Asperger's Syndrome and Fanboys (and Girls)

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Do the "encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus" of Asperger's syndrome make aspies more likely to be fanboys (and fangirls)? The quintessential fanboy is the Apple (as in Macintoshes, iPods, and iPhones) fanboy. Google, Mozilla (especially Mozilla Firefox), and other trendy technology products also have their fanboys. For those who don't know what a fanboy is, a fanboy is someone who experiences a perverse pattern of sexual arousal toward a trendy product, implied from their compulsion to blog about these products with such ebullience that one would suspect they are w*king off as they write it. The sites they congregate to usually have pastel colors, beveled curves, and "Web 2.0," which is a way of saying they can sit around in a circle and do what they do best together.

Now, as aspies, our interests tend to be a little intense sometimes, but do we socialize our interests like obnoxious fanboys?

that is some pretty heavy stuff you are speaking of. I have to think about it abit before I give my opinion.

First I would point out that that's a very strong definition of fanboy. I don't think the worship of a product is necessarily sexualized by most.

Second, I would say no, according to your definition. For a less specific definition, it is probably the case to some extent.

Tch. Leave fanboys/girls alone. Their interest is rarely sexual, and saying it's sexual is a completely silly thing to infer, and suggests that you're the one with sex on the brain.

But yes, I do think that there is a high incidence of fanboyism among aspies. I've met more aspies via special interests board than anywhere else. After all, one of the identifying criteria of several ASDs is having abnormally deep/specialised/obsessive interests.

Not with me there hasn't been. Whatever special interests I have had, a special interest in any celebrity has never been one of them. Ever. I'll concede that at various times I've temporarily had preoccupations with females, because I thought I had a chance with them - not celebrities but local females. But for example everyone at school had a favourite 'pin up' - a pop star or other music artist, an actor or actress. NT people were identifiable to some extent by who their pin up was. I am sure the interest wasn't necessarily sexual. But when I was asked who my ideal celebrity female was I didn't know what to say. Like absolutely everyone else I had no interest in one in particular. The closest I have got to fanboyism is an interest in some other type of entity e.g. Sainsbury's.

hmmm...I'm waay to old to be a fanboy, fanman, maybe fan-geezer...

Nothing interests me that much...'ceptin the missus....

Good topic! I'm a big fangirl!

I have actually raised the topic on non-AS boards before that, although I'm certainly not saying that everyone who becomes a fan is on the spectrum, it does appear to take a certain type of person. It's certainly very interesting how many, otherwise NT, people I've encountered in TV fan communities who have some type of psychological disorder or trauma in their past: abuse victims, people suffering with depression, OCD, bipolar, anxiety, etc. A disproportionately high percentage, I would estimate. Something about their psychological makeup makes them either prone to obsessive thoughts or makes them wish to have an 'escape' to a place they can totally lose themselves and forget about their lives and problems.

I think Neanthumain is using hyperbole to express disdain and sarcasm here. I would hazard to guess he feels threatened by fandom for some reason. Ether that or he's having a mild psychotic break.

No, fandom is not based on some perverse need of sexual self-gratification, but on people's need to be part of a community. We live in a society where feeling like we're connected with another person is increasingly frustrating, even for "normal" people. Shared interests help to facilitate that sense of belonging and social validation, and that people become so rabid about it shows how profound their need is.

Now fan fiction is another phenomenon that stems from ordinary fandom - that is when people have a frustrated sense of being heard and appreciated by the community.

We may personally find fandom obnoxious in some ways, but I think as Aspies and auties we can at least sympathize.

And to answer Neant's original question: I've never qualified as a real fangirl, methinks, because I am an Aspie. My obsessions are based in the neurological quality of AS and not in some psychological need. I do admit that I have similar psychological and emotional needs, but I do not find fandom a complimentary way to fulfill those needs, because the inherently different nature of my obsessions tends to make me feel alienated by the driving forces of fandom, if that makes sense.

Not sure about "sexual arousal" but I am obsessed with Apple products and Firefox, I would certainly choose Apple products over anything else and I spent loads of money on my MacBook and iPhone.

No, I use cool new stuff and when it does what I want it to then I feel great, but I don't fall in love with any of it. I like the shiny look of these things, but I know it won't stay shiny, especially in my hands. And I know the makers are good at making stuff look better than it is. I don't like to feel like a stereotype either, doing things the same way as everybody else.

So he's trolling

EDIT: and logically, OP yes!

My username comes from the Star Trek vs. Star Wars debates where people f*****g analyzed how strong lasers were in the movie.

That and me being severely /b/tarded and knowledgeable on *chan.

Yess!! I am a fangirl- of Star Wars, and Transformers

What I kave noticed though, is that there are subgroups to any kind of fandom. People who like a particular character, and are often to these sexually attracted to them. These subfandoms are often more intense then usual.

Two that I know of-

In Transformers, there are the Starscream Fangirls. They really love this Decepticon robot, and I have known of forums where they discuss how sexy he is, and how they want to have relations with him. A lot of times they will write fanfics inserting a fembot character that closely matches them and has romances with Starscream.

In Star Wars, there are the Darth Maul Fangirls. They are often like the Starscream fangirls, but since Maul is an organic himself, they will put themselves into a fanfic, often as Mary Sues. Many times they will talk on their forums about how they fantisize about being taken as his Apprentice, or having his baby, and/or having relations with him.

Its kind of interesting, if you ask me.

I'd say I was a fangirl of Doctor Who. But I wouldn't say it was a sexual thing, While I may find the actor to be handsome, it wouldn't effect me watching the earlier seasons. After all you only have to look at 1-4, and 6-7! It's only in the recent incarnations that they've focused specifically on making the character specifically attractive.

My interest is mainly intellectual.

I am an anime fangirl, though I never let it get out of control... at least not openly... And I'd be lying if I said that there wasn't a sexual attraction to the characters I'm obsessed with. ~_^

Series containing the characters I fangirl:

Hellsing (duh)
Trinity Blood (duh, again)
Gurren Lagann
Code Geass