Badmovies.org Forum

I was thinking about this the other day.  The term "fanboy" and "fangirl" seem to float around a lot when it comes to what some people consider "nerdy". Things like comic book collecting, attending various fan conventions, watching b-movies etc. 

Granted we all seem to be fanboys and fangirls of some sort here since we seem to share a love of B-movies.  However, would you really consider calling yourself that?  If you would call yourself a fanboy or fangirl, at what level would you rate yourself?  Does being a fanboy or fangirl go a bit too far for some people?  For example, people who take out cotton gloves to handle their DVDs.  Lastly, what really prompts being a fanboy or fangirl?  Is it limited to "nerdy" things?

Myself I'd say I'm a leisure fanboy of sorts but not a crazed one.  I'm passionate about the films I enjoy, collect toys and read the occasional comic book.  However, I can't tell you what b-actor was in a rare independent film with another b-actor.  I don't alphabetize my DVD collection.  As a matter of fact its quite messy on my shelf.  I haven't ever really been to any conventions. 

So what about you, what are your thoughts on the subject? 

I have used the term before, but would say that I wouldn't want to get called it. It's music that I'm most passionate about and know an unhealthy amount about. I like to be referred to as an "arrogant purist".  :teddyr:

My sole experience with the word "Fanboy" is on the sherdog forums, and there it's mainly used as a derogatory.

That said, I think I'm a bad movie fan, and that's about it. I don't have the experience or the knowledge that many (most) do here, in fact, I fall into at least one person's definition of "Poser". . .

Anyways, I like what I like, and there's many b-movies I enjoy, and even more I don't. There are also many mainstream movies I do like that many 'b movie purists' do NOT like. Oh Well.

That said, when I find something I like a lot, I usually watch it more than things I like less, , ,and pick up a t-shirt. . I don't think I'm a fanboy of anything, since I think that is often used to imply blind faith or worse.

I can't deny I am a fanboy, though my fandom is usually relegated to the movies themselves, their plots and characters (I think way too much about rationalizing retcon XD). I don't go for merchandise, cosplaying and all that jazz.

I don't know....I guess it's like someone asking you if your insane. I don't think truly insane people believe they're  insane.

Yeah I know what you mean.  Then you start spouting off about how you're not the one who's crazy and the other person is worst than you. 

When I use the term, it's usually as part of a derogatory comment. My first exposure to the term was on Freakazoid!, where Fanboy was an overweight, pimple-faced nerd with an unhealthy obsession with Freakazoid, and later with Mark Hamill. I probably used to be a fanboy (albeit a really skinny one), at least as far as Star Wars was concerned, but I pretty much grew out of it. I never collected the toys, but I do still have the trading cards (series I, III, IV & V for ep. IV, series I & II for ep. V & series I for ep. VI). My brother once took me to a Star Trek convention, and while it was very cool to sit and listen to DeForest Kelley sit and talk about his life, I can't say that I'd like to make a habit of going to any type of convention. I just can't work up the passion required for fanboydom.

Much like how the loud drunken prick at the party can really sober you up, I have a friend who though not true blue fanboy material is scarily fanatical about certain subjects (he wont see remakes even if he's never seen the original, CGI is actually Satan in his personal mythology and is extremly wary of 'posers' be it in film, music or comic fandom even if he was the one who got the 'poser' into the thing is the first palce), so although I have a strong passion for what I like I think I'm fairly rational in dealing with critics or critiquing what I don't like, partly because my friend's example is so extreme I'm highly aware of "opinion isn't fact".

I've never heard fanboy or girl being used in a positive or neutral manner. My friends and I use it to make fun of people (usually one of us) with stubborn, OTT, defensive opinions on a certain thing, or a missplaced passion, hence our personal derogative: "German Kid".

I'm definitely not a fangirl at all because I'm not anal about the things I like and can find humor in them - I'm one of those people that would have scratched my face off if anyone tried to tell me the end of the last Harry Potter book, but then after I read it I went around telling the other Harry Potter obsessed people the "ending" (Harry Potter's a twin, Harry Potter's gay, Dumbledore is Harry's dad, etc.).  I DO, however, have a strong desire to "dress up" for conventions and ren faires and stuff and I really have to work hard NOT to, but the few times I did it was so fun, I'm actually kind of ashamed.  A friend of mine used to really like Sailor Moon and once when she was at 6 flags wearing a Sailor Moon shirt, a big fat man dressed as Chibi Moon came up to her and said "You're one of us now!" - I don't want to be that guy!!!

As of this date I have never used either term, I have no plans to do so in the future.

The difference between a fan and a fanboy is that the fanboy "crosses the line" when it comes to his behavior.

I do not consider myself a fanboy of anything.
Sure, I have interests like many other people.  But I don't cross the line.
Some may say I'm a fanboy of B-movies because I've been hanging around this site for over 8 years.  But I beg to differ.
I don't buy B-movies, I just watch them and enjoy them with friends. 

The true hardcore fanboy is, in general, an immature person who will push his viewpoint on you whether you like it or not.  They are usually unable to see the other person's point of view.
When you talk to a devoted fanboy about whatever it is they're into, you feel a slight sense of discomfort and you know deep down that they have deeper problems.  You immediately realize that they have limited social skills.
Andrew and Burgo do not exhibit these things.

A friend of mine mentioned to me one time, "Why don't they call it a fanman instead of a fanboy?"
I reasoned that it's because a person who exhibits fanboy traits does not act like a "man" in the general sense.
They act like a boy.
The fanboy has crossed the line into obsession and he will obsess about whatever he's into to the point of alienating others.  Including fellow fans.

By the way, I do not consider the people who dress up for conventions as fanboys.  Some of them may very well be fanboys, but the majority probably are not.  They're just doing it for fun.

You just know a fanboy when you meet one.  You'll know it because you're either a fanboy yourself and totally agree/vehemently disagree with them.  Or because you don't like them and think they're too obsessed.
It all comes down to their behavior.

I believe that there are several fanboys here on this board but I'm not going to name names.
It doesn't take a genius to know who they are.   :wink:

I've always thought of the term "fanboy" as a derogatory.  Someone sees a movie and thinks it's the greatest thing ever.  Then the sequel comes out and they're all excited about it.  Turns out the sequel absolutely sucks, but the fanboy will defend it to the end, like some sort of unpaid press secretary.  They log on and write long posts in response to anyone who didn't like the movie, explaining to them that they really should have liked it, and here's 100 flowery adjectives to prove my case.

That's the nice thing about this place.  Since we all like "bad" movies, there aren't a lot of people who think they're beyond criticism. 

Having said that, I do have over 300 DVD's, and they are alphabetized.  Hey, try finding a movie out of 300 if they're not in some sort of order :teddyr:  It's not that I love and adore movies, it's just that there's nothing watchable on TV, and it's nice to be able to put in a movie you haven't seen in a while, with no commercials, and all the swearing and nudity intact.  I also have a lot of fun reading reviews of movies, watching trailers on Youtube, trying to decide if this thing is actually good or not.  Then I order it, used, preferably for about six bucks including shipping.  Then it arrives!  Then it sucks!  Oh well.  Try again.  It's my hobby.

See I'm glad I started this conversation because this seems to be the vibe. Maybe fanboys/fangirls terminology  relates to the few who "take it too far".  But I guess that opens it up to what people think fan behaviour going too far. 

I've known a few people who I would consider fanboys/fangirls. I don't consider the term as derogatory, to me it's more descriptive of someone who relates to the actual world around them through what ever they're fans of. It's funny to see a coworker confronted by a minor problem try to respond by determining what Capt. Kirk or Obi wan kenobi or Gandalf etc. would do under similar circumstances. There's nothing wrong with having these characters as role models and trying to live up to their standards, on the other hand if you're a fan of Jason Vorhees, Hannibal Lecter, or Freddy Kruger I really don't want to know about it.