Poll: Why all the hate on fanboy-ism

[Eclectic Dreck]

Being a fanboy for the same reason racism is bad. It is an arbitrary determination you make that system X is better than system Y, and that leads inevitably to the assumption that a certain game is bad because it appeared on one system instead of the other.

Preferences are perfectly fine and natural. When I had both at PS2 and an Xbox, I favored the Xbox release of a game instead - and that was based entirely on the controller. Today I own an Xbox 360, and that is entirely a result of pricing and release dates. The handful of games that I would want to play on a PS3 that I can't get on my Xbox don't justify the cost of the system in my eyes, and the same holds true for the Wii (that sports maybe 3 titles I'd like to play).

 

[MintyFreshBreathGuy]

It depends. If you're a fanboy who picks fights with people about opinions then YOU'RE A DOUCHE. If you are a fanboy who knows too much on something, but you are open to opinions YOU'RE UNIQUE...which is good.

 

[geldonyetich]

So, of the poll so far, 80% of the people said that it's bad to be a fanboy.

Of the other 20%, I'd wager over half are confusing fanboys with simply being a fan.

 

[DirkGently]

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.

Being a fanboy doesn't meen i'm oblivious to other consoles good points.

Being a fanboy means your oblivious to your own console/developer/game of choice's faults and believe that it can do no wrong and is the greatest thing ever. You also defend it to the death. A fanboy refuses to acknowledge that anything can be better than what they love. They have an unhealthy devotion to what to they love. Being a fan is one thing. Being a fanboy is something else.

 

[Tekrae]

There's a difference between "Fan" and "Fanboy".

Fan = Somebody who likes something very much, but acknowledges the good points of other, rival things. Despite liking their preferred company, they acknowledge its faults. They are open minded and do not mind if somebody prefers something else.

Fanboy = Somebody who likes something very much, but fails to recognise the good points of other, rival things. They fail to recognise their preferred company's faults, believing it is teh perfectz0rz. They are narrow minded and start arguing with anybody (Possibly inviting their fanboy friends to argue with them too) who believes otherwise.

Therefore, I do not consider you a fanboy.

 

[KarmicToast]

Okay, here is the problem with being a fan-boy.

Fan-boy generally refers to someone who will overlook any negative and focus entirely on the positives-true or false. They are so blindly attached to something, for whatever reason, that they have the inability to legitimately have opinions based on fact. This is even more troublesome to the public, when you consider how loquacious they generally are about their respective idols.

If you are asking if there is anything wrong with just really liking something a lot, then the answer is obviously no.

For example. I really love my 360. In my opinion it is the best of the consoles. That's just my opinion though. I am more than willing to accept criticisms of it, or praises. Do you know why? Because whereas I really like it, I don't actually care about it as a sibling. If you insult it, I won't be personally offended. If you sell yours, I won't chastise you for it. If you are asking a group of people which console to buy, then I may or may not even voice my opinion on the matter. Why? Because I am not a fan boy, and there is a big difference between that and just enjoying something.

 

[Jimmyjames]

My personal gripe about fanboys:

They ***** and whine about anything entertainment-related while never actually contributing to anything. They act as if they know better, and they don't actually know shit.

 

[Cheesus333]

I guess there's nothing wrong with dedicating yourself to something (see 'Religion') but when you're outside Sony Headquarters with a picket sign and a burning PS3 it's probably time to rethink your outlook.

 

[Russian Redneck]

I don't have any inherent problems with fanboys. The only time I clash with fanboys is when they're crying their poor eyes out because their favorite company doesn't release the most hotly anticipated revolutionary product on a yearly basis. Even as I type this, fanboys over at the GFAQs boards are moaning about how Harmonix won't be releasing Rock Band 3 in 2009 (like it's necessary. Are 500 on-disc and DLC songs, plus hundreds more to come, really not enough to satisfy your appetite for pretend band play?). I'll acknowledge fanboys but only if they can see past their short-sightedness. I'm relatively lax and tolerant - and in some cases even curious - around other people and their code of ethics despite how much I'll detest them on the inside.

 

[Gormers1]

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.

Being a fanboy doesn't meen i'm oblivious to other consoles good points.

But a lot of other fanboys are ignorant and cant adknowledge some games being good.

Visit gametrailers.com and youll see what I mean. Se a review of a ps3 game and a lot of people will spam the comments section that this game suck ass and xbox win, and the opposite when you watch a 360 game review.

Fanboys will rape your ass if you dare telling them that youre going to play something on x console when youre playing on another one.

 

[hem dazon 90]

There is nothing wrong with being a fanboy, so long as you're not a thick-headed, elitist prick.

/thread

 

[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.

And thats the last we'll hear of him in this thread.

I do hate it when people challenge my opinions without any reason for doing so.

 

[742]

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.

Being a fanboy doesn't meen i'm oblivious to other consoles good points.

yes it does. if what you say is true, your not a fanboy, your just a fan who happens to be young and male.

 

[Redlac]

Well, hows about that, today I learned I'm just a fan of Sony stuff. Besides, I grew out of all that 'My Console is Better Than Yours' about 20 years ago, back when Nintendo and Sega were duking it out. Never thought Sega would be in the position it is now, it still weirds me out to see copies of 'Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games' on the shelves...

My point? Extreme Fanboyism is pointless.

 

[jebussaves88]

There is a difference between a fan and a fan boy. I am a fan of Xbox 360 and Microsoft's gaming division, and of Sega consoles of the past. I am not a fan boy, as I also acknowledge the pros of the other consoles, and own a PS2 and a Gamecube.

A fan is someone who ignores the flaws of their chosen supportee.
A fanboy is someone who also ignores the pros of the supportee's rivals.

At least that's how I see it.

 

[ericool13]

In essence, no, exclusively supporting one console maker financially is not a bad thing.

HOWEVER, the negative term "fanboy" comes from people who are annoying about it. For example, somebody who owns a PS3 and posts everywhere "GAY-BOX 360 SUXORZ A$$ WII IS KIDDIE TOY PS3 FTW N00BS!!!" THAT is very annoying, and people like this is what people mean when they say "fanboy."

Me, I'm a Nintendo fanboy, but not in the negative sense. But I don't say the PS3 and Xbox 360 suck. I've played plenty of great games on both systems. I know that they are both very good systems. I just bought the Wii (and the DS) so I could play the new Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and Smash Brothers (among others), and don't have sufficient financial resources to buy games for other systems.

 

[peterwolfe]

I vote yes. Being a fanboy is great, so long as the company is keeping true to the qualities that make you want to be a fanboy. case and point: Nintendo. I was a fanboy, and my loser heart was broken.