Once upon a time Natsume Atsuko shaped the electrons to say...
I started the FFML because I hated the fact that RAAS (Now RAAC, of
course) was moderated. It held things up when you got too busy to post
stuff.
Of course, that's not exactly *revenge* based. I always thought of it as
a place to send a fic that wasn't quite ready for RAAS.
I *never* viewed FFML, or any of the other lists (there have been/are a
number dedicated to specific series, or creators), as competition. RAAS/C
was a place for finished works to be published. It was not a suitable
forum for works in progress or feedback during the authoring process. And
yes, it sure got slow in early 1996. That's what got me to resign in July
at AX. I realized my life was too busy to keep it up. And after years of
helping to build the fanfic community (starting the first central archive,
fighting for the group spilt to create RAAS, moderating the group) I was
burning out. The volume had increased several fold, and I was starting to
feel bitter about the draw on my time. When I realized that I realized I'd
better serve the community by putting aside ego and pride (because I
certainly had a lot of personal investment in the group, it became a personal
obesssion with making it work) and turning the group over to fresh blood who
had a newer perspective on things and new ideas to make it work with the
newer fans. And I think they've done a fantastic job.
I'm human, and there are times that I get snippy and get that stupid "the
fans these days don't appreciate what we did to build the things that they
take for granted now" attitude. But I remind myself that I didn't do it for
fame and fortune, I did it because I thought it was was Good Idea (tm).
I perceived a need in the fandom, I had the skills needed to help answer
that need, and I did it to better fandom. Being human I certainly liked it
when that work got noticed and people appreciated it, but that wasn't the
drive behind the act - that was icing. I did the same thing for Ani DiFranco
fans, because she's a friend and an artist I enjoy - I run her email lists
and I'm (slowly) working on building a website.
In the anime community I turned my efforts towards helping in other ways -
working for Anime Expo primarily. I've been involved with AX since 1992,
and worked on straff at the con every year excewpt 1994 (I was in Europe
finishing my second degree and just couldn't make the con). I organize the
fanfic panel, and I'm usually on the Anime Online panel too. And it looks
like I'll be organizing the FanFic panel for Neko-Con this year, now that
I'm back East again.
I've been asked by people if I thought of other mailing lists as competition,
or a slight on my efforts, or anything like that. No, not once. In fact my
stance in any list or group I've maintained or moderated has been to do my
best to run it as the audience prefers, but, knowing I can't please everyone
all the time, that people are always welcome to form their own communities
and run them as they see fit. That is the freedom on the nets - and that
is something I am very pasionate about. I always thought the FFML was a good
idea because it fills a niche that RAAS/C could not. And I'm glad to see it
remain active for so long.
-MZ