Why is fandom information treated as if it weren't on topic?

Question

From the Help Center > Asking:

What topics can I ask about here?

Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange is for questions targeted towards science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts. This includes questions about:

• Plot, character, or setting explanations
• Historical or societal context of a work
• Behind-the-scenes and fandom information
• Story identification
• Franchise/series reading or viewing order

It says it right there, people. Questions about behind-the-scenes and fandom information are indeed ON TOPIC. However, I have often seen these questions discriminated againt simply because some users don't care for them. For example:

Main example:

• Into which house was Rowling sorted? was closed, reopened, and closed again as off topic when it really is on topic, falling under fandom info.

Sub examples:

• What has been Harrison Ford's attitude toward Star Wars?, What has been Alec Guinness's attitude toward Star Wars?, and Kenny Baker's attitude toward Star Wars each had some backlash for some users who erroneously belived that fandom information wasn't on topic, when it really is on topic. See also Laine Liska’s—and everybody and their cousins’—attitude toward Star Wars

• Did Harrison Ford ever tell fans he used to be himself, and why? was said to be off topic in some of the comments, with some users sounding like they were threatening to VTC.

• _{https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/124431/why-does-stan-lee-make-a-cameo-in-the-princess-diaries-2 isn't a very good example, but it could fall under fandom information (but I do realize it's not a great question).}

It seems like some users treat fandom info questions as off topic. Why is fandom information treated as if it weren't on topic?

Answer 1

Historically, (and incorrectly) because a number of people believe that since the question does not have anything to do with a SF/F element of the work, it is off-topic.

However, every time the topic comes up on meta, fandom and behind-the-scenes information is deemed on-topic.

If you see a question closed for one of these reasons, either vote to re-open or flag it for mod action.

Related:

• How should we handle questions that are about non-SF/F elements in a SF/F work?
• What type of “behind the scenes” questions are on-topic?
• Are questions about SF-related websites on topic?

Answer 2

I suggest we create a tag for fandom information.

There is already a tag for behind-the-scenes so it makes sense. That way, once there's a tag for fandom-information, any users who prefer not to see them can simply add fandom-information to their ignored tags list.