Dream: the University at which I have been oneirically enrolled for about five years now. My mother er 'suggests' I stop hanging out so much unchaperoned with young men (especially not in their rooms o shock!), because people might talk. In rebellion I go on a daytrip to a small town with a microhouse dj who I recognise but barely know. We're on our way to the bus station, eating raisin cupcakes, when I wake up.

...

(I'm always impressed by the topography of my dream world, remarkably consistent for a place without logical rules.)

So, Jae and I were talking, and somehow got onto the topic of fandom 'neechan, which leads inexorably to fandom sempai. It's odd: I can remember a time I had them, pretty definitely, but it's passed. I think it's the having settled in lj (my f'list barely changes these days), the usual redshift of fandoms and interests and friendships, that's levelled out the world for me. And maybe just becoming used to things, too - I'm not sure that I can know and like someone for a while without starting to consider them my equal (perhaps this is the Englishness in me: to treat someone as your equal is the highest compliment you can pay them).

The question is: do people often conceive of fandom in terms of sempai and kohai? Do they have, or have they had, fandom sempai and kohai of their own? [How] Is the relationship different from BNF and fangrrl? etc etc etc.
Thoughts, anyone?