FIAWOL

(See Fiawol disambiguation for others.)

Pronounced "FEE-a-wall," "Fandom is a Way of Life" has become a motto of actifen, used proudly, disgustedly, apologetically, or how you will, depending on the mood and attitude of the user. It contrasts to the insurgent counter, FIJAGH, "Fandom is Just a Goddamn Hobby," the philosophy of dilettante fans. Fans have emblazoned "FIAWOL" on everything from interlineations to bumper stickers to vanity license plates.

It was originated as the title of a tongue-in-cheek article by Don B. Thompson in FAPA in 1943, in which he pointed out some peculiar folkways in fandom. The idea fandom and fanac were serious business was endorsed during Fifth Fandom by such fans as Al Ashley, Jack Speer and even Francis Towner Laney, and scoffed at by Charles Burbee in scurrilous, smutty verse.

Today, usually, "FIAWOL" is meant humorously; no one, after all, spends all their time at fanac. Do they?

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

"Fandom as a way of life", originally; it was the title of a tongue in cheek article by D. B. Thompson in which (FAPA, 1943) he pointed out some peculiar folkways in Fandom. The notion that Fandom was a serious business -- a way of life or whatever you want to call it -- was taken quite seriously by Ashley, Speer, and even Laney about this time, tho even that early they saw the defects in the concept. Since the Insurgents began debunking it with such comments as the quoted one, it has become a slogan used proudly, disgustedly, apologetically, or how you will, depending on the mood and attitude of the user. Often heard is Burbee's other counter-crack, Fandom Is Just A Goddamn Hobby (FIJAGH).