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Science Fiction Collector, v. 4, issue 3, whole no. 21, August 1938
Page 12
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Page Twelve --- S - F Collector --- _____________________________________ science-fiction fans. This is not so, but how can we overcome a false impression once it is assumed? Again, since the movement is named after a person, it is only logical to assume that John B. Michel is the leader of the Michelist movement. Another logical but untrue aasumption. There is no leader: it cannot even, in the strictest sense of the word, be called a movement: only in the loosest and most relative sense. There are many fans who are Michelists and are not aware of the fact; moreover, they would resent being called Michelists. And ever though many fans might be Michelists, they would not allow themselves to be called such lest they be mistaken for Bolsheviks. Second, the attempt of the "Red" Michelists to make of this a definite movement, with a definite road to a clear-cut goal, is a mistake -- not only for the sake of Michelism but for their own. In fact, any Michelist group's trying to impose its ideas upon any other group is mistaken, not only because of its being false to the movement, but because it is acting against the current of known facts: it is not facing the reality of the science fiction fan's makeup. Thirdly, intense propganda about Michelism, even pure Michelism, was likewise a mistake, and I too have erred therein. It is obvious that no one can come to that state of mind we call Michelism until he or she is ready for it: any attempt to force him or her into it will necessarily be temporary if it is successful at all. When the individual has reached that point there is no need for a voice crying out in the wilderness. Fourthly, we have failed to fraternize (rather than organize) such Michelists as we know, and those who would become Michelists if approached scientifically. We have wasted too much time and energy, as well as obtained useless notoriety, in squabbling and fighting
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Page Twelve --- S - F Collector --- _____________________________________ science-fiction fans. This is not so, but how can we overcome a false impression once it is assumed? Again, since the movement is named after a person, it is only logical to assume that John B. Michel is the leader of the Michelist movement. Another logical but untrue aasumption. There is no leader: it cannot even, in the strictest sense of the word, be called a movement: only in the loosest and most relative sense. There are many fans who are Michelists and are not aware of the fact; moreover, they would resent being called Michelists. And ever though many fans might be Michelists, they would not allow themselves to be called such lest they be mistaken for Bolsheviks. Second, the attempt of the "Red" Michelists to make of this a definite movement, with a definite road to a clear-cut goal, is a mistake -- not only for the sake of Michelism but for their own. In fact, any Michelist group's trying to impose its ideas upon any other group is mistaken, not only because of its being false to the movement, but because it is acting against the current of known facts: it is not facing the reality of the science fiction fan's makeup. Thirdly, intense propganda about Michelism, even pure Michelism, was likewise a mistake, and I too have erred therein. It is obvious that no one can come to that state of mind we call Michelism until he or she is ready for it: any attempt to force him or her into it will necessarily be temporary if it is successful at all. When the individual has reached that point there is no need for a voice crying out in the wilderness. Fourthly, we have failed to fraternize (rather than organize) such Michelists as we know, and those who would become Michelists if approached scientifically. We have wasted too much time and energy, as well as obtained useless notoriety, in squabbling and fighting
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