Hi,

For many years I have been trying to understand the root of fanboyism, and I have come to several explanations.

*These are only assumptions*

1st. Fanboyism is initiated by lack of money. What I mean is fanboys are typically younger individuals living with their parents, getting a certain system for christmas gifts and having only that one system, they feel strongly defensive about what they own.

2nd. Much like sports, fans get irrationally involved in a certain team for the alone reason of beating another team.

3rd. Fanboyism is caused by age difference, older individuals feel like they have more knowledge and therefore they have made the better purchase.

4th. People are influenced by media, certain console owners feel as though there is a culture behind their system. for example, ps3 fans may associate themselves with people who are true gamers and are technologically more advanced than others. 360 fans may associate themselves with fellow college students who get drunk and play halo. Wii fans may associate themselves with girls and elderly.

5th. Rooting for the underdog. When a team or console is losing, certain fans may become more defensive and attempt to stray away from the mainstream and become non-conformists by supporting the weaker party member. These individuals take pride in thinking they have become exclusive and special. Somehow these people believe that by supporting the unpopular or weaker party they see something that others don't. Individuality is part of human nature and people want to be different.

6th. Nothing reassures customers or supporters of their purchase or team more than having others who support it, belonging to a certain group makes people feel special and wanted. WoW players feel like they are part of something bigger than a video game and are more than happy to spend money to be a part of it. It goes back to the idea of community and culture.

7th. If there is a community and culture behind consoles, individuals tend to get defensive because they are associated with the group. When bashed or attacked, these people take things personally, and feel as though they are discriminated against. (similar to racism)

Well I hope you enjoyed my none-sense

F.S

Pff? People get more clever with their ages? Then why am I still completely delusional? I guess I know how to keep the child in me! Let's hear it for the delusional, silly me!

As for some responses to your actual thread (can you believe it? I'm shocked too. Me, serious?)

1. This is probably correct.

2. This is probably correct.

3. I'm not sure what you're saying. Are you claiming that older people feel they're more intellectual, and that thus what they bought is more clever than what the 3-year old bastards who bought the other machine is? If so - I do completely not disagree.

4. Yes! I completely associate myself with the elderly. 100%. Sure, I may have yet to crack into my third decade, but I'm still a girl/elderly in spirit.

5. This one fits me completely. I generally root for the underdog, so it's probably completely correct.

6. This one feels a bit unecessary to me. The people who hit this group generally belong in another group mainly.

7. Hey! I take offense from that. I'm not sure how, or why, but as a proud Nintendian, I refuse anyone to say something negative about my Wii.

F.S

For Satan.

"Fanboyism" has been around for thousands of years. It comes down to, "I'm right and you are wrong." I personally don't see the point. I like what I like and I don't care what everyone else thinks. However, most people want to "fit in." Therefore, most people see a crowd bashing people, they will either defend or "join the crowd" and attack.

"2nd. Much like sports, fans get irrationally involved in a certain team for the alone reason of beating another team."
Kind of this

I am fairly sure that the part of the brain heavily active in a fanboy is the part of the brain that deals with religion and politics. It also leads people to have attachment to a tribe, clan or community.

Yeah, it sounds about right, but as far as can tell, a true, hardcore fanboy/girl is irrational and cannot be explained.

Well, some of it makes sense, but I'll just say I disagree about that huge generalizing part at number 4.

And don't you contradict yourself at numbers 1 and 3?

Welcome to VG Chartz by the way! Just don't be too harsh on the fanboys! =P

Yea i kinda started talking out of my ass at some points