Ian McDonald has a great post about what sf is (and perhaps what it should aspire to be) over on his LJ:
As I said, entertainment is where we all begin, not where we end up. Call me fussy, but I’m not after your beer money. Beer is always good, but keep it for the beer: I’m after the money you spend on beautiful, precious things. The ornaments, the treasures. The things that really matter to you. The money you spend on lovers, I want that money. The money you spend on plastic surgery, drugs, hopes, faith and fetishes–the things that change your life, that make and remake you: that’s the money I want. Keep your beer money, you’ve worked for it, I want your triple-distilled whiskey money.
Go and read the whole thing.