Dana quoting me:

...

(1) Equating 'fan' with 'nerd' and, therefore, avoiding any activity that smells of fandom in a wish not to become (or appear) a nerd.

For a lot of us, it's way too late for that.

True nerdism implies not caring what other people think -- a noble ideal.

...

(2) Equating 'fan' with someone who goes out and buys lots of merchandise attached to the show, thus making Evil Corporate People lots of money.

Whereas I'd argue precisely for the anticorporate nature of fandom-- generating our own merchandise, without regard to the scenarios set out by the corporate Guys of Gisbourne.

So would I, but that's not the external perception of 'fans'.

Tavia