I just want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s commented on our “You’re  A Real Sherlockian” rant, sent messages, sent emails, and everything. The reaction has been overwhelming and I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to get back to everyone! Thank you for sharing your own stories and trials, for your words of encouragement, and likewise, your stories of being accepted. Being the oldest fandom out there, really, it was the Sherlockians in the Victoria era who started this crazy business(!), we are bound to have politics. But for every bad egg, and there are a few, there’s a hundred pairs of open arms. There are so many lovely Sherlockians out there. Seriously. During the BSI Weekend I can’t tell you how many people came up to us and just said, “Thank you.” Most of them love us and are SO excited. We’re the next generation, the ones that will take over, who knows, many of us and you may be the next BSI. The fact is, there will always be haters, and while that does not excuse anyone from bullying my friend, us, or ANY of you, it does put it a little in perspective.

We need to keep talking about this and proving ourselves to earn their respect. As so many of you have said, to beat them at their own game. So keep writing! Keep commentating! Keep exploring the stories in all their mediums. Join societies or start your own! Submit essays to our book and The Baker Street Journal (who are our sponsors, so you KNOW they love the new stuff!). In short, don’t let the curmudgeons win!