On Thu, 15 May 1997 22:38:49 -0500 (CDT), Uncle Fester wrote:

A couple of hours ago, I received an E-mail from a young man
who expressed some surprise that a person my age had ever *heard*
of 'Ranma «' much less knew something about the series.

Aha, a man after my own heart (and teeth, and other internal
organs no doubt...)   ^)^

Has the youth in question heard of Kimba the White lion? Or
Marine Boy?  ^(^

What's really scary is that most kids these days seem amazed that
I know anything about my PC or its OS... Although I admit defeat
when trying to play beat-em-ups - my reflexes are too slow...  :(

While allowing for the obvious fact that most of the members
of the FFML are around college age, I began to wonder just how
many of my fellow otaku's out there are in the 'Over 40' club - an age
where most have teenagers of their own (if they have children).

The trouble with youth is that it's wasted on the young...

(I can't claim the credit for that one, unfortunately - my father
says this regularly... I know I have a problem when *I* start to
think it as well.)

No kids here, BTW...

Let's just see a show of hands (or canes, if you choose), of
the ML members over the age of 40.

Well, I admit to having turned 40 last birthday... but I don't
*feel* 40. (No smartalec comments from the floor, please.)

True story: I have one friend who on turning 35 decided that she
was now too old to be a Star Trek fan and gave up conventions,
fanzines, the original novels et.al. and actually sold most of
her collection of memorabilia. We all tried to persuade her not
to; but she's now a depressed housewife who watches the afternoon
soap operas on TV. She's lost contact with almost all the friends
she made over the previous 15 years as they now have so little in
common...

Funny how the Internet changes how we perceive each other. 
One of my Fanfic Team members, up till a few weeks ago, thought I
was a college kid somewhere in the Midwest.  I'm 46 with a son
only two years younger this inquisitive team member.

I've no idea how the folks that I correspond with see me - I
haven't dared ask them!
     

We're out here.  Some lurking.  Some writing.  But all of us
enjoying manga, Anime, and good Fanfics.

And who could argue with that?

    - Greg
   (Age is only a state of mind.  That's why I hang out with
youngins.  Goin back to the 'home' now.)

You mean yours lets you *out*?  ^)^  ^)^  ^_-

Martin D. Pay
Chronologically-challenged (Is that PC enough?)