Steven Savage – Page 416 – Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek

Fan I Am #6: Fandom And Larger Culture

November 12, 2014 by Steven Savage

Scientist Scope Technology Science

I’d like to take a break from my deeper musing on Fandom to look at how having a Fandom as an identity and as a culture really isn’t that different from non-fannish stuff.

Its probably easy to think of those that identify heavily as Fandom as different. After all most people, say, are not obsessed with “Sleepy Hollow”* Ergo fans are “different” from “other cultures,” which of course is basically bollocks because people are people. We’re just different people.

But when we step back from Fandoms we realize they really are their own culture, albeit embedded in a larger culture. Now, as I’ve argued, identifying primarily with that culture is not always a healthy or positive thing. But cultures they are.

Consider what they have.

Muse Hack News Roundup 11/12/2014

November 12, 2014 by Steven Savage

President Obama wants the FCC to treat the Internet like other public utilities. The FCC is dissenting, and of course Ted Cruz shoots his mouth off with weird comparison. I think we can all get behind Net Neutrality as you’re reading this damn thing off the internet.
Yes we need more women in STEM. One woman is working on addressing the Silicon Valley gender gap to do her part. Here’s some advice for women wanting to go into STEM. Support Female Geeks
I’ve noted for awhile that relocating may be necessary for your career – and it may be a way to escape the effects of income inequality. By the way that inequality is pretty disturbing.
A good Christmas Gift Hack – Dollar Store Superhero Clock.
Shadowbinders needs a colorist.
Just for fun – enjoy Batman 1972.
The U.S. Games industry grew 4 times the speed of the US Economy – though it does have its issue. Read more!
Barnes & Noble is getting into Print On Demand.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach. He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

Way With Worlds: Goals, Methods, And Results

November 10, 2014 by Steven Savage

(Way With Worlds Runs at Seventh Sanctum, Muse Hack, and Ongoing Worlds)

Stories, games, and all fictions are about people, about characters, about what they do and why. They may not be like us, we may not like them, but that’s what’s going on. We’re watching people (even if not human) do stuff to get results, though we may put it in more colorful ways.

Goals, methods of reaching them, and results are, in a way, everything a story is about. In the end, you’ve got to save the prince so you can throw the one ring into the fiery pit of the starship engine to bypass the alien invaders before your ninja rival does.* No goals, no methods, no results, no story, no interest.

Therefore, your world has to include characters that have believable goals, ways of achieving them, and results.

Which is obvious.

And, as you’ve heard me say many times, and doubtlessly will again, obvious is the problem.

Let’s dive in.