Welcome

Editor's Notes

Current

November 1, 1999

On Community

Traditionally, community is defined as "people with common interests living in a particular area." In today's internet and world wide web environment, community ties to physical location are being transformed. Though still fragmented in many ways, the virtual space has the potential to become a locus of its own.

For fandom, such as we have for Stargate SG-1, this is an amazing opportunity. Although there may only be a handful of us in any one true location around the world, we can collect and meet each other in "cyberspace," transcending many boundaries.

Yet, we are still somewhat separated from one another due to the myriad ways and places we do choose to collect. Overlapping but non-congruent communities are developing at such places as

SG1.net message boards
alt.tv.stargate-sg1
showtimeonline.com
sgfic and other lists at Onelist.com

as well as many others.

What can we do to bring us together into one great Stargate SG-1 community? Perhaps we never can do so. Some might argue that we do not ultimately need to do so--we are, after all, highly individual to begin with, if our taste in television is any indication! But nonetheless, I would wish that we make an effort to think of ourselves as part of this new community, regardless of its final form.

There is no benefit in disparaging those who chose to express their interest in the show in a form differently than we do. Some may choose only to discuss the series, some may choose to write fan fiction, some may choose to roleplay a life at the SGC.

And within each of these areas, there are variations in approach. Some fans may relish arguments about technology, some may enjoy critiquing the show's production, some may simply want to express what they liked and didn't like about an episode. Some authors might write relationship stories, some may be dedicated "whumpers", some may concentrate on action and drama.

I encourage these differences, I relish in them, for it is through our differences that we challenge and enrich each other. We choose to come together into this nebulous "Stargate SG-1 Community" because of a common interest. But we must remember that the true benefits of community come from what each individual brings to the group, not just from the one thing we share.

-- Meli