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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kahuna Burger" data-source="post: 1314107" data-attributes="member: 8439">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...  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> )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</blockquote>

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