I just recently read a post on Aeropause by Richard Windsor titled How Fanboys Are Ruining Our Gaming Sites and the first thing that struck me after I read this, was a burst of uncontrollable laughter. Is this guy for real?? Let's see he writes for Aeropause an Internet gaming site and he thinks Fanboys are idiots, ruining all of these other gaming sites that he peruses, with their PS3 bias. So much so that he has to remove them from his precious bookmarks. Where was this when the PS3 was getting raped the last year for being a grill, an overpriced Blu Ray player, and a machine with no games??

While we're at it..aren't we all Fanboys?? We can say otherwise but really, we all have our console preference, do we not? Fanboys ruining Gaming Sites?? Hey Richard, here's a NEWSFLASH: Fanboys are what populate most gaming sites. The more fanatical ones are the majority in the internets, not the minority. They're the ones that read everything out there to try to formulate an aggressive point as to why their console of choice is the best in their minds. They are also the ones that drive hits, traffic, diggs, whatever the hell you want to call the measurement of interest in a particular piece, go up.

To be fair, Ol' Rich just wasn't complaining about the PS3 loyalist out there, but he did single them out. What I took umbrage to was the fact the he labeled Fanboys idiots, raving incoherent gremlins throwing monkey wrenches into popular gaming sites. What!?! What Utopian Unbiased Internet is Richard visiting or writing on?? I'd like to know because it isn't the one on planet Earth.

Let's examine the terminology Fanboy:

Fanboy (sometimes spelt fanboi) is a term used to describe an individual who is devoted to a single fannish subject, or to a single point of view within that subject, often to the point where it is considered an obsession. Fanboys remain loyal to their particular obsession.

Stereotypical fanboys are attributed with a devotion to the creators and principles behind a work with which they are currently enthralled. Fanboys are noted for a very emotional attachment to their chosen subject. They will readily engage in debates about their chosen subject.



Does that sound familiar to anybody on Destructoid?? Better question to ask, does that not encapsulate everybody in this site?? The fact that we are all fanatical about video games , be it on whatever system, earns us that fanboy label , whether you want to admit it or not. That label has been thrown around with comic book fans too and guess what? They make the majority of the sales on those publications! Same here with fanboys on the internet. You would be blind, stupid or both not to know that if you want hits on your front page story as an editor/writer, all you have to do is highlight a specific console and out come the fanboys. And the debate. And most importantly..the interest.



Here's a free tip Rich, this yellow brick road leading to these popular gaming sites are paved by the backs of fanboys. The foundation of your own site, among others, are most likely cemented by them as well. Be wary before you dismiss them altogether, before you start throwing barbs out there way, lest you take a step and realize all too late there's nothing underneath supporting you anymore.