I can say honestly that I have gotten more intellectual stimulation since I watched Buffy and joined this fandom than I had for the prior ten years!
This is exactly my experience. BtVS fandom (particularly the pro-Buffy contingent of Spuffy fans) got me out of a long period of depression, got me back into school, got me interested in fandom studies, and pretty much set the road I am currently traveling on. I changed political parties because of Buffy fandom. I learned about social justice through Buffy fandom, and became able to articulate the more progressive beliefs I had underlying the inbred conservatism I got from my parents through Buffy fandom. I'll forever be sad that my gaffe lost me so many of the friends who really influenced my beliefs and way of thinking, but I'm still grateful I met them because of the person I became because of them.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2013-10-14 01:09 am (UTC)This is exactly my experience. BtVS fandom (particularly the pro-Buffy contingent of Spuffy fans) got me out of a long period of depression, got me back into school, got me interested in fandom studies, and pretty much set the road I am currently traveling on. I changed political parties because of Buffy fandom. I learned about social justice through Buffy fandom, and became able to articulate the more progressive beliefs I had underlying the inbred conservatism I got from my parents through Buffy fandom. I'll forever be sad that my gaffe lost me so many of the friends who really influenced my beliefs and way of thinking, but I'm still grateful I met them because of the person I became because of them.
Shit. Now I'm crying.