I knew I used to be sane! Knew it!

[mrv3000]

josephides unearthed this for me.

June 9, 2005:

Michelle: What's a dalek?
Jojo: You do not mean that.
Michelle: No clue.
Jojo: omg.
Karen: I actually don't know either

Huh. A year and two months later and I'm ready for a straight jacket.

*shakes fist*

Comments

[makesometime.livejournal.com]

I have a strange rememberance of that, and being quite disgusted ;)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

*snickers*

It's such a huge difference in cultures. Sounds like in the UK there's no way you *couldn't* know about DW, daleks, etc. In the U.S., unless you happened to catch some old episodes aired on PBS like at 2 a.m., you'd never even heard of any of it.

[makesometime.livejournal.com]

I'm actually having a hard time remembering when I didn't know about DW... Hiding behind the sofa from Daleks is something you must understand by the age of 7. Must be a law somewhere, I'm sure!

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I agree. I'm sure it must be a rule somewhere. How can you not grow up having Daleks invade your nightmares screaming "Exterminate! Exterminate!"??

Even Gene Roddenberry knew who the Daleks were. I mean, "You will be assimilated!" was such a play on "You will be exterminated!"

[fiona-conn.livejournal.com]

Haha. XD Even I knew what Daleks were. *Laugh* I mean, come on, pop culture references are usually enough to secure a knowledge of: "Exterminate! Exterminate!"

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

Or, depending on your PBS station, all afternoon every Sunday from age 12 until college. :-) Plus single episodes at a different point in the series every weeknight.

Whether I would have paid attention to them if I hadn't started watching it in the UK is another question. But with the dearth of SF on American TV in the 80s, the answer is most likely yes.

Oh, and I remember this exchange too. And was rather boggled. I expect the general American public to have no clue, then and now. But until last year, I always assumed anyone who hadn't absorbed the basics by fannish osmosis was just a fluke. Then I kept running into more and more flukes. *wry g* It still messes with my head...

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Let's see. Sunday afternoons as a kid I always watched the Family Film Festival on our L.A. network affiliate. Watched everything from Errol Flynn movies to things like The Secret of NIMH. Ah, memories. :)

But until last year, I always assumed anyone who hadn't absorbed the basics by fannish osmosis was just a fluke.

Well, I had seen some icons, but that's about it. Didn't really pay attention when someone talked about DW. Actually, what got me to finally take a look at the first episode was seeing an icon of Cassandra and thinking, "Huh. That looks kinda weird. Think I need to check that out." Wasn't overly impressed with the ep "Rose" but watched the second since they showed Cassandra in the preview for that one. That's the ep that hooked me.

[icepixie]

But until last year, I always assumed anyone who hadn't absorbed the basics by fannish osmosis was just a fluke.

I did as well. I didn't get to be a fan until this year, with the new series, but I'd heard about DW, and knew it had something to do with metal robots called Daleks and a guy with a scarf of ridiculous length. I got into Star Trek/sci-fi/fandom around age twelve or so, which was right when the TV movie with Paul McGann came out, and I know I saw articles relating to DW when I was looking through Starlog or Dreamwatch or whatever for articles on shows I did watch. *shrug* Fannish osmosis worked for me! :)

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

But until last year, I always assumed anyone who hadn't absorbed the basics by fannish osmosis was just a fluke.

I had heard the term Dalek, and I knew that it was associated with Doctor Who, so fannish osmosis worked that much. But beyond that, I had no idea what they looked like, what they were, or what they said. Or why anyone would want one for a toy. :-)

[diavestra.livejournal.com]

I actually remember that conversation, I think. Either that or another one where we didn't know what something was.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Well, there was the time we were trying to do Brit-speak but failing miserably.

[fiona-conn.livejournal.com]

*laughs and wraps you in a huge hug*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

You have a straight jacket behind your back, don't you?

[fiona-conn.livejournal.com]

Nope. :D

*Holds you close*

[cheekygal.livejournal.com]

Heck, I'd seen a bare handful of Dr. Who episodes, and had no clue what they were. Seeing people type about them on LJ, I thought they were pronounced 'day-lecks.'

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I thought they were pronounced 'day-lecks.'

In my head I *still* pronounce them that way even after hearing the correct way for the two series. Heh heh. Too American, I guess. I've tried telling myself to think of the word as 'doll-lick' but it doesn't work.

Daylecks! Yee haw!

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I had heard the term Dalek due to long association with other science fiction fans, although I wasn't quite clear on what one was. All I knew was that it was much beloved of Doctor Who fans (i.e., my uncle). That was it, I had no idea what they even looked like, or why one might want one for a toy. David Hewlett - McKay on SGA - apparently has one, and people were squeeing about his geekiness last year. Took me a good long while to understand that one.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's right. I remember the David Hewlett thing. Can't remember if that was before or after I had started watching.

[cheapevilgirl.livejournal.com]

I think I was just finding out what a dalek was around that time. Cause I was in England visiting a friend last year in June.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Ah, innocent times...