I know I’m a sap this evening, but I’m just so happy to be a Sherlockian.

Remember Shreffgate? Remember all those nasty things he said about fandom and fans and us and all young women who dared to like the same thing he did in a different way? emember how many people were worried that the BSI was reflected by that lone jack-in-the-ass? Well this was just posted by our sponsors, The Baker Street Journal, on behalf of the Baker Street Irregulars:

A World of Sherlockians

The Baker Street Irregulars (BSI) is an international literary society formed to promote the study and enjoyment of the stories of Sherlock Holmes.  Although formal membership is limited, The Baker Street Irregulars publishes the widely-read Baker Street Journal, the society’s publication of Sherlockian scholarship.  The BSI has sponsored Sherlockian events open to the public throughout the United States and created a book division which has 40 separate titles to date, primarily of Sherlockian scholarship, sold worldwide.  Further, the BSI has established a public archive at the Houghton Library at Harvard University, collecting correspondence and other Irregular publications, and memorabilia, relating to the history of the BSI.  This was all achieved by scores of dedicated and talented volunteers who, thankfully, do not take themselves too seriously.

The current widespread interest in Sherlock Holmes has been reflected in the various activities of the BSI.  Both the Baker Street Journal and BSI-published books had their best years in 2012, and the public support for the Harvard University archive has been gratifying and exceeded expectations.  2012 also marked the first BSI-sponsored conference on the West Coast, with over 100 international conferees, many of whom had never attended a BSI-sponsored event.

We deplore and condemn the idea that proper appreciation of the stories of Sherlock Holmes should be limited to a small, elite fandom.  Sherlock Holmes belongs to the world, and we applaud all who share the devotion of The Baker Street Irregulars to the memory of the Master Detective, regardless of age, sex or the medium in which they express their views. [x]

The BSJ has always been so supportive of us and the Sherlock fandom, as has most of the BSI, but an official announcement is insane. It means so much and dammit, it means we’ve all won against the curmudgeons. Fully.

dreamerofbakerst:

Just before I headed down to London for SHAM 2013, the whole uproar about a certain article exploded. These are some of the lovely, amazing people who were there. We all love different parts of the world of Sherlock Holmes - as was proven by the quiz later that night! But we were all there because we all love Sherlock Holmes.

We are all Sherlockians.

End of message.

Please resume squeeing about one truly amazing weekend!

All these people I love (and miss!)!

daysofstorm:

While it seems almost obsolete to even react to something as close minded, elitist and preposterously intolerant as your remarks on the difference between fans and devotees, I do want to add my two cents.

I have, thankfully, experienced the eccentric world of Sherlockians as an incredibly…

Wherein BSB Maria is incredibly articulate.

fridafrag:

When I first read Phillip Shreffler’s degrading essay on the “differences” between Sherlockian “devotees” and Sherlockian “fans”, I was tempted to write a snarky, bitter reply to him - to publicly denounce him on his elitist, ageist, and sexist notions, and tear apart his argument limb by limb to show how it simply cannot stand as a valid argument.

Then I realized that he probably didn’t gives two shits about my opinions. Not only am I a self-identified fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories and of subsequent film and television incarnations, I am also under the age of 45, have a vagina, and happen to admire Benedict Cumberbatch’s acting skills. I also haven’t yet had the chance to pore over every original story and every copy of the Baker Street Journal as, Mr. Shreffler implies, I should do if I would like to be considered by white, middle class, educated people (primarily men, by the looks of it) as a legitimate “devotee” to the works of Arthur Conan Doyle.

Still, the temptation to be bitter and resentful was strong. I started writing a really nasty reply. But about halfway through, I decided that I didn’t want to spend all that energy in being angry. Others here on Tumblr have expressed my own anger so well in their reactions to the article, and I wouldn’t be able to provide better arguments.

So, instead, I spent my energy writing a love letter to all Sherlockians.

If you are not sure if this applies to you, answer this question:

Do you love Sherlock Holmes?

If yes, you’re a “real” Sherlockian.

And this is for you.

Read More

 A beautiful letter to all Sherlockians that you should definitely read.