#celticorca

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jryzEU7WAlg

Well, the beauty of fandom is that nobody’s voice is needed. Fandom doesn’t need my voice, if I stopped writing tomorrow there would be plenty of people to say anything I could have thought of saying, and then some. The nice thing about fandom is that we’re all here because we want to be here, and when we talk it’s because we want to say things. 

So I think look at it this way instead: is there a story you need to tell? Is there something you need to say? Or even just want to say? Fandom can be as much about us as it is about the canon we’re writing for. What has always driven me in terms of fandom is that there’s a story in me that wants out, or I have something I want to say about the canon, and there’s no reason not to say it. That’s how I write -- out of compulsion and desire. Those aren’t things anyone outside of me can inspire or control. 

There probably are such websites, but whether their recommendations would be good ones is another matter. There’s a saying which goes: “Never mind the quality, feel the width.”

Sword definitions vary and often have more vicious snark than necessary, but the most common are (1) reproduction / replica; (2) wallhanger / FDO (for display only) and (3) SLO (sword-like object.)

(1) are inspired by, influenced by or recreate real swords, and (even with a blunt blade) have all the features of one.

(1) can become (2) if it’s so expensive that the thought of damaging it by playing around sends chills down the owner’s spine.

Copies of movie props can be (1) when accurate to what’s on-screen but also (2) because many are made for how they look not what they do, or made from the wrong material (i.e. stainless steel) because appearance and low maintenance are what matters, or because they’re 2-3 times heavier than they should be.

Some (1) replicas are (2) FDOs because they combine too heavy and too expensive in the same item.

(3) shouldbe (2) all the time, because SLOs are nothing but FDOs. They’re only made to be looked at. Theycan sometimes resemble real swords, but they’re more often extravagantly shaped improbable fantasies, and neither are made for or meant for use.

“Use” includes vigorous flourishing or swinging about, never mind actually trying to cut something, because the blade of an SLO might only be screwed or glued in place (and not with the sort of serious adhesive used by some cultures for their Real Swords, either).

The stresses of re-enacting last night’s “Game of Thrones” fight could be enough to send it flying out of its cast pot-metal handle toend up who knows where (but seldom anywhere you’d want two or three feet of pointy metal to land.)

Why, since I’m usually one for illustrative hotlinks and pictures, are there none in this post?

Because though I’ve got Definite Opinions about some of the stuff out there - from the cheapest supermarket knock-offsto some seriously pricey repros- I won’t rubbish what might be pride of place in someone’s den or office.

It may not be my cup of tea, but it’s clearly their milk-and-two-sugars or Earl Grey, hot.

Ingrid Michaelson - Parachute

Sorry, I missed this one!

This answer would probably change day-to-day, but at the moment, I’m going to go with “Way Down We Go” by Kaleo. I feel like it’s the perfect song of 2018, honestly. The music itself has a deep, but insistent beat, and I like the vocalist. When I first found it, I listened to it on repeat for several days.

Father tell me, we get what we deserveOh we get what we deserveAnd way down we goWay down we goSay way down we goWay down we go

You let your feet run wildTime has come as we all oh, go downYeah but for the fall oh, myDo you dare to look him right in the eyes?

‘Cause they will run you down, down til the darkYes and they will run you down, down til you fallAnd they will run you down, down til you goYeah so you can’t crawl no more

And way down we goWay down we goSay way down we go'Cause they will run you down, down til you fallWay down we go

Oh bab-bab-yeahWow babyBabyBab, down we goYeah