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'''Fanboy''' is a derogatory term used to describe someone who is utterly devoted to a [[hobby]] or a subject, to the point where it becomes an [[obsession]].  Fanboys are often experts on minor details regarding their hobbies, and they take these details extremely seriously.
'''Fanboy''' is a term used to describe any individual who is devoted to a single subject in an emotional or fanatical manner, or to a single point of view within that subject, often to the point where it is considered an obsession.


These sorts of fanboys stereotypically show an almost [[sycophant]]ic devotion to the creators and principles behind a work they are currently enthralled by, but will quickly move their attention elsewhere once something better or just newer comes along. A good 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.
==History==
According to the [[Merriam-Webster]] Collegiate Dictionary, the earliest known use of the term "fanboy" in an English-language publication dates to 1919.<ref name="mw">[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fanboy fanboy. (2008)]. In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved July 7, 2008.</ref>
{{?}}
In [[comic book]] culture, a 1982 reference is 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," who are describing the extreme measures they would go to, including moving to San Francisco, to preserve their comics.


The term is usually applied to people in their teens or 20s. Probably because of the age, common objects of deference for fanboys are [[TV show]]s, [[movie]]s, [[game console]]s, [[computer game]]s, [[operating system]]s and [[software]] companies.
Also published in 1982, a comic strip appeared in Jim Engel and Chuck Fiala's "Fandom Confidential" comic. In the strip, Jim and Chuck met comic artist/writer [[John Byrne]] and collapsed into "mindless paroxysms of adoration."  The John Byrne character responded that they were "a couple of fanboys in bondage" (a play on words referring to a [[List of Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes#10. E. Henry Thripshaw.27s Disease|Monty Python sketch]] in which an Elizabethan era character reads what she claims to be a new Shakespeare work called "Gay Boys in Bondage"). <ref>[http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=7&T1=Miscellaneous+Questions#154 Byrne Robotics: FAQ<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Another early use is in a smart-alec editorial reply by "[[Ambush Bug]]" to a letter in his comic in 1985.


Fanboys often find it necessary to defend the object of their affection against real or perceived attacks. They also take very seriously comparisions with competition. Even rational arguments and valid critique of the subject is often met with emotional attacks, affirming the subject's superiority.
By 1990 the term was being used in [[popular music]] and [[science fiction]] circles<ref>
[http://groups.google.com/groups/search?lr=&safe=off&num=10&q=fanboy&safe=off&qt_s=Search&as_drrb=b&as_mind=1&as_minm=1&as_miny=1981&as_maxd=1&as_maxm=1&as_maxy=1990 USENET use before 1990]
</ref>{{Failed verification|date=September 2008}}, and as electronic entertainment gained popularity, the term became increasingly applied to [[computer]]s and [[video game consoles]] - with people often developing an obsessive loyalty towards one platform or brand.  


Because of its negative connotations, in [[fandom|fannish]] [[subculture]] the term ''fanboy'' is generally seen as derogatory. Nevertheless, self-labeling usages of the term have been noted; in the songs of the fannish parody musician [[Luke Ski]], many characters proudly consider themselves ''fanboys''.
Current subjects of such obsessive loyalty include areas of: [[TV show]]s; [[film|movie]]s; [[music]]; [[anime]]; [[comic book]]s; [[car]]s; [[furry fandom|furries]]; [[video game console]]s, [[video games]] and [[MMORPG]]s; and [[computer]] [[operating system]]s, [[computer Hardware|hardware]] and [[software]].
<ref>
[http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/11/whos-nuttier-ap.html "Who's Nuttier, Apple Fanatics or Ron Paul Enthusiasts?", Wired Magazine]
</ref>
"Fanboy" was added to the [[Merriam-Webster]] Collegiate Dictionary in 2008.<ref>[http://www.welt.de/english-news/article2186069/New_words_in_the_Merriam-Webster_dictionary_.html New words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary] [[Die Welt]] online, 7 July 2008</ref>


Since the term is primarily derogatory, most people do not understand why a person is labeled a fanboy. Fanboys can be seen as extremists, but often they respond to people who are on the other end of the spectrum, people who are very critical of a product, whatever it may be. Those people who are critical of such things, often justify their criticizing by calling it "constructive criticism". For a prime example of that overused term, listen to any of Simon Cowell's negative comments on [[American Idol]].
One of the original and most famous fanboy websites is [[Ain't It Cool News]].  
==Fangirl==
The term fangirl, while similar, often carries slightly different connotations - often applied to any enthusiastic female fan regardless of obsessive qualities or not, and is often used with overtones of "[[teenybopper]]". Depending on context, "fangirl" may be used or perceived as a derogatory label.


The female equivalent is sometimes called a [[fangirl]], but in all actuallity there are several differences between the two, mostly relating to socialization and ways of expressing their [[fandom|fannish]] tendencies.  On the internet, some fangirls keep their gender secret to avoid harassment, particularly from fanboys with social issues who complain about women in general. Also, most fanboy genres are still mainstream perceived as immature and geeky, thus unattractive to women. As a result, many lonely fanboys become smitten and overwhelmed by any friendly fangirl who shares their interests (regardless of whether or not she's available), a situation that occasionally turns into a case of obsessive stalking.
==Media==
Popular depictions of Fanboy stereotypes include the [[Comic Book Guy]] on ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and columnist [[Larry Groznic]] from the satirical newspaper ''[[The Onion]]''.  In the songs of the fannish [[parody]] [[musician]] [[Luke Ski]], many characters proudly consider themselves ''fanboys.''


The stereotypical image of the fanboy is as an unkempt, often overweight, and generally unattractive figure of a young man who often appears as a loud mouthed pseudo intellectual. A popular depiction of this stereotype is the [[Comic Book Guy]] on [[The Simpsons]].  In reality, many fanboys are generally shy outside of their own circles and considered harmless as they appear mostly to keep to themselves. This sentiment was marred in 1988, however when a 28 year old Japanese man, [[Tsutomo Miyazaki]] was arrested for sodomy and murder of several young girls. When his small apartment was raided, police found thousands of videocassettes of anime, pornography, and recorded SF and other genre tv shows as well as hundreds of manga. This incident was tragic, even more so, because the suspect's surname was the same as beloved Japanese animator [[Hayao Miyazaki]]. Originally, fanboys were lightly scoffed and dismissed, however, with the Miyazaki incident, the [[otaku]] (as a fanboy is called in Japan) has also in the public mind, become synonomous with deviant.
===Comic books===
*[[Sergio Aragonés]]' ''Fanboy''
*[[Galactic Storm]]'s ''Fanboy''


For all their faults, fanboys were originally assumed to be intelligent, educated individuals otherwise -- at least until the mid 1990s. With the glorification of the [[slacker]] culture, the movies of [[Kevin Smith]]'s Jersey Trilogy ([[Clerks]], [[Chasing Amy]], and [[Mallrats]]), altered the fanboy image yet again especially as the video gaming culture increased in popularity. As a result, the cerebral, nitpicky image of fanboys began to recede into nostalgia as a new generation of fanboys emerged who were more narcissistic, more superficial, and more concerned with the external aspects of the genres and the fanboy culture in general.
===Television===
*''[[The Simpsons]]''' [[Comic Book Guy]] refers to himself as a fanboy.
*''[[Freakazoid!|Freakazoid]]'''s [[freakazoid!#Other characters|Fan Boy]]


See also: [[addiction]]; [[otaku]]; [[anorak (slang)|anorak]].
===Radio/podcasts===
*[[Fanboy Radio]]


----
===Movies===
* [[Fanboys (2003 film)|''Fanboys'']], a 2003 New Zealand short film
* [[Fanboys (2009 film)|''Fanboys'']], a 2009 American comedy film


The letter sequence "FANBOYS" is also a [[mnemonic]] for the words ''for'', ''and'', ''nor'', ''but'', ''or'', ''yet'', and ''so''. These words are [[coordinating conjuction]]s, which are used to join two [[independent clause]]s. It is customary to place a [[comma (punctuation)|comma]] after the first clause. Some [[Prescription and description|prescriptive]] grammarians say that one should not start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. But others don't. (See [[English grammar]].)
==See also==
* [[Addiction]]
* [[Brand loyalty]]
* [[Cyberstalking]]
* [[Editor war]]
* [[Anorak (slang)|Anorak]]
* [[Astroturfing]]
* [[Otaku]]
* [[Obsession]]


== External link ==
==References==
{{reflist}}


* Explanation of the use of coordinating conjunctions from the [[New Mexico State University|NMSU]] Writing Center: http://www.nmsu.edu/~english/wc/wccocunj.html
==External links==
* [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fanboy Fanboy at Merriam-Webster]
* [http://www.netjak.com/review.php/1013 Dissecting the Fanboy Mind]  - A discussion of the fanboy behavior in regard to video games.
* [http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=6463 The trial of the Fanboy] - A criticism of the fanboy concept and overusage of the term.
 
[[Category:Fandom]]

Latest revision as of 08:07, 7 June 2009

Fanboy is a term used to describe any individual who is devoted to a single subject in an emotional or fanatical manner, or to a single point of view within that subject, often to the point where it is considered an obsession.

History

According to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, the earliest known use of the term "fanboy" in an English-language publication dates to 1919.[1] ? In comic book culture, a 1982 reference is 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," who are describing the extreme measures they would go to, including moving to San Francisco, to preserve their comics.

Also published in 1982, a comic strip appeared in Jim Engel and Chuck Fiala's "Fandom Confidential" comic. In the strip, Jim and Chuck met comic artist/writer John Byrne and collapsed into "mindless paroxysms of adoration." The John Byrne character responded that they were "a couple of fanboys in bondage" (a play on words referring to a Monty Python sketch in which an Elizabethan era character reads what she claims to be a new Shakespeare work called "Gay Boys in Bondage"). [2] Another early use is in a smart-alec editorial reply by "Ambush Bug" to a letter in his comic in 1985.

By 1990 the term was being used in popular music and science fiction circles[3]Template:Failed verification, and as electronic entertainment gained popularity, the term became increasingly applied to computers and video game consoles - with people often developing an obsessive loyalty towards one platform or brand.

Current subjects of such obsessive loyalty include areas of: TV shows; movies; music; anime; comic books; cars; furries; video game consoles, video games and MMORPGs; and computer operating systems, hardware and software. [4] "Fanboy" was added to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary in 2008.[5]

One of the original and most famous fanboy websites is Ain't It Cool News.

Fangirl

The term fangirl, while similar, often carries slightly different connotations - often applied to any enthusiastic female fan regardless of obsessive qualities or not, and is often used with overtones of "teenybopper". Depending on context, "fangirl" may be used or perceived as a derogatory label.

Media

Popular depictions of Fanboy stereotypes include the Comic Book Guy on The Simpsons and columnist Larry Groznic from the satirical newspaper The Onion. In the songs of the fannish parody musician Luke Ski, many characters proudly consider themselves fanboys.

Comic books

Television

Radio/podcasts

Movies

  • Fanboys, a 2003 New Zealand short film
  • Fanboys, a 2009 American comedy film

See also

References

  1. ↑ fanboy. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  2. ↑ Byrne Robotics: FAQ
  3. ↑ USENET use before 1990
  4. ↑ "Who's Nuttier, Apple Fanatics or Ron Paul Enthusiasts?", Wired Magazine
  5. ↑ New words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary Die Welt online, 7 July 2008
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