From Nineteen Eighty-Four:
The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the Middle is to change places with the High. The aim of the Low, when they have an aim—for it is an abiding characteristic of the Low that they are too much crushed by drudgery to be more than intermittently conscious of anything outside their daily lives—is to abolish all distinctions and create a society in which all men shall be equal.
The principle is the same with fandoms:
- The most mainstream fandoms know that they are popular, and aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so they have nothing to fight for.
- The most obscure fandoms know that no one knows about them, and that there is basically no chance of the fandom ever becoming mainstream, so they just enjoy it while it lasts. They also know that the fandom is not big enough for there to be any infighting, so they all get along and accept any new fans with open arms.
- The fandoms in the middle know that they could be mainstream, if only it weren't for the already-mainstream fandoms getting in the way, and so they have a lot to fight for.
