Not to be morbid...

[sherrold]

But I've been thinking about dying a little, recently -- mostly because I've been doing Fanlore articles on fans that have moved on. And I realize that I talked to wickedwords years ago about taking care of my stuff when I died (I have 20 linear feet of zines, still), but she doesn't have my passwords.

Poll #3999 Fannish Executor

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 108

View Respondents

Have you heard of the idea of a Fannish Executor?

View Answers

Yes
85 (78.7%)

No
23 (21.3%)

What do think your Fannish Executor would do?

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Have your LJ/DW/AOO password
98 (91.6%)

Have your fannish website(s) info
81 (75.7%)

Go through your zines and fannish toys
62 (57.9%)

Be mentioned in your actual will as taking care of your fannish stuff
60 (56.1%)

More that I'll put in comments
13 (12.1%)

Do you have a Fannish Executor?

View Answers

Yes
24 (22.6%)

No
49 (46.2%)

Dammit, Sandy, I'm thinking about it; don't be so pushy
33 (31.1%)

Comments

[saraht]

HIDE THE PORN.

Exactly!

[sherrold]

though, I suppose there are plenty of modern fans whose entire fannish existence is on their laptop...

[morgandawn]

you know....xlorp and I were talking this week and he asked me the exact same thing - what should I do with your zines, is there someone in fandom you'd like to handle fannish stuff.

I told him to donate everything to the Fanzine Archives at the University of Iowa. I still need someone to take over my websites etc. I also make certain I am never the lone admin for any community or LJ.

[sherrold]

I also make certain I am never the lone admin for any community or LJ.

Ooh, good point.

Also, does Steven know your LJ/DW password, to be able to post a memorial?

[boggit]

Wow, this is not something I've ever thought of, but it makes so much sense--I think I'd have someone, and this probably doesn't reflect well on how I split my life, but I would need someone to take care of the fannish stuff so that it didn't come out to my family. Like, someone to let my online friends know what had happened, and be a contact for them, but in large part to erase the evidence of my fic reading and such. My mom really doesn't need to belatedly discover my passion for NC-17 RPS after my untimely passing, you know? I don't have much of intellectual property value, as I've only written drabbles for friends in "Writing Wednesdays" shenanigans, what I mostly have are my relationships and connections, and I would want those respected (i.e. not just disappearing forever)... But I also want to cover my tracks, you know?

*thinks about writing down passwords*

and remember, there's two parts

[sherrold]

someone across the country can post to your LJ, etc. but you need someone local to stop by your house and ...

[gwyn]

Tina is actually the official executor for me, and she knows about the porn and stuff. But I realize in this I should also give her my passwords and crap like that. When I was in the hospital emergency that one time, Emily was able to post in my LJ because I don't have the computer passworded, but if I was logged out or anything, that would have been a different story. Something to think about!

[minim_calibre]

I need to set one up. Not that I have any zines, but surely someone out there needs the various fannish books that I own for no good reason. Like those Dark Angel novels...

I mean, I should have someone with my passwords/site info. I may even have the former (Jilli should still have them from when I had Lillian), but I never remember the latter even when I need it.

[yonmeidw]

I sort of have one, though not formally named in my will as such, and I've sort of thought about how to ensure she gets all my passwords and other info in a way that will get updated / be safe.

(I have also BEEN the fannish executor for a couple of local fans where my role was "Get over here and throw out all the porn before my mother finds it!")

[sherrold]

> I've sort of thought about

Yeah, it's a hard one to nail down, isn't it.

[birggitt]

I don't believe it's a fannish executor (I actually ain't very sure about what exactly a fannish executor is), but my son and I have made ourselves the promises if something happens to any of us, the other one will post about it to all blogs and places to let our online friends to know.

[sherrold]

And you have each other's passwords so that you can do this? (btw, I think that's sweet!)

[tazlet]

I know it's a pain in the ass but try to have an inventory of the 'fannish' stuff - prevents 'misunderstandings.'

[ratcreature]

The main reason I don't have any kind of fannish executor is that I haven't actually bothered with a will at all. But aside from that, I'm not involved with fandom on a local level, so I'm not sure I'd know anyone fannish who could take care of physical things, or how other fans would even know if I got suddenly killed by a falling toilet seat or the like.

As for my online presence, I don't know whether my siblings would care enough to find/circumvent my passwords and make a post or keep up my website, but probably not, so I guess my site would just expire eventually, and it would be the same as if I just gafiated. I guess I ought to leave instructions for them, but somehow that feels an awkward thing to ask, because while I'm not in the fannish closet, I don't really talk with them about online fandom either.

I don't have more than a couple of zines, but do sometimes wonder what would happen to my comic collection. It is quite large (four floor to ceiling book shelves and maybe twenty boxes or so), and in parts actually worth something even at resale value (at least a couple of thousand euro, probably more if you put some effort into selling). Though my siblings like comics too, so I guess they might want some, and they appreciate comics well enough to at least not throw the them into garbage. And they rather than my father would be the ones to clean out my place.

Otherwise there is not much fandom related stuff, unless you count a the originals of the couple of fanart pieces I did. I hope they'd keep those as memento or something rather than paper recycling, but who knows.

As for the porn, my family knows my fannish pseud anyway, so it's not like they'd find much about my porn preferences that they couldn't know already if they looked at my journal. And in any case, the porn on my laptop is mostly written and won't be any more embarrassing than me seeing my parents sex toys and porn photos as a kid (seriously I have no idea why they put the porn polaroids they took of each other in the drawer in which also regular use stuff like headache pills were stored, and the sex toys like vibrators and anal beads in a box in the towel closet). I assume either my sister or my brother would go through my stuff if I dropped dead suddenly, and I don't think they'd find anything surprising. So I don't worry about that part.

[bientot]

I know I should be more proactive about this, but haven't yet. I also have a significant origami library and kaleidoscope collection (and a not inconsiderable Wagner library as well) which should be dealt with. I have clear ideas on all these but have not written it down. Thanks for the reminder! A will, at the very least...but of course I keep putting it off.

[sherrold]

You know, just recently I was wondering if you'd found a future home for all of those gorgeous kaleidoscopes.

Yeah, a will is a good thing -- but more and more, I just want fans to make sure *someone* has their LJ/DW password and can post if something happens (doesn't even have to be death -- just sudden hospitalization, loss of internet, whatever). Physical things...it'd be nice if they find a new home, but it's more the connection that I hate losing.

BTW, I'm glad to see you posting more these days; it's nice!

[meri_oddities]

I've had this discussion with Mr. L, but we never resolved it. I think he'd call one of my local friends to deal with it. I have so much stuff... And I've never given him my passwords, which now that you mention it, sounds like a really good idea.

[sherrold]

Yay -- my work here is done.

[emyrys]

I only just got an official will (signed & witnessed & everything) last week -- and I am 49. (I wouldn't even have done it then, but my brother's marriage was imploding and I needed to appoint a guardian for laTeen should something happen to me.

I hadn't thought about a fannish executor in a long time. I am glad that you brought this up.

I had an informal agreement with a local friend, but she just moved across the country 3 days ago. oops. Now I have to think about it all again. (although the attorney who is acting as my RL executor is cool, and I bet she would take care of anything/everything for me.)

[sherrold]

Congrats on the will -- our generation (I'm 49 too, at least this week) has been v. reluctant to face facts that way.

Yeah, I think there's two parts to this -- someone with your passwords who can update your LJ/DW and let people know what's happening (who can live anywhere), and someone local (or willing to fly in, if something seriously enough happens) who knows what you'd like done with your stuff.

[lightgetsin]

The conversations axiom_of_stripe and I had about it after the last time I had surgery were largely about handling all the physical stuff so that a family member wouldn't find it, in addition to preserving and memorializing online.

[lapillus]

jackiekjono and I were talking about that this weekend and I've verbally named her as fannish executor. I'm sure that since I don't currently have a will (lack of spouse, dependents or property has made it an admittedly low priority) my folks would end up asking her about stuff but I really do need to get it all down in writing. It's one of the many things on my "get organized list" which I've been poking at with some success all year.

As to what else to do, I'd want to make sure that the fannish executor notified fandom about my death and the cause of it. One of my old friends died a couple of years ago and I have no clue how (I hadn't spoken to Kevin in years and his folks didn't know me) and I still wonder what actually happened. None of the obituaries online mention how and that is... frustrating.

[sherrold]

One of my old friends died a couple of years ago and I have no clue how (I hadn't spoken to Kevin in years and his folks didn't know me) and I still wonder what actually happened. None of the obituaries online mention how and that is... frustrating.

Yup -- that's part of what started this for me; people dying and their LJ doesn't even have a final post, or it has a final post, but it's by (obvious) mundanes and they don't provide real answers...

So, does Jackie have your passwords?

[celli]

I think Slod is probably my de facto fannish executor--she's posted for me when I was in the hospital and stuff. I keep meaning to create a protected GDocs file or something that only she and the good twin have access to, so I can update my passwords whenever I need to and not have to rememebr to notify them.

I think she would just inherit my laptop, so that's taken care of. And she and the good twin would probably take care of my books and DVDs, as well. There's nothing in there that would shock my family, probably, but there's no need to test that. :)

*makes note to call cousin about setting up a will*

*hugs*

[sherrold]

Hugs, back! Yeah, if we can just make sure that the 'fannish exec' gets our laptops, for most of us with modern browsers, that takes care of the passwords problem, too. But I bet you, most mundane families wouldn't assume that of course, the laptop goes to fandom/your closest fannish friend.

But yes, a will is a good thing, if only because it makes you think interesting thoughts about the future.

[anoel]

I've told my RL best friend to post in vidding when that happens and I would leave her my computer and access to all my fannish stuff in my (needs to be written) will so I guess she could just post to my LJ as well. I just don't like giving people my passwords so that wouldn't work for me.

[cereta]

I have sort of casual understandings with a few friends. I'm lucky in that I have a partner who can be trusted to (a) notify fannish folk and (b) not freak out over the contents of my harddrive. I don't really have any zines, and spouse likes vids enough to hang onto my DVDs. But it's definitely something I've thought about.

do any of those friends have your passwords?

[sherrold]

Part of what I hate is when no one can get into someone's LJ and post memorial information...

[princessofgeeks]

i sort of have fannish executor(s) for my online accounts, people who know my passwords, but i have no idea what would happen to the stuff i have physically at home -- the zines, the printouts, the memorabilia etc. i don't have any fannish friends who live really nearby. it's something to think about.

[sherrold]

It definitely is.

Good for you for giving someone your passwords!

Hey you said, "i don't have any fannish friends who live really nearby." For something serious (you immobilized; you...deceased), you know, people would travel.

[corilannam]

My best friend and I were talking about this just the other day, as we were sorting through fannish stuff from a friend of ours who passed away. I do think it's important not just to have a "porn buddy" to clear out the dirty stuff, but also to make sure fannish stuff gets to a good home and not just dumped in the garbage because our mundane families didn't know what to do with it (which is why we went up to help clean out our friend's house, taking a lot of stress off the actual executor who didn't know what half this stuff was).

I'm pretty sure she knows most of my passwords already, but now that you mention it, making a list is probably a pretty good idea. Heck, I'm not even sure I know all my passwords anymore!

[sherrold]

> make sure fannish stuff gets to a good home and not just dumped in
> the garbage

Yes, definitely! The loss of the old stuff saddens me.

>I'm pretty sure she knows most of my passwords already, but now that
>you mention it, making a list is probably a pretty good idea. Heck,
>I'm not even sure I know all my passwords anymore!

Oh *god* I know that feeling...

[lys]

I really need to do that one of these days. My brothers and I have been dealing with my folks' estate (they formed their living trust in 2004, and never put anything in it!!!) while they're still around to bitch about it. So it's obviously been fresh in my mind, but I just never get around to doing it for myself. And lord knows I've got some stuff I don't want my uber-religious brothers to find!!1!

[jackiekjono]

Guilty. Will put stuff in trust when I come back from VVC.

EEp.

[jae]

I'm not sure this is something those of us who don't own zines need...is it? What am I missing?

-J

I think there are two main parts

[sherrold]

The physical toys/zines whatever (getting less common with younger fans, maybe) and the online presence -- can someone post to your LJ/DW/whatever and say you're in the hospital, or that something has happened to you. Is there a way for someone to give your fannish friends a place to have a fannish memorial? (And for people who pay for their web space -- is it all going to go away without warning when someone doesn't pay the bill -- could there be a warning?)

[hederahelix]

So, true story from Escapade that has just driven home how much I need to set something up follows after the part of the reason I don't have an executor yet is that I need a dual duty fannish executor realization.

I live alone. My mother, my only surviving parent, knows I'm fannish and knows about slash, so I'm not worried about her finding any number of things in my house. Okay, truth be told, I should also have a dyke executor, because, really, leaving that second tool box of items for your mom to find after your death, maybe not a great idea now that I think about it. I mean, if there's an afterlife, and I get to watch that response, I'm sure I'll find it highly amusing, but probably best to avoid it, right?

Okay, so your post has convinced me that I need a "Spare My Mother's Embarrassment" Executor to de-dyke and de-fan the house which should probably be combined with the fannish executor. And I admit that since I came into fandom online first, I don't really have zines, so I've let this slide.

But I had honestly never thought about the password issue. I mean, yeesh.

Those of you who perused the art show at Escapade may remember the undies with Chris Kirkpatrick's face on them that belonged to Minotaur that were featured in the art show with the whole "Does anyone know what these are?" note next to them.

Well, I did know. I already had a pair myself, although mine were on women's undies. Giogio made those in advance of Chris's performance in Dallas, and she offered to send them out to folks. I was able to tell elke what they were, but if elke hadn't taken them to Escapade, since her fandoms didn't overlap with Minotaur's, well--Minotaur's Chris Kirkpatrick cyanotype undies (he framed his! how smart and awesome is that!) might have been tossed.

(They're currently residing in the frame under my bed. I figure I'll get my pair framed and put them up, well, I don't know--somewhere. I think even for me the living room may be a bit much. None of my friends would bat an eye, but now that my landlord lives on site, and given my cable troubles and the frequency with which cable folks ahve been in my apartment, maybe that's not a great plan.)

But, since I saved those from being unceremoniously dumped, I guess I need to make sure that if I died, both pair didn't get unceremoniously dumped.

So, yes. I'll have to get on that. Hmm.

[dira]

I've verbally agreed with iulia that she's my fannish executor--and as she lives closer to me than any of my family, has keys to my apartment and car, and has been adopted by my family as my Hetero Life Mate since roughly the age of fourteen, I foresee no difficulty for her in getting hold of my laptop and doing whatever needs doing In The Event. Plus my website is hosted by friends of mine who are jointly friends of hers, so they can negotiate anything that needs doing there among them, including the resetting and reassigning of logins. I suppose I shouldn't test my faith in our ability to pass the broccoli test from beyond the grave, though, and should talk to her about what I would actually want her to do. (When I was posting Missing Persons serially she had the complete final draft and explicit instructions to continue the posting schedule if I died or was otherwise deterred from finishing. *g*)

I do need to set her up as my official AO3 fannish executor so she can control my stuff there, though. And I should write down all my passwords somewhere. Hmm...

[montanaharper]

Well, I used to have an official will that addressed all my mundane and fannish concerns, but then I got divorced and I've totally slacked on making a new one. I did destroy the old one, because if I were to die intestate the result would be closer to my current wishes than my old will would; Offspring 1.0 would end up handling it all.

I expect she'd go to y'all to identify any fannish stuff she didn't recognize, though since she's been with me through most of the fandoms I think it's unlikely that anything would really stump her. And my passwords are all on my computer already, so I just need something pointing her there and she'll be good.

Still, I really need to make a new official will, if only to deal with custody issues wrt Offspring 2.0.

[fox]

I don't have anyone lined up to deal with Stuff, and I don't think I've got any Stuff that would break my folks' hearts (more than they'd be broken by the fact that I'd just died), so I'm not that concerned about the local-person issue; except that the password matter would probably have to be local, for my own purposes. I can't have someone knowing my passwords if I'm still using them - but writing them down and putting them in a drawer, or some digital equivalent, could be a solution.