Renown is a funny thing Redux: New Bestest Friend Ever Syndrome

[gurdymonkey]

One of the odd side-effects of (a) being a regular contributor on certain SCA e-lists/forae and (b) having a website with information on it that people feel is useful or at least amusing is what I call the "You're My New Bestest Friend Ever!" Syndrome.

I don't mean the people who write to me with a question or a "Thanks, that was useful" or "I like what you wrote" comment. (Well, there was that one guy who wrote "Marry me!" because I explained to him how to attach a collar...) And I don't mean the few e-mail poetry writing tutorials I did with a couple of people. A fullblown case of YMNBFE Syndrome goes thusly.

Mary Newbie (and yes, so far it's definitely been women who succumb to The Syndrome) reads something I wrote and writes to me. I answer a question. Mary Newbie writes back. I answer her new question. Mary Newbie discovers I have Instant Messaging and "friends" me. Mary Newbie then proceeds to IM me every single night. I begin logging on to my IM invisibly because Mary Newbie leaves me IMs even if I'm NOT online in the hope of catching me. Eventually (elapsed time may vary) Mary Newbie falls off the face of the earth, no doubt having found a New Bestest Friend Ever.

Don't get me wrong, I've been lucky enough to "meet" some very cool people via the Internet. It's just a bit disconcerting to have "fans."

Comments

[tattycat.livejournal.com]

Creepy fans. Just to introduce myself, I am not a Fan ;) You and I were/are on the apprentice list together, and you stuck in my mind as "that lady who plays the hurdy-gurdy and does cool Japanese sometimes." When you popped up (around here somewhere) I wanted to keep up with the interestingness. So here I am.

Beatrice

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I fear you may have me confused with someone else. I have never been on an apprentice list and while I know a Beatrice, I'm pretty sure she isn't you.

[tattycat.livejournal.com]

Crap. Perhaps it was the A&S list, or some other. I'm on about a half-dozen SCA lists, and I get them confused. I lurk more than post, so I'm pretty sure she isn't me either. Do you mind if I read? I don't want to impose.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. Sometimes I forget who I know from which list myself.

And feel free to read my ramblings if you so desire.

[danabren.livejournal.com]

You have IM? 90% of the time I'm so bored at work that I'm ready to dig my own eyes out with a spoon (there being a lack of badgers)

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I have it at home, not here at work. Thank God! I'd never get anything done otherwise.