Archive:Fanboy: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:59, 19 November 2008

For other uses, see Fanboy (disambiguation).

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. A very common characteristic of fanboy is to become aggressive or violent when discussing issues that touch in some way their fanaticism. Often it can undervalue or underestimate the tastes or opinions of others.

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, most of the times underestimating the tastes of the others.

Current subjects of such obsessive loyalty include areas of: TV shows; movies; music; anime; comic books; cars; sirens; 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]

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

Sergio Aragonés' Fanboy
Galactic Storm's Fanboy

Television

The Simpsons' Comic Book Guy refers to himself as a fanboy.
Freakazoid's Fan Boy

Radio/podcasts

Fanboy Radio
Fanboy Planet.com[1]

Movies

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

References

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

External links

A look at fanboys from the game industry perspective
Fanboy at Merriam-Webster
Dissecting the Fanboy Mind - A discussion of the fanboy behavior in regard to video games.
The trial of the Fanboy - A criticism of the fanboy concept and overusage of the term.

de:Fan#Konsum fr:Fan (admirateur)

[mw-1] y. (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

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{cleanup-rewrite}}
-'''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.
+'''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. A very common characteristic of fanboy is to become aggressive or violent when discussing issues that touch in some way their fanaticism. Often it can undervalue or underestimate the tastes or opinions of others.
 ==History==
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 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.
+</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, most of the times underestimating the tastes of the others.
 Current subjects of such obsessive loyalty include areas of: [[TV show]]s; [[film|movie]]s; [[music]]; [[anime]]; [[comic book]]s; [[car]]s; [[Civil_defense_siren|sirens]]; [[video game console]]s, [[video games]] and [[MMORPG]]s; and [[computer]] [[operating system]]s, [[computer Hardware|hardware]] and [[software]].