SMOF
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SMOF (also spelled smof) stands for "Secret Master of Fandom" and is a term used within the science fiction fan community. Its coining is generally attributed to science fiction author Jack L. Chalker.
SMOF also stands for 'single mode optical fibre. smof is fibre optic cable which is so small in diameter that it can only accommodate a single beam of light propagating through it at a single time.
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[edit] History
The term SMOF dates back at least as far as 1955, when Wilson Tucker referred to it in Neo-Fan's Guide to Science Fiction Fandom. Even as early as that time, the term, which could refer as easily to fanzine fans as well as convention runners, could be used as a verb to refer to the process of discussing con running and fan politics. (This term does *not* appear in the original 1955 edition of the NEOFAN'S GUIDE or in the 1966 edition. The author of this caveat does not have the 1973 and 1975 editions, but it *does* appear in the 1978 edition.)
[edit] Capitalised meaning
The capitalised form of the term (SMOF) is used jokingly to refer to a clandestine cabal of top science fiction fans who, by their unseen influence, are controlling the actions of fandom. It is the SMOFs who are responsible for the trends and changes in the popularity of particular subgenres, media, or individual authors, films or television series. As such, this use of the term is a light-hearted conspiracy theory.
[edit] Uncapitalised meaning
The more general, uncapitalised, form of the term (smof) is an honorific bestowed upon the fans who actually do the organisational work behind much of fandom or are stalwart members of the fannish community. This includes fans who are regarded highly by others for their work in running conventions or organising fan funds and who work (for the most part) on an entirely voluntary basis for the good of fandom in general, and fans whose standing is high within the fannish community by dint of their long participation in it.
Although by its nature informal, the term smof is now used by several non-profit ad hoc groups of science fiction convention management cooperative associations. The largest is the smofs mailing list for Worldcon management. The Baltimore Washington smof list maintains a webpage http://www.bwsmof.org/ and provides local convention management support. A yearly convention for SF con managers run under the name SMOFCon can be found at http://www.smofcon.org/
[edit] Verb meaning
SMOFing can be used as a verb to refer to discussing of the details or personalities involved in running a convention.
