Freaking the non-mundanes!

[thewayne]

For those who may not know, people in the science fiction convention community had something known as freaking the mundanes. Basically it was an attempt to weird out normal people who are not familiar with the weirdness of science fiction conventions. It could be blatant or subtle, I would naturally prefer the latter.

Well, I got to freak out a co-worker last Wednesday!

School was closed Monday (New Year's Day), Tuesday came and Jim was out for jury duty, Bernie wasn't feeling well so he went home early, so it was just me and my boss, Dave. We got a few things done, nothing major.

So Wednesday comes. Bernie's working on a computer when I arrive. A little later Dave walks in and says "There's my little Wayneikins!" Bernie looks up in surprise. Dave continues "It was just the two of us, alone, all day yesterday." I piped in with "It was a very touching day."

Bernie just gets this blank look of utter astonishment. Dave and I just bust up laughing.


I chuckle thinking about it!

Comments

[magic-rat.livejournal.com]

I've always thought that SF fans got that from the gay community (who called it freaking the straights). You're little anecdote was more along the latter lines, but yes, it's lots of fun.

[fastlearner.livejournal.com]

It's possible, but it seems somewhat unlikely to me, as I know we were freaking the mundanes (and calling it that) 28 years ago when calling attention to your homosexuality was much, much more dangerous

[cardigirl.livejournal.com]

I suspect it'd be hard to disentangle those two communities since sf/f has always been a pretty tolerant enclave. Hence, once the phrase/practice arose (wherever it did), it'd be transmitted across the line pretty quick.

[fastlearner.livejournal.com]

Excellent point.

[magic-rat.livejournal.com]

I lived in Austin, TX back in 1974-1977, and at that time I knew a quite a few members of the gay community. Freaking the straights was one of their favorite activities, at least for the more flamboyant personalities. Granted, it's much more prevalent nowadays than it was back then, but it's been around for quite some time.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

I had never heard of 'freaking the straights', but it makes sense. It was one of those great moments where you just happened to have the right line.