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

[logovo]

From what I've been seeing lately, this idea of poo-pooing the skills acquired in grad school is becoming quite easy. I don't know if it's purely a US thing or people in other English speaking countries are running into this kind of strange thinking.

[franzeska]

Oh, it's probably just conservative talk radio talking points seeping into the collective unconscious again or something. I suspect it's a very American thing. Other countries tend to be much more into certifications and official credentials than we are. They may still call academics effete intellectual snobs, but they probably recognize that getting a degree does mean something.

*rant rant rant* ;-P

[logovo]

I have noticed less derision for academics in Mexican, Chilean and Argentinian LJs (as well as some non fandom people I'm friendly with), perhaps because education is even harder to get and therefore more desirable.