*Virtual fandom Shouvik, a virtual fan from Hyderabad, thinks that being part of a fans community online helps you procure a lot of resources, which will be impossible as an individual. Plus it builds your contacts. He even designed what he describes as "India's first community based fan club." Samata Biswas, a researcher, feels that it is impossible for people with busy schedules to be real time fans. "You don't know where these clubs are, how to join, etc. Here you can just log in anytime and contribute."
For the 3,00,000 strong A R Rahman Fans community in Orkut, virtual space is for meeting and organising. The community is used as a platform for the planning of their outdoor activities, which include free food distribution for the poor, concerts, and aid for the disabled kids. It also serves as a platform for raising money for these charity works by selling Rahman tees, Pray for me Brother colourbooks, etc. What this also says is that fan sites have marketing potential which could be manipulated. * http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIH/2008/08/20&PageLabel=23&EntityId=Ar02300&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T -- regards, Vithur ARR -- The Sweet Cube always
