Poll: Why all the hate on fanboy-ism

[geldonyetich]

I dislike ignorance in all its forms. To be a fanboy is essentially to be ignorant in regards to the real qualities of a thing in order to harbor undue adoration towards it and (in extreme cases) undue dislike towards any competing product that they see as a threat to it.

Education is perhaps the best cure. Failing that, there's always lobotomies.

 

[darrinwright]

I prefer the term "enthusiast." For example, I love my Wii and PS3, and while I take issue with some comments thrown (usually at the Wii), I think "fanboy" isn't the appropriate descriptor, because sometimes they're right (like the lack of GOOD Wii games lately, though that's as much the third-party developers' fault as it is Nintendo's.)

A fanboy typically supports the system/company of their choice, no matter what, and while it can be seen as a noble cause, usually comes across as ignorant by others who are enthusiasts for said system but yet can see its faults clearly.

An example: The PS3 no longer has backwards-compatibility. ENTHUSIAST: "Well, that can be a turn-off for some people, and it'd be nice, but the system's still a good one." FANBOY: "SHUT UP, you Sony-hater! NOBODY plays PS2 games anymore anyway!!"

 

[Izerous]

Depending on the context I think it can be meant as a bad term but also a neutral term. Typically I find it used in negative context referring to people who are arguing with a mob mentality over things. The most obvious being things like ps3 extremest fanboys and 360 extremest fanboys arguing. In the end who cares you buy the one you want for yourself. It is just as futile as the religious groups that bang on my door, i chose my path someone can't push theirs on me. Extremest fanboys are typically blind to everything except for what they are promoting.

However when you start talking in context of someone just being a fan of something. There was a student at my college who wore the Nurato headband to school. While I would definitely call him a fanboy it wouldn't be meant derogatory as it's not like he went out arguing that it was better than anything else he was just a huge fan of the show.

 

[Fanboy]

To be a fanboy is essentially to be ignorant in regards to the real qualities of a thing in order to harbor undue adoration towards it and (in extreme cases) dislike towards anything competing product that they see as a threat to it.

Why does your decision of what is quality outweigh theirs? Ever think that there are people who have different tastes and/or standards than you do? Maybe I just read that wrong, but you sounded really elitest to me.

 

[Jandau]

There's a difference between a fan and a fanboy. A fan is a person who really likes a company or a game. At worst he'll actively defend the object of his fandom and will often do so in a reasonably civilized manner. I myself consider myself a fan of several games and a few development companies.

A fanboy is the fan's rude and childish cousin. He'll flame anything that might present a challenge to his object of fanboyism. He'll be unpleasant, insulting and will rarely provide any actual arguments. The only difference between a rabid fanboy and a troll is the number of simmilar fanboys in the same spot who encourage eachother...

There's nothing wrong in liking or praising a game. The problem starts when you're being a dick about it...

 

[The Wooster]

A fanboy is a word that carries many negative conotations, but what is wrong with being a fanboy?

I'm a SCE (SONY Computer Entertainment) fanboy, and proud. I am a fanboy because I feel that thier products are the best quality. I can still acknowledge the pros and cons of other consoles but I believe that SCE's products have been nothing short of revolutionary, with amazing games, better disk format than it's competitors (I know PS2 and the original Xbox both used DVD but the Xbox came out after the PS2) and great hardware specs.

You're not a fanboy then. You are however, wrong.

 

[Skalman]

It's not wrong to be anything as long as you keep it to yourself, and don't bother others about it.

 

[Arach]

I don't understand why someone is a fanboy at all. Unless you work at the company you're touting or own stock there it's pretty pointless. Usually fanboys try to trounce the competition's products even though competition is the reason they have good quality products in the first place.

Actually fanboyism only shows how powerful tool marketing is since people get so emotionally attached to things that don't really benefit themselves at all.

 

[mattttherman3]

Fan boys annoy the shit outta me, i don't care which console is better, i think all games should be multiplatform(ps3 360 pc, no wii)

 

[geldonyetich]

To be a fanboy is essentially to be ignorant in regards to the real qualities of a thing in order to harbor undue adoration towards it and (in extreme cases) dislike towards anything competing product that they see as a threat to it.

Why does your decision of what is quality outweigh theirs? Ever think that there are people who have different tastes and/or standards than you do? Maybe I just read that wrong, but you sounded really elitest to me.

You must be misreading me. What I'm saying here is that, if you're a fanboy, you've decided to like something regardless of its actual qualities. If you had a legitimate, well-reasoned reason to like something, you're not a fanboy - it's outside of the definition: at that point you'd just be a fan, not a fanboy.

Under this definition, that fanboys exhibit undue (meaning: irrational) adoration of something (and possible undue/irrational dislike towards competing products) to be a fanboy is to exhibit a kind of ignorance. As I dislike all forms of ignorance, so also do I dislike fanboys.

 

[Gamer101]

You're such an anti-fanboy fanboy.

Personally, I think it's because someone chose to spend their money on a PS3 lets say, and therefore if someone else touts a 360, that they chose not to buy, you must tell them they are stupid because the one you chose is the best. And vice versa. I think that's the mindset behind it all.

And you defend your choice at all costs. Instead of just being open-minded and consider the advantages each one has. You just call the other side dumb and somehow believe that you will convince them they made the wrong choice.

And as for the Wii, I don't consider the Wii in the same conference. And before any Wiiboys get upset (lol) - I personally don't feel it was created to compete in the same vein as the PS3 and 360. Which I think is why it sells so well, it's competing in its own game. It's intended for a totally different purpose, and graphics and hard-core gaming not being that purpose. Moreso family fun and physical interaction.

The only reason it gets thrown into the mix, is when sales gets involved, i.e. someone bought a Wii instead of a PS3 or XBOX....it's like an Independent in a Presidential Election, ticking off the Sony v. Microsoft war.....taking away from their sales. Only this independent gets a heck of a lot of votes. lol.

And back to the fanboy term, it gets thrown around too easily. Sort of like 'troll'. You can be open minded and have fair discussions, but the one time you lean one way or another, you are instantly called a fanboy. Or told to stop trolling.

All part of the fun of the internutz.

 

[Fraught]

If you think SCE is the best company EVARR, then fine.
If you go on the internet, be a prick about it everywhere, do a site called " fanboy" etc, then yes, it's bad to be a fanboy.
And I call fanboys the ones who are pricks about the fact that one company is better than the other.

 

[Librarian Mike]

The thing about being a fanboy that perplexes me is that all (yes, ALL) developers, console makers, etc. don't care about you. They are selling you something. I mean think about it, fanboys are going out aggressively promoting something that they are paying to use. It just seems kind of sad to me, really.

 

[Alphavillain]

It's bad to be a fanboy because you lose perspective. Liking something is different to blind love for something.
With videogames, there's no real difference between the 360 and PS3 anyway. It's laughable that people (okay, children) get so het up about a box full of wires and microprocessors.

 

[Littaly]

I consider myself a first grade Star Wars fanboy, as well as FFVIII and Star Fox.

I'm also aware of the faults, the difference is that I overlook them and chose to still enjoy whatever it is I'm into. If someone disagrees that is fine, to each his own.

What I really hate is when someone jumps to conclusion and basically insults you for liking something, which is basically what the word fanboy is today. I've been called fanboy for a whole lot of things that I don't even like.

 

[Liverandbacon]

Clarification: Fan and Fanboy are different (at least in accepted meaning)

A fan is a person who enjoys something and will defend it if it is attacked.

A fanboy is a person who enjoys something, will defend it whether it is being attacked or not, and will try to force other people to enjoy it too, not respecting the fact that some people have different opinions and taste.

Being a fan is fine. Being a fanboy is not.

Edit- Sorry Jandau, my post is redundant. That teaches me not to read the second page to see if someone's already made my point.

 

[nathan-dts]

A fanboy is a word that carries many negative conotations, but what is wrong with being a fanboy?

I'm a SCE (SONY Computer Entertainment) fanboy, and proud. I am a fanboy because I feel that thier products are the best quality. I can still acknowledge the pros and cons of other consoles but I believe that SCE's products have been nothing short of revolutionary, with amazing games, better disk format than it's competitors (I know PS2 and the original Xbox both used DVD but the Xbox came out after the PS2) and great hardware specs.

You're not a fanboy then. You are however, wrong.

Kindly explain why I am wrong.

 

[PirateKing]

I was once a massive Nintendo fanboy. That was about eight years ago.
Now I own all the consoles and they all have good merits.
I mean, I'm a fan of MGS, Halo, Mario, Gears, Zelda. Something from all the consoles.
I would defend their merits, but not deride anyone for thinking differently.

 

[the jellyman]

Actually, if you can acknowledge that stuff other than sony's might be okay, you're not a fanboy. Fanboyism is a 'nothing can be better that what I've got' mentality