rich brown's definitions

gafia

Acronym standing for Getting Away From It All, used in science fiction fandom and coined in 1940 by Dick Wilson. When it was first coined, it meant a fan who was getting away from mundane persuits to engage in fan activities, but in a very short period it flip-flopped in meaning and was thereafter used to mean leaving fan activities behind to pursue real-world endeavors. See also: "gafiate".

I was gafia while attending college.

by rich brown August 8, 2004

bydcomz

An sf fan apa term, the letter "M" being underlined, being an acronym for "But You Didn't Comment On My Zine! (so I'm not going to comment on yours)". The parenthetical comment is implied.

"You published some interesting comments -- BYDCOMZ!"

by rich brown August 11, 2004

croggled

Surprised/dazed/brought up short.

"I was croggled when you said you suggested using corn cobs inin lieu of toilet paper."

by rich brown August 11, 2004

minac

In science fiction fandom, short for MINimum ACtivity. Members of any given apa usually have a specific number of pages they must publish and contribute in a given period of time.

"He had to publish eight pages by the end of the year to meet his minac requirements."

by rich brown August 12, 2004

fanzine

Combination of fan and zine. Coined in 1940 by Maryland sf fan L. Russell Chauvenet to apply to the amateur publications put out by sf fans (as opposed to "prozines," the professional magazines). (Previously they had been called "fan magazines" but the new term was promptly adopted since "fan magazines" also meant professional magazines put out at the time about movie stars.) The term has since been coopted by any number of interest areas where amateur publications are involved, including but not limited to rock.

I used a mimeograph to publish my fanzine.

by rich brown August 8, 2004

DNP

Acroynym for Do Not Print (or, for Net purposes, Do Not Post). This is more important in sf fan etiquette than in netiquette; in the latter, it is presumed that it is Bad Form to quote someone else's email on a bulletin board, although some people still sometimes make the error of doing so. While letters technically remain the intellectual property of the writer, most newspapers, magazines and fanzines assume anything submitted to them is for publication, so saying, “The following is DNP...” indicates that you are withdrawing any implicit permission to print that part of your missive.

Please consider my comments DNP.

by rich brown August 11, 2004

afficionado

A non-fanatical enthusiast.

He was an afficionado rather than a fan.

by rich brown August 11, 2004