LordTheNightKnight just said the short version, and ZenfoldorVGI most likely has it right too, even though I would prefer to think he is wrong.
My thinking is this. Everyone wants to be right. Everyone wants their opinion to be right. Everyone needs to have their opinions confirmed as acceptable.
Fanboys are like this as well.
They like a console/game/random-thing-person-team-ideology-whatever.
They like it and they feel good about liking it.
They are uncertain as to whether or not it's actually ok for them to think like this. So they go onto forums, where likeminded people gather. They talk to people who feel the same as they. Everyone is happy.
But here comes the thing.
Someone thinks that they are WRONG.
There are a couple of ways to deal with this.
1. Accept that you have different opinions.
2. Shoot their arguments down with better arguments.
3. Get angry and ignore their arguments.
4. Give up and convert.
Most people choose 2 and 3, and very few of the others post. Most like to correct someone they think is wrong. And a fanboy is ignoring the flaws in his own arguments and do not recognize the merits in counter-arguments. This is due to the amount of emotional capital invested in the object of fanboyism. It's too expensive to change viewpoints. That's why it's so hard to avoid flamewars on the net.
Ofc, this happens very often, and not just on the internet and not just on issues regarding gaming consoles, but it might be particularily visible here. I can see a few factors attributing to this.
1. Anonymity on the internet - this one is really, really important, naturally.
2. The impact on your console on your social life - should NOT be underestimated. At least when young, owning a console, and the right console, can play a major part in who your friends are or are not.
3. The amount of time spent playing - If you spend up to 5h a day playing, it's important to feel good about your choice of console.
4. The age of the average player - Younger people generally need approval of others more than older people. Older people are also generally better at arguing their points calmly.
This is invisible text!
