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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Chris,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>*<b>Disclaimer: The following loosely processed thoughts are not the outcome of a rigorous study. They are the result of my personal involvement and observations in a number of fan communities. Re-enactment (SCA) 15 years, Face to Face Gamers 33 years, Genre (SF/Fantasy) 24 years.</b>*<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Your interest in the SF-Internet connection is based in pop culture. Many people who get involved in science and technology (myself included) can tell you that that there are a series of overlapping hobby spheres that correlate with techies of all types, not just those of the internet variety. These include:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Historical Re-enactors<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Medieval (Society for Creative Anachronism)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Revolutionary War<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>French & Indian War<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>d.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Civil War<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>e.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Rome<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>f.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Napoleonic<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Face to Face Gamers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Wargamers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Miniature gamers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Role playing (Dungeons and Dragons)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>d.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Live Action Role Playing (Vampire: The Masquerade)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Genre Fans<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>SF<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Horror<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>d.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Cyberpunk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>e.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Star Trek<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>f.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>g.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Anime<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>h.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Steampunk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>All of these groups of people share(d) some common characteristics:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Passionate about their hobby<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Passionate about technology (SF, military, domestic, imagined, contemporary, ancient)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Tend to be more creative than “normal”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Tend to be more highly educated (not always in a traditional sense)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Rules-driven. Gamers are constrained by rules in an obvious way. Re-enactors and genre fans are similarly constrained in that they are constrained by a chronological period or world of an author. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>6.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Unable to be “themselves” in real life. Frequently these groups have different social norms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Stigmatization/mild oppression of their interest sometimes resulting in fan pushback (“freaking the mundanes”). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>8.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Difficultly in locating others with the same interest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>9.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Many college age members due to the lack of time constraints and the existence on many college campuses of clubs or organizations that support particular interests.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>10.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Many activities of these groups tend to be visually appealing/interesting to observers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>11.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>These groups tend to gather periodically and share at conventions and meetings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>12.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>A fundamental interest in exploring hypothetical historical or ahistorical constructs-“alternity.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>For many of these groups, the early internet provided ways to assert these aspects of their identity and connect/collaborate/coordinate with fellow hobbyists. Members of college age or in academia frequently had access through university accounts. These groups had pre-existing modes of communication so that the spread of knowledge about the Internet within these communities was all but foreordained. Hobbyists disseminated knowledge of the existence and utility of the Internet at large offline fan/gaming conventions (WorldCon, GenCon) or reenactments (Pennsic War) where well established and efficient word of mouth and printed word (newsletters) spread information further. Hobbyists in multiple groups received similar information about the Internet from multiple sources increasing its reliability and the likelihood they would adopt a technology which they were already predisposed to like. Internet use further distinguished them from the “mudanes” in the early days and the earl titles of geek and nerd were badges of honor. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>As for more formal research leads, I would suggest attending your local science fiction fan convention and start talking to people who have been around for awhile. If there is a GT (General Technics) group/party, hang out there for a while and go to some panels during the day to start figuring out who is who. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>John Laprise, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Visiting Assistant Professor <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.qatar.northwestern.edu/"><span style='color:blue'>Northwestern University Qatar</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>P.O. Box 34102<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>Doha, Qatar<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'>+974 4454 5037<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:members-bounces@sigcis.org">members-bounces@sigcis.org</a> <a href="mailto:[mailto:members-bounces@sigcis.org]">[mailto:members-bounces@sigcis.org]</a> <b>On Behalf Of </b>David Ferro<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, March 08, 2012 10:42 AM<br><b>To:</b> Christopher S. Leslie<br><b>Cc:</b> <br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [SIGCIS-Members] sf-lovers<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Christopher, <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Janet Abbate notes some sf in early Internet development in Inventing the Internet ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inventing-Internet-Inside-Technology-Abbate/dp/0262511150/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1331192341&sr=8-4">http://www.amazon.com/Inventing-Internet-Inside-Technology-Abbate/dp/0262511150/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1331192341&sr=8-4</a> ) and she and some other authors on this list here go into some detail in Science Fiction and Computing ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-Computing-Interlinked-ebook/dp/B006J4J39A/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331192422&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-Computing-Interlinked-ebook/dp/B006J4J39A/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331192422&sr=1-1</a> )<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>David<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 8:48 PM, Christopher S. Leslie <<a href="mailto:cleslie@poly.edu">cleslie@poly.edu</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Colleagues: <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I am more and more intrigued by a connection between science fiction and the early days of the ARPAnet. As you may know, one of the first group distribution lists that was not directly related to defense research was the mailing list SF-lovers, which was created in Sept. 1979 at MIT by Richard Brodie. When Usenet became available, a connection was established, and the travails of the list after that point are fairly well documented by Saul Jaffe and others.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Before the Usenet list, however, there is not so much information. I've been in contact with some researchers about this, but I am hoping that someone on the list might also remember the days of the sf-lovers list before Usenet. I've also heard that there were mailing groups on local computers and BBSs (bulletin board systems) before there were widely dispersed e-mail list, which if they were discussing science fiction, I would love to learn about.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>If anyone has information to share, or can direct me to someone who does, I would greatly appreciate it. I am writing a book on science fiction and I think this list demonstrates an interesting synergy between science fiction and engineering.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Chris Leslie<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><br>Christopher S. Leslie, Ph.D.</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Instructor of Media and Technology Studies</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Department of Technology, Culture and Society</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Polytechnic Institute of New York University</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>6 MetroTech Center, RH 213h</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>Brooklyn, NY 11201</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="tel:%28718%29%20260-3130" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>(718) 260-3130</span></a><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><br>_______________________________________________<br>This email is relayed from <a href="mailto:members@sigcis.org">members@sigcis.org</a>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at <a href="http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/" target="_blank">http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/</a> and you can change your subscription options at <a href="http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members" target="_blank">http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br>David L. Ferro, PhD, Dean, College of Applied Science and Technology, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>