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Archive:Utility tunnel

2007-09-16T06:46:13Z

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[[Image:Dec27_004.jpg|right|thumb|300px| A picture of a Utility tunnel taken by an [[Urban Exploration|urban explorer]] in [[Toronto]] Canada. Note the steam and electrical conduit.]]

An '''utility tunnel''' is a space for wires, conduits, pipes, and other conveyances used in the delivery of [[utilities]] with enough room for a human to enter. Modern pipes and cables need less attention and space than older varieties, so the construction of utility tunnels declined in the late 20th century. Modern underground utilities tend to be enclosed in pipe chases, which are not large enough for people.

Steam pipes, in particular, tend to be housed in large tunnels for easy access by workmen. A number of university campuses have a complex network of steam pipes; student exploration thereof is referred to as [[roof and tunnel hacking]].
==See also==

*[[Utility vault]]
*[[Steam tunnel incident]]
*[[Common utility duct]]

{{architecture-stub}}

[[Category:Tunnels]]

Archive:Fanboy

2006-04-10T23:28:39Z

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'''Fanboy''' or '''fanboi''' is a term used to describe a male who is utterly devoted to a single subject or [[hobby]], 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, to the exclusion of a more mainstream social life. 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, [[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]]''. In the mid [[1990s]], the emergence of [[slacker]] culture changed this image somewhat. Movies such as [[Kevin Smith]]'s Jersey Trilogy (''[[Clerks]]'', ''[[Mallrats]]'', and ''[[Chasing Amy]]''), altered the image of the fanboy{{fact}}. As electronic entertainment gained popularity, the term became increasingly applied to video gamers and television addicts who readily labelled themselves.

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.

Fanboys can be zealously committed to their particular narrow area of interest, to the exclusion and derision of competing or similar products, regardless of their merits. Fanboys are often perceived as possessing a [[sycophant]]ic devotion to the creators behind the object of their passion. An obsession may be short or long term and, at times, aggressively defended. One example of this is [[Harry Knowles]] and his associates at [[Ain't It Cool News]], whose particular focus is on [[film|movies]] in the [[action movie|action]], [[fantasy]], adventure and [[superhero]] genres. Fanboys are noted for a very emotional attachment to their chosen subject, often taking negative remarks about it as a personal attack. They may readily engage in debates, but will fall back on emotional responses. For example, a "fanboy" may go out of their way to point out negative and often untrue statements about their obsession's rivals; this is commonly known as [[fear, uncertainty and doubt|FUD]].

More recently, especially in the [[video game industry]], fans of a particular [[video game console]] manufacturer have begun exhibiting slavish devotion to their brand of choice. Conversely they hold an unreasonable amount of animosity towards the other brands which they consider to be competition. They are extremely rude to fans of the other companies or even people who don’t hail complete and utter devotion to the object of their fanaticism. These people seek out every opportunity to annoy others whose opinions differ from theirs. This trend has led to the term “fanboy” deriving a more and more negative connotation.

==Some common types of fanboys==
===Video game fanboys===
After comic books, video games may be the most fruitful environment for fanboys. These include:
*[[Nintendo]] Fanboys (sometimes called a "Ninty" or "Drone", short for "Nintendrone", also "Nintendophile")
*[[Sony]] Fanboys (sometimes called "Tools", short for "PSTool" which is derived from Sony's current entertainment console, the [[PS2]])
*[[Xbox]] Fanboys ( not usually called fannoys, sometimes called "Xbots")
*[[Sega]] Fanboys
*[[Final Fantasy]] Fanboys (want the series to continue forever)

On the [[GameSpot]] System Wars forum, as well as SystemWars.com [http://www.systemwars.com/forums/], the different schools of video game fanboys are associated with various animals. Nintendo fanboys are called "[[sheep]]" because of their perceived willingness to be herded by Nintendo. Sony fanboys are called "[[Cattle|cows]]" because of the perception they pay extra, i.e. are "milked" by Sony for optional features for their equipment of choice. Microsoft fanboys are called "[[Lemming|lemmings]]" because of the perception they follow Microsoft blindly, even if it leads to their demise. Similarly, PC fanboys are called "[[hermits]]" because they are perceived as solitary, friendless gamers who play by themselves.

===Anime fanboys===
Anime is another fertile breeding ground for fanboys. Some notable examples are:
*[[Dragon Ball]] Fanboys (get hung up on names, especially [[romanji]])
*[[Sailor Moon]] Fanboys (very strict about [[manga]] continuity)
*[[Inuyasha]] Fangirls (generally, they're all [[female]], but display all the traits of fanboys)

===Computer software/hardware fanboys===
* [[Linux]] Fanboys - Love open source and believe that anything coming from Microsoft is inferior.
* [[Mac]] Fanboys - Devoted Apple's software, operating systems and hardware products.
* [[Microsoft]] Fanboys - Devoted to Microsoft's software, operating systems and hardware products. And to the shameless slander of Mac Fanboys.
* [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] Fanboys - Often boast that their graphics cards have greater image quality. Refer to [[Nvidia]] fans as "Nvidiots".
* [[Nvidia]] Fanboys - Refer to [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] fans as "FanATIcs" (should not be confused with AEG sponsored posters, who receive indirect compensation as a reward to subtle promotion of NVidia's products)
* [[Google]] Fanboys - Devoted to the corporation that produced the Google.com search engine. They are ceaselessly bullish on Google's future, insist that Google will eventually unseat Microsoft as the most dominant technology company, consider Google's stock a bargain at any price and tirelessly argue against any insinuation that Google is ignoring its self-proclaimed mandate to "Do No Evil."

==In Media==
===Comic Book===
*[[Sergio Aragonés]]' ''Fanboy''

===Television===
*[[The Simpsons]]' [[Comic Book Guy]]

===Radio/Podcasts===
*[[Fanboy Radio]] - [http://fanboyradio.com]
*Drooling FanBoy - [http://droolingfanboy.com]

===Webcomics===
*[[Fanboy Almanac (webcomic)]] - [http://fanboyalmanac.com Fanboy Almanac]
*[http://www.ngeb.net/fanboys Fanboys web comic]

==See also==
* [[addiction]]
* [[otaku]]
* [[anorak (slang)|anorak]]

[[Category:Fandom]]

[[de:Fanboy]]

Archive:Fanboy

2006-04-10T23:27:21Z

81.151.86.115: /* See also */

Archive:Fanboy

2006-04-10T23:22:33Z

81.151.86.115: /* See also */