'Fanboy' gains respect, enters Merriam-Webster dictionary
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jul 7th 2008 at 11:30PM }
This isn't the first time in recent memory some bit of gaming culture seeped its way into the good word book at Merriam-Webster; "w00t" became the company's word of the year in 2007. So, w00t to all the fanboys out there, the dictionary acknowledges your existence.
*OSX users will find the Dictionary widget, which uses The Oxford American Dictionary, already defines "fanboy." Merriam-Webster is a different company.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dark_inchworm @ Jul 7th 2008 11:37PM
There goes Joystiq, stirring up fanboys again...
Fanboy @ Jul 8th 2008 8:40AM
About Time I get some Respect!!!
/* Sorry for the reply abuse */
Maverick Saturn @ Jul 7th 2008 11:40PM
Lol at fanboys.
RoboChamp @ Jul 7th 2008 11:41PM
Next thing you know they'll want to vote.
Kevlar @ Jul 8th 2008 12:52AM
Sweet hair
samfish @ Jul 8th 2008 1:13AM
Barack Obandicoot '08!
T @ Jul 7th 2008 11:43PM
In all seriousness, "fanboy" is a dirty word. There's never any thing good that comes from its use. Also, the association stritcly with "boy" is kinda pointless, since it's used for both genders.
I suppose the next step is the evolution to the more PC "fanperson".
Dustin @ Jul 7th 2008 11:46PM
Or like Seinfeld, not ball boy, ball man! Fanman! (hmmm, im copyrighting that also), hey Stan Lee!
Wutzizname @ Jul 10th 2008 1:26PM
"...the police engaged in heavy combat with several armed gunpersons as they were coming out of the bank..."
Say that without laughing.
But they do need to open it to Fanboy and Fangirl, as I've heard both, but the first time I ever heard 'Fanboy' it was in a Lobo comic, in like...'92.
Dustin @ Jul 7th 2008 11:43PM
OMG YES. I will now use Fanboy in a paper for college lol. For a sub heading Sony fanboy: Picture of me. I looked at some of the words they added. not that great. Some of them are two words with a space between them look I can make a new word. I guess there are words already like that. more like titles, but nevertheless Banana paper. Paper made of banana. hmmm. Im copyrighting that!
NukeAssault @ Jul 7th 2008 11:53PM
Do it and then scan the grade you get. =D
sp @ Jul 8th 2008 12:50AM
but you already said "grade you get = D".
chispito @ Jul 8th 2008 1:17AM
The dictionary is full of slang, but that doesn't mean you want to put it in an academic paper.
Dustin @ Jul 7th 2008 11:45PM
BTW, whats the status of "truthiness"?
aristokrat @ Jul 8th 2008 12:42AM
Or for that matter, where's "goatse"? Hasn't that been around since the rise of the internet? Would it be "an indescribable display of the innermost parts of a man's anus"?
Roto13 @ Jul 8th 2008 1:33AM
Goatse isn't defined for the same reason Harrison Ford isn't defined. It's a name.
Dwag @ Jul 7th 2008 11:46PM
I thought it was already a word in the Dictionary?
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jul 7th 2008 11:51PM
Fuck Yes!
To all the haters...you're really just jealous cuz deep down you care as much as we do but are afraid to admit it.
Fanboys are what make this site run...
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:00AM
There is a difference between being a fanboy and being a complete tool. There is no such thing as an anti-Sony fanboy which is what you are. You are more known for being an obnoxious idiot who always gets banned and rants against Sony for no rhyme or reason. I think you are really more of a rambling idiot than a fanboy.
j.howlett @ Jul 7th 2008 11:52PM
now we can say someone is a "text book" example of a fanboy and mean it. you know who you are, don't be shy. come on out. today is your day fanboy. we salute you.
PSN & GAMERTAG: jorojoserojas - Wii FC: 0749-8609-3752-6926 @ Jul 7th 2008 11:55PM
Bud Light Presents:
Real Men of Genius
(Reeeaaal men of geeeniuuuusss)
colin @ Jul 8th 2008 2:18AM
mr. talktrashanonymouslyoninternetfoOORUMS!
go ahead, disregard common sense and pull no punches ... because you know that everything you say is completely validated by your own opinion.
mr. talktrashanonymouslyoninternetfoOORUMS!
-i think its a winner
theturtle363 @ Jul 7th 2008 11:56PM
Webster sucks, they put stupid words in the dictionary to make people think it's cool. Oxford is much better as a real source
j.howlett @ Jul 8th 2008 12:00AM
dictionary fanboy?
ChooChooCharlie @ Jul 8th 2008 12:18AM
Yeah, but then Oxford is all like "I'm the steak of the dictionary world" and "You should take out a second mortgage to afford me."
At least Webster tries to cater to the casual linguist market.
theturtle363 @ Jul 8th 2008 12:34AM
mmm, now i want a book steak
Sam406 @ Jul 8th 2008 12:38AM
You have a favorite dictionary?
...Well that's a new one...
Superstar90 @ Jul 8th 2008 12:06AM
For me there is a difference between fanboy and troll. I know they may seem synonymous, but I have made a clear line for myself.
Fanboy: Someone who cares about 1 thing (system) and only that one, devoting their time to it and not bother with others.
Troll: Like a fanboy, but spend much more time bashing other things/systems.
Like the Joystiq "Fanboy" sites, they are fanboys but they never (almost never) troll the other systems.
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:05AM
See: ThePrematureAsshat, Wii60Warrior & ThePerfectCompanion
(All the same guy)
samfish @ Jul 8th 2008 1:19AM
I'm about 99% sure Wii60Warrior is not the same as PerfectCompanion.
Wii60Warrior was a straight up angry jerk. TPC just hates on Sony.
therpham @ Jul 8th 2008 12:24AM
Freakazoid! was so awesome.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 8th 2008 12:55AM
Freakazoid not only made fun of fanboys before it was cool, it made fun of Jack Valenti a decade before it was cool.
F! was some of the funniest stuff ever on TV.
Toby Danger ftw.
NBK @ Jul 8th 2008 1:09AM
Reminder - Season 1 of Freakazoid hits DVD shelves at the end of the month :D
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 8th 2008 1:33AM
Thanks NBK! I didn't know that.
I'm all over it.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jul 8th 2008 2:30AM
dude i loved Freakazoid. i used to go over to my friends house and watch it all the time, he was completely obsessed with it. a 'fanboy' if you will.
Mr Khan @ Jul 8th 2008 3:04PM
"Now, you can either spend 30 years in jail, or 30 minutes with Fanboy"
"Lock me up and throw away the key!"
LameDuck @ Jul 8th 2008 12:28AM
*rubs hands together, menacingly* Good... good...
007craft @ Jul 8th 2008 12:29AM
I dont get why people call each other fanboys. It seems to have directly evovlved into a video game term. A nerd towards anyt other product or catagory is simply refered to as a "fan" yet with games its fanboy. Makes no sense. Im an xbox fan, not an xbox fanboy, thank you.
LameDuck @ Jul 8th 2008 12:42AM
The line between you stop being a fan and start being a fanboy when ignorance and blind hatred/love becomes your basis for arguments. IE: I love the 360 because it's made by MS and they are the bomb, yo. Everything MS does is GOLD! OR I love the PS3 because the PS2 was cool and Sony loves me so much.
Zoesch @ Jul 8th 2008 12:30AM
Fernando, Copa and Name123, this one is for you... congrats, you deserve the honor.
ThePerfectWii60WarriorCompanion, nope, not for you!
Truffled @ Jul 8th 2008 12:47AM
Oh THANK GOODNESS they didn't spell it fanboi.
Residentevil72501 @ Jul 8th 2008 1:03AM
Ever been to a club where people Wee on each other? ... Ya want to?
samfish @ Jul 8th 2008 1:17AM
Wee? No. The clubs I go to, the substance is usually a bit thicker and gooey than wee.
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:06AM
I think of the comic book guy from the Simpsons when I hear the word fanboy.
TheOverlord#2 can has Mario Karts?(MK:2578-3517-9859) @ Jul 8th 2008 1:14AM
Worst Comment Ever.
giantenemycrab @ Jul 8th 2008 1:17AM
See also: Fernando Rocker.
Grant @ Jul 8th 2008 1:32AM
anyone else find it funny that w00t managed to beat fanboy into the dictionary?
good thing l337 didn't beat it there, that would just be too much.
AwesomeTown @ Jul 8th 2008 7:34AM
Oh my god, I'm not really a fan of this helen person. It's all I've seen this morning. I don't even want to reply directly to them.
Oh, and on topic. If we can add words that people use to the dictionary, can't we get rid of the words that people don't? Like acquiescence and tatterdemalion. Seriously, do people use those words?
j.howlett @ Jul 8th 2008 8:03AM
what is done can't be undone. but seriously if it was used before it should stay. you never know when an antiquated word will fit perfectly with what your trying to say or express.
AwesomeTown @ Jul 8th 2008 8:25AM
Now you're just talking crazy.