Interesting thoughts. And possibly the first time I have come across the word "potlatch" outside a book. I admit, I am signing up for Yuletide this year partly as a means of self-promotion (by which I mean of course an entirely altruistic desire to promote the Sayers fandom and get other people writing it), bug also because I have enjoyed it a lot over the last couple of years, and I should like both the fun of participating for my own enjoyment, and to feel that I am contributing to something that is a fun event. Having said that, actually receiving the fic written for me will probably not be the No. 1 thing that makes it (unless it is request 2 exactly in line with the prompt, of course, in which case I will surrender my first-born).

Fandom birthdays... I have a simple policy here; I don't. I don't have mine available, and I don't but up a notice for others. It's just not something I feel comfortable getting into - I don't want to enter the mindfield of "You didn't announce my birthday", and I am quite happy with my own birthday being an online non-event. Perhaps it's less jolly, and I do like reading about other people's celebrations, but in this area of the online community, I keep myself to myself!

nineveh_uk