Robin,
Thanks for posting your experiences. It helps me
understand the discussion better.
I was never put down for reading and loving sci
fi or watching Star Trek, nor kept from the adult
section at the library, even in grade school. Maybe
this is why I never knew until recently the negative
reputation of sci fi with which many on this list had
to struggle.
BTW, you seem to have survived the feared "brain rot"
very well. >:-D
Regarding categorizing into genre: Sure. Categories
can be very useful and helpful in discussing and
contrasting literature.
I do not understand selecting a particular genre and
labeling people who enjoy certain works within it as
something insultingly negative while labeling others
who read different works within the category as some
sort of higher beings.
We all bring our life experience into what we read.
Whether something jibes with our world view or excites
us enough to expand it, or makes us want to throw the
book into the trash depends on subjective criteria.
I have read works I considered mediocre. I don't
consider the readers who enjoy these works to be
mediocre.
There are genres I don't touch because I've never
gotten what I've wanted from them. I cannot label
the readers of those genres as less discriminating
than me. They're just different.
I know people with doctoral degrees who read with
relish stuff I find boring. I know a man who drives
a semi and loves romance novels AND Yeats.
Except in extreme cases (including hate propaganda) I
cannot bring myself to look down at or up to someone
because of choice of reading material.
One of the aspects about sci fi is that it can be
a marvelous vehicle for social commentary and change.
I love reading about imaginary, complex cultures and
beings of myriad forms: multi-tentacled beings,
silicon-based life-forms, humanoid and arachnoid
people.
I love exploring the authors' creative solutions to
social organization and conflict in cultures that do
not actually exist (as far as I know).
Some friends dislike this very aspect about sci fi and
don't read the genre for that reason. They prefer
to read about situations and solutions based on
"here and now" reality (as they define it).
It's loads of fun when I find people who enjoy some of
the authors and topics that I do. Having a common frame
of reference often allows the discussion to move past
the need to define some of the basics and into juicy
aspects.
It's also stimulating to participate in discussions
with those who prefer authors and genre's I don't
like. If nothing else, I may find out why the genre
attracts that individual, learning more about her or
him. I may even find out something to enable me to
appreciate an author or genre.
Reading is such a marvelous experience for me. I
support people in seeking and appreciating novels,
stories, non-fiction and/or poetry. . . whatever
speaks to them.
Categorize into genre: sure.
Discuss: yes.
Choose for myself: yes.
Define genre as worthy or not: no.
Judge choices of others: no.
Of course, this is my opinion based on what is important
to me.
Thanks,
Lindy
-- "If I had my past life to live over, I'd make all the same mistakes, only sooner." --Tallulah Bankheadhttp://www.best.com/~laorka Resources related to women, disabilities and literature
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