So I have learned my lesson

I would have thought history had already taught me this lesson, but as most of my oldest friends know, I'm a very slow learner in some things.

The lesson is: If I'm planning a social outing, and it is not the kind of Very Special Event (e.g. Halloween Party, fetish night at a club, Wedding) where EVERYONE will be in Costume, yet I find myself reaching for a costume (be it leather and studs punkette or velvet and lace gothette or hardcore geek-tastic or what have you) then this is a clue from my subconscious that I should just stay home.

Because as my ill-fated Goth Weekend, my drastically awful Punk Year, and my general Lack of Having a Good Time at Rainbow Fest have taught me, I just don't do Formal Subculture well. It's not really my thing. So any time my brain starts going "Formal Subculture Garb would be appropriate here!", this is its very secret code for "Danger, Will Robinson!, Danger!".

Duly noted. Notes were taken, lessons were learned, and I am now studying for the test. Next time I start contemplating a social event in terms of "What Subculture Should I Wear?", I will realize it is time to stay home.

The odd world of online popularity

Also, as I'm trying to actually pay attention to fanfiction now because it's becoming an important topic in Library World, I'm very entertained by scrolling through fanfiction.net, just on the level of author/creator and # of stories, just scanning what I think of as the popularity polls. I love that Tamora Pierce's books have way more fanfic than practically anything else in the little books category. This seems totally appropriate to me. And I like the strange logic of a world where Alanna (the Lioness) and the Phantom of the Opera are running neck and neck in the popularity polls.