Defining "fanboy"

[Kahuna Burger]

Due to a digression on the LotR books thread, I got to thinking about the term fanboy... Now there are two major problems with defining it, one of which is that it was sort of an organicly evolved term so any definition is descriptive rather than perscriptive. (ie, it can only be defined by looking at how it is used, often by people who might not be able to come up with a concise definition other than "that guy I just called a fanboy is a fanboy".) The other is that it tends to be used in a derogetory fashion (though not always, see below) which taints the usage and make problem one more pronounced.

That said, here are four basic definitions of "fanboy" off the top of my head. A particular usage of the term often overlaps several of the definitions. Each definition also has a explaination of how fanboy differs from fan.

(note: fangirl is a completely acceptable term for a fanboy who happens not to be male. They are out there.)

FANBOY:

1) Someone whose respect for a writer, director etc has gotten so out of control that they consider them to be infailable, beyond any reproach, good by definition. Fans of Babylon 5 discuss how different actors leaving the show might have changed the plot for better or worse, fanboys declare "He planned it exactly that way from the very beginning, he didn't change anything and it was ALL PERFECT!"

2) Someone whose interest in a writer/actor/etc takes up an unhealthy amount of time and may become obsessive. Fans choose a con where their favorite actor is guesting or write a letter to an author. Fanboys go on tour following the actor around the country or write weekly letter to an author then show up on their doorstep to find out why their ideas were not integrated into the latest work.

3) Someone whose interest in a particular character (usually movie or TV) has become "personal" and who has some trouble remembering that the actor is not the character. Fans of Spike who meet James Masters congradulate him on helping create such a great character and ask about future plans. Spike fangirls throw themselves at him and beg him to talk in an english accent while biting them, please, Spike, please! (OK, thats what I'd do... )

4) Someone who likes something you consider trite, bad, boring or childish. Fans like this, fanboys like that...

Any comments, suggestions? What are you a fanboy of, and what did the fanboys almost ruin for you?

Kahuna Burger

 

[Desdichado]

I think for definition one, you're missing a key element. It is acceptable, to use your example, to be a fanboy of Bab5 of the period before such and such actor left, but not of the later period after such and such actor is gone.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I think for definition one, you're missing a key element. It is acceptable, to use your example, to be a fanboy of Bab5 of the period before such and such actor left, but not of the later period after such and such actor is gone.

interesting, I have not witnessed this myself... I guess I could see being a "B5 seasons 2-4 fanboy"... perhaps the second part of my example would be better defined as a JMS fanboy? But if you are willing to accept flaws in the program, I don't know if definition one alone is enough to peg you as a fanboy (though others may).

Of course, self defining as a fanboy is always acceptable and accepted.

Kahuna burger

 

[Darrin Drader]

I think for definition one, you're missing a key element. It is acceptable, to use your example, to be a fanboy of Bab5 of the period before such and such actor left, but not of the later period after such and such actor is gone.

Oh, no kidding - the most annoying type. I'm not saying that you have to accept any series wholesale, but to say that something was great before X, but aweful after Y is usually a simplification based on personal bias. Of course there are exceptions. Had JMS stopped working on B5 mid-stream, I would imagine that it would have taken a quick dive. A lot of this also goes back to the discussion on jumping the shark.

I fully admit to being a B5 fanboy, but I can see the problems with certain episodes, even if many of them are early on.

2) Someone whose interest in a writer/actor/etc takes up an unhealthy amount of time and may become obsessive. Fans choose a con where their favorite actor is guesting or write a letter to an author. Fanboys go on tour following the actor around the country or write weekly letter to an author then show up on their doorstep to find out why their ideas were not integrated into the latest work.

I think you may have the term 'fanboy' and 'stalker' mixed up on this one.

 

[Hand of Evil]

There are degrees to fandom:
- knows facts and information
- knows facts, information and can quote lines
- dress as characters, sell soul to be in show

As far as B5, I have been one from Gennie days and know a few strange facts relating to location of Babylon Station and its Gennie address!

 

[diaglo]

i have seen many fanpeople on this site.

i happen to be a fanman of OD&D(1974) and proud of it.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I think you may have the term 'fanboy' and 'stalker' mixed up on this one.

I think the line between fanboy and stalker can be easy to cross, and its acceptable for some for their deffinitions to overlap. How many letters do you have to send, how many days do you stand outside the studio door before you're a stalker? Some behaviour can jump you all at once, but humorists writing for a "geek" base (dork tower for instance) make stalking jokes all the time about fanboy type characters...

Kahuna burger

 

[TiQuinn]

i have seen many fanpeople on this site.

i happen to be a fanman of OD&D(1974) and proud of it.

I think the more appropriate term here is "broken record".

 

[Mark]

I think the more appropriate term here is "broken record".

Record? Is that one of those vinyl discs they used to sell back when D&D was three little booklets?

 

[Dreeble]

Heya:

I like Fanboy Definition #1. It really fits my experiences back when I was playing Everquest. The Everquest Fanboys (or, alternatively, the Verant Fanboys) felt there were absolutely no problems with the game, that's not a bug, it's INTENDED!, and so on. The AntiEQ Fanboys like felt that the game was completely worthless and anyone who played it sucked. Forgetting that _they_ enjoyed the game immensely for several months before burning out on it.

Definite #2 does sound more like a simple stalker. For #3, it really depends on the trouble the person has separating actor and character. Lots of trouble: Delusional Person. Little trouble: Actually this seems like it would be kind of insulting to the actor, treating him less like a person than a fixated object or something. Probably offbase on that. #4 and the "Good before X, Bad After Y" are just Snobs.

Once I realized there's no difference in merit between comics, wrestling, and daytime soap operas, it became immensely easier to avoid being a snob, and it's always been hard for me to be so intensely focused on the good in something that I can't see the bad.

Take care,
Dreeble