAT in itself, amazes the heck out of me. Adds weight to the epiphanic powers of BBM, if weight were needed. Wolf is certainly well outside the demographic.
--- End quote ---
What's the "fan demographic"? I'm certainly no teeny-bopper, but is there some measure of a fan vs. a serious aficionado? I think most people who have gravitated to BetterMost... or who have been given an invitation to join BetterMost are already on a special level of Brokeback appreciation. And, the level of discussion here I think also reflects this. I'll certainly agree with you that Brokeback has special "epiphanic powers". That's quite a phrase!
:)
wolf:
ah yes, the Fan Demographic. a good question, Watson ;)
a knowledgeable friend recently described it as, broadly, 15 to 35 and working to middle class, with access to disposable income. there are finer criteria for the various 'grades' of Fandom, of course, but for the purposes of this enquiry ...
serious afficionado. hmmm .... do you mean Film Buff, or something else? I'm a reformed Film Buff (again, Star Trek amore notwithstanding), so wonder if that does in fact, render Wolf a Fan :o.
either way, I consider us our own breed. in fact, we might well be aliens, responding to a well-disguised homing beacon. only we can 'hear' the Signal :P
w
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version