That word might not mean what we think it means.

[logovo]

Reading some stuff today I saw several people talking about aca-fans (acafans? AcaFans?) and I'm starting to wonder if they mean the same thing I'm thinking when I hear acafans, as in actual people in academia, writing, publishing, teaching or fanlore's entry. Are people now using that word interchangeably with fans who are just into meta? Anyone else getting that impression?

Also, I still haven't watched SPN and I'm trying not to read spoilers but I'M FAILING SO BAD. Because I'm weak and impatient.

Comments

Here via metafandom

[kaz]

Something that occurred to me - I've noted that whenever acafan is taken to mean something like doro's definition 2, it doesn't seem to be quite as broad as "any fan who is also an academic". I'm a maths graduate student and have never had the impression that anyone is thinking of maths/science/etc. academic fans when they say "acafan". Acafan seems to be restricted to academics in the humanities, or possible even more specific than that.

Re: Here via metafandom

[logovo]

Yeah, I don't see anyone anyone outside the humanities grabbing the label anytime soon (how about someone in finance? The idea kind of hurts my brain). If they do I think I might have to wonder if once again we learned the meaning of a fannish term in completely different circles.

Re: Here via metafandom

[legionseagle]

Why does it hurt your brain? I get the impression both from this and the comment you made to my comment above that you regard Masters degrees in vocational subjects (mine is in law, fwiw) as somehow inferior to "proper" academic subjects. Which feeds right back into my concerns about intellectual snobbery inherent in the whole concept of "acafans".

Re: Here via metafandom

[logovo]

I'm a CPA in Mexico and California, I did some postgraduate work in finance, and I don't see myself as having the tools for calling myself an acafan. That idea hurts my brain.