At 09:58 PM 6/14/97 -0500, you wrote:
>        Maybe he's new to conventions.  Give him a break, "Fan" seems to
>be a unique subculture/race that other acting activities don't share.
>I've never heard of a soap opera convention, but then again I don't watch
>soaps.  I say "race" because it seems that much more people at fan
>conventions look alike, and like me, than the general caucasan
>population.  It's a bit scary at first when all of a sudden I start
>"fitting in," the amount of Wiccans near me goes through the roof, and
>the BMI almost doubles.  I'm not used to being "average."

What's BMI?  Body Mass Index or something?

I agree; I've never been to a Sci Fi convention, but most of the fans I've
met are instantly recognizable as 'kin.'  I think it's due to similar
'weltanschauungs' -- we can't be bothered with status-oriented things like
personal appearance (well, beyond trying to look halfway decent so we don't
scare people!) and fancy/designer clothes and so on; what's more important
is what you _know_.

The crowd I usually hang with is the Society for Creative Anachronism
types, though I'm not currently a member (I'm in a fringe group that does
Iron Age Celtic reenactment, and there's a Viking group trying to recruit
me :D).  Similar mentality; it's the knowledge, and craftsmanship, that
counts.  Though to some extent, appearance IS important; a well-made
costume shows that you've taken the time to research your persona and put
together something both aesthetically pleasing and historically accurate.

To bring this back on-topic, I was talking with someone in the Viking group
I mentioned about low-carb; she's a Type O, and has definite blood-sugar
problems, but also has gall-stone problems, so has concerns about fat in
her diet.  Anyone have some advice on this kind of thing?

Corbie
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http://www.radix.net/~lindo
I am *NOT* a rabid feminist!  I had my shots last year.