Snowflake Challenge #1

[tjs_whatnot]

 

Challenge #1

The Icebreaker Challenge: Introduce yourself. Tell us why you're doing the challenge, and what you hope to gain from it.

Hello! I'm TJ. I accidentally chose the pronouns any/any at my new job (remind me to tell you all about that later! ) and now, the more I think about it, the more I like it. I never really liked they/ them (but get why others do) but I really don't mind either he/she him/her. 

I'm old. I've been here forever. Started doing fandom in 2009. Started doing the Snowflake Challenge in 2014, and accidentally got put in charge of running it in 2024. 😱😱 So, technically I'm here because I have to be. 🤣🤣 But really, I'm here because it's how I start the year. It's where I met my friends (either as reunion or as adoption). It's where I get inspired in my geek soul. I've carved out a queer space in my real life. I've carved out a writing community (and even a queer reading community) in my real life, but there is nothing like a geektastic, weirdo-centric, fan community to really make me feel less alone and ostracized. 

Things I'll probably be talking about here for the next month (and forever after):

TJ Klune's Green Creek series (and probably other books he's written) 
Cat Sebastian's and Alexis Hall's entire library of books
Murderbots
Queer media in general 
Reading/writing in general

Comments

[rekishi]

I think a lot of us are old. I recently did the math on how long I've been in fandom (just....the original X-Files run. not quite from the beginning but....early enough) and decided I would never do that math again, simple as that! 😂

[tjs_whatnot]

Right? So old. ❤️

But at least we're in good company.

*clinks glass*

[rekishi]

chinchin 🥂

[autobotscoutriella]

I think I'm younger than you, but I got into fandom around the same time - 2008/2009 seems so long ago now! Sometimes it's really nice to think about how fandom's still here all these years later. (And fandom has been a welcoming, comfortable queer community for me, too. It's important.)

Thank you so much for running Snowflake again! I look forward to this every year.

[tjs_whatnot]

So long! So much has changed and so much hasn't. ❤️❤️

Yay for found queer families communities! It makes life worth living!! 🎉🌈🎉

[potentiality_26]

I love the idea of any/any as pronouns! Wow! (Sorry, getting my mind blown here.)

Very interested by your thoughts about fandom.

[tjs_whatnot]

Right? Like, obviously I don't think anyone should start saying Any instead of literally any other pronoun, but that's just it. They could just use literally ANY pronoun and I'd be fine. I teach littles and at least one child each year will ask if I'm a boy or a girl and I'll just say "Yes." 😍😍

[potentiality_26]

Yes, exactly! When asked for pronouns online I've taken to saying they/them, but less because I actively identify that way than because I miss the old school internet "your pronouns, like everything else about you IRL, are an unknown quantity so I default to they/them" usage. I wish to be an unknown quantity.

But honestly "are you a boy or a girl" "yes" works too!

[nightfalltwen]

As someone who started fandom in 2001, I like to say I'm a fandom grandma.

[tjs_whatnot]

*shakes fist*

Why, back in my day...

🤣🤣

[walgesang]

That's awesome about the queer reading and writing community in real life! Here's the the old nerd souls. :D I feel like my 50s are better than my 40s or 30s ever were. If I luck out, at least I'll have still many more in the latter half of life but it also makes me value every day even more.

[tjs_whatnot]

It really is. I just happened to luck into a book store shortly after moving back to my hometown and saw an advertisement for a book club called "The Queer and Weird Book Club" and from them, I've found an entire community of queers and fans of queer lit. ❤️❤️

And right? It wasn't until I was in my late 40s that I thought, "You know what? I should maybe, IDK, start taking care of myself." It wasn't until my 50s that I got to reap the benefits of a healthier, more active lifestyle. ❤️❤️

[thatjustwontbreak]

I hear you on the pronouns. I literally was just journaling about it this morning and how I have no idea how to refer to myself in the third person.

Very grateful that you run the challenge! <3

[tjs_whatnot]

*sighs at your icon* You know, that actor really grew on me as the series went on. *sighs again*

Pronouns are tough. I'm getting better, but left to my own devices, I'm just a fan of using proper names whenever possible. 😍😍

[pattrose]

I love Alexis Halls books. I have a gift card from Amazon. I've got to see what's new. I've only read 2 so far. I hope there are many to choose from. Good seeing you. I love Snowflake Challenge. It's going to be fun. I'm old too. 😊

[tjs_whatnot]

Ohhhhhh! They have written SO MANY different sorts of books! I was happily surprised to see a lot of their books at the local B&N today. *sigh*

What two have you read? I could give you a rundown of recs based on your likes and dislikes. 😍😍

[pattrose]

I read boyfriend material and husband material. I loved both of them. I see there is one called father material. That sounds interesting. Rec some to me and I’ll bookmark them. Thank you.

[matsushima]

I'm old. I've been here forever. Started doing fandom in 2009…
If you're old, I'm ancient!

I've been in fandom since 1999.