Jeffrey Carl Faden posted his thoughts on fandom, and I have to say, I understand were he is coming from, and I feel like he just missed the point.

His main argument is that being a self identified a fan gets to enjoy the benefits of community, but are discouraged by the label to create stories and worlds of their own.

I couldn't disagree more.  I am a fan.  I have always been a fan, and I participate in multiple fandoms, and that has not stopped me from creating my own worlds and stories.  I would even argue that this exposure forces me to figure out how I can be more original.

I started writing fan fiction, and it was a great place for me to learn some of the fundamentals of story.  I will not repeat my old "fanfiction is what culture is" sermon again, but I still feel that way.

Fandom is the a world of like-minded people who help me discovery new fiction, music, and games.  They expose me to new ideas, and challenge my preconceptions.

Fandom is, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing.  /rant