Red Dwarf fans questionaire

[kolaqube.livejournal.com]

EDIT 15/03/05 : I'm collecting in the results now, big thanks to everyone who responded!

(This is probably going to be *everywhere* so ignore if you've already answered elsewhere)

Hello there. I'm a undergraduate Media student writing a research paper on the internet and fanculture. I'm specifically looking at Red Dwarf fans * and how they interpret the programme.

Firstly, to have an idea of the fans in general, please give your....
age group (from list below):
- 13, 14-19, 20-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56+
gender:
country:

Secondly, if you have the time, I'd also love to hear your general views on the following issues.The questions are to give some idea of what I'm interested to know, you don't have to answer each one. Your answers may be as brief or detailed as you like, just answer as honestly as possible!

APPEAL: How and when did you first discover Red Dwarf and what, in your opinion, do you think is the one main aspect that led to you becoming a fan? Characters, storylines, special effects?

'REAL LIFE': What bearing does RD have on your everyday life? Do you ever quote the show out of context? Can you relate to the characters?

COMMUNITY: Have you made friends purely through an interest in RD? Have you met online fans in real life? What is your favourite place to chat about the show, and which do you consider to be more superior, fansites or the official site?

CREATIVITY: What are your views on fanfiction? Are you an author/reader ? Which do you prefer, slash or het and why?
Do you run a RD fansite? Have you ever produced fan art, music videos, or anything else inspired by RD?

FAN CULTURE: To what extent do you think you are a fan? How far does your 'collection' go? Do you hunt down rare merchandise?
How do you think you are percieved as an RD fan, and how do you feel about this 'image'? What do you think of other sci-fi fandoms, such as Star Trek's 'Trekkies'?

Thanks for your time!
*Rimmer salute*

* because I'm a fan myself. In case anyone hadn't already noticed ;)

Comments

[raumo-tari.livejournal.com]

K then.

Age group: 14-19
Gender: female
Country: England

Appeal: One of my friends kept going on a bout it and so did my Nana actually ("that Craig Charles is a lovely young lad") and so I decided to watch it. I loved it. I think I like it so much cos I love all of the jokes, I love slapstick, witty ones, all of them. And I love the characters too. They do seem realistic. I know people like them. The special effects arent reakky much to look at but the storyline and the characters just pushes past till you barely notice the lack of good special effects.

Real Life: I talk about it a lot with my friends, about various episodes etc. I can quote quite a lot of it even if I have only seen that particular episode once. Cos Im sad :D So yes, I do quote the show a lot. And I can kinda relate to the characters. I mena, Lister is the steryotypical image of a Scouser and over half of my family are scousers. And although they are not really like that, there are bits of personality which shine through. Scary really. And I know someone exactly like Rimmer and one similar to the Cat. I guess actually knowing people like them make them feel more realistic. And cos they arent all cool and organised like all the characters in Star Trek (which I also rather enjoy), they also seem more human cos I got a feeling I would be a bit like that if I was trapped out in space like that.

Community: I dont really go on many communities. Actually this is my first time saying anything on here so I hope that is ok. I read fanfics on Fanfiction. net and just look at any other web sites I can find.

Creativity; I love fanfics and fan art, but some you get are a little....bad shall we say. I like them when they are actually in character and not doing "humour" fics, I.e: funny to the author and no one else. Not that all humor ones are bad just the real bad ones. I just read them, Im not a very good writer, but I find that if you get a good fic, it can be even better than the show itself. I dont mind slash or het or whatever provided, as I said before, that they are atleast marginally in character. You know what I mena, like some you get where they all seem to have swapped personalities with half a Salmon and go all odd at slushy moments.

Fan culture: I am not an obsessed fan. Ok, so I can quote most of the episodes I have watched and sing the songs and read famfics and download relevent stuff and buy the DVDs and watch them over and over again. Im not as obsessed as some people as in I have other interests. But I am happy to be called a Red Dwarf fan. And like other sci-fi's too, such as Star Trek Voyager and Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. Well thats me done. Hope it helped.

*Rimmer salute right back at ya*