Archive:Fanboy

2006-10-09T03:29:04Z

129.2.213.93:

{{Otheruses3|Fanboys}}

'' '''Fanboy''' '' or '' '''fanboi''' '' is a term used to describe an individual (usually male, though the feminine version ''fangirl'' may be used for females) who is utterly devoted to a single fannish subject, or to a single point of view within that subject, often to the point where it is considered an [[obsession]].

==History of fanboys and the term==
The term originated in [[comic book]] circles, to describe someone who immersed himself in the fictional worlds of comics and the culture of comics fandom. The term is often used in a derogatory manner by other less obsessed fans. In the songs of the fannish [[parody]] [[musician]] [[Luke Ski]], many characters proudly consider themselves ''fanboys''. The term is most commonly associated with adolescent and teen males but can be applicable to any age or sex. Common subjects of reverence by fanboys are [[TV show]]s, [[film|movie]]s, [[music]], [[anime]], [[car]]s, [[video game console]]s, [[video games]], [[operating system]]s, [[MMORPG]]s, and [[software]] companies.

The stereotypical image of the fanboy is as an unkempt, socially awkward, young man who may be perceived as a loud mouthed [[pseudo-intellectual]]. A popular depiction of this stereotype is the [[Comic Book Guy]] on ''[[The Simpsons]]''.

The earliest use of the word "fanboy" has been dated to 1982, to the cover of the "Official Underground and Newave Comix Price Guide". On this cover page are sketched overweight, overzealous comic book collectors wearing T-shirts that state "Fanboys of America," and are describing the extreme measures they would go to, including moving to San Francisco to preserve their comics. Another early use is in a smart-alec editorial reply by "[[Ambush Bug]]" to a letter in his comic in [[1985]].

"Fanboys" remain loyal to their particular obsession, disregarding any factors that differ from their point of view. They are also typically hateful the opposing brand of their obession regardless of its merits or achievements.

==Subjects of reverence==
Some brands and products, which have fanboy supporters:
*The [[graphics processing unit|graphics processing units]] produced by [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] and [[NVIDIA|nVidia]]
*The [[computer]] [[microprocessor]] companies [[Advanced Micro Devices|AMD]] and [[Intel Corporation|Intel]]
*The [[automobile]] companies [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[General Motors]], and [[DaimlerChrysler]]
*The [[cola]] products: [[Coca-Cola|Coke]], from the [[The_Coca-Cola_Company|The Coca-Cola Company]]; and [[Pepsi]], from [[PepsiCo]]
*The competing video game consoles: [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]] and [[Playstation 3]] from [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]] and [[Sony]]
*The competing handheld video game consoles: [[PlayStation Portable]] from [[Sony]], and the [[Nintendo DS]]
*The competing [[DVD]] formats [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] and [[HD DVD]]

==Trivia==
The word "fanboys" can be a [[mnemonic]] [[acronym]] for the [[Grammatical conjunction|coordinating conjunction]]s of the [[English language]]: "for", "and", "nor", "but", "or", "yet", and "so".

==Media==
===Comic Book===
*[[Sergio Aragonés]]' ''Fanboy''
*Doug Holverson's "Fanboy" (anthropomorphized rotary fan obsessed with comics, who uses his electrical plug for a hand). Dates from the prolific minicomic wave of the 1980s.

===Television===
*''[[The Simpsons]]'''s [[Comic Book Guy]] refers to himself as a fanboy.
*''[[Freakazoid!|Freakazoid]]'''s [[freakazoid!#Other_characters|Fan Boy]]

===Radio/Podcasts===
*[[Fanboy Radio]] - [http://fanboyradio.com]
*Drooling FanBoy - [http://droolingfanboy.com]
*ifanboy - [http://www.ifanboy.com]
*[[The Fanboy Smackdown Podcast]] - [http://www.fanboysmackdown.com]

===Webcomics===
*Fanboy Almanac (webcomic) - [http://fanboyalmanac.com Fanboy Almanac]
*[http://www.ngeb.net/fanboys Fanboys web comic]
*[http://www.fogclub.net Fanboy Otaku Gamers Club web comic]
*[http://www.fanboysonline.com Fanboys!! Beyond Geekdom!!! (webcomic)]
*[http://www.fanboys-online.com Fanboys-Online]

===Video Games===
*[http://www.dsfanboy.com DS Fanboy]
*[http://www.pspfanboy.com PSP Fanboy]
*[http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
*[http://www.ps3fanboy.com Playstation 3 Fanboy]
*[http://www.xbox360fanboy.com Xbox 360 Fanboy]

==See also==
* [[Addiction]]
* [[Otaku]]
* [[Anorak (slang)|Anorak]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fanboy Urban dictionary: fanboy]
* [http://www.netjak.com/review.php/1013 Dissecting the Fanboy Mind] - A discussion of the fanboy behavior in regards to video games.

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