fan, v. tr.

[kaizoku]

I really want a gender-neutral equivalent for the verb form of "fangirl" or "fanboy." Fangirling is such a handy term and maybe I should just use that regardless of who is doing it or if it's not specified. But I don't know. I've seen just "fan" used in that sense, but I always feel awkward when I try to use it because of the primary sense of the verb, e.g. "fanning the flames." But I want something more fannish-sounding than "admire" or "support." Something like "enthuse" but transitive. Maybe "fen" as a verb?

Etymology time!

fanatic
c.1525, "insane person," from L. fanaticus "mad, enthusiastic, inspired by a god," originally, "pertaining to a temple," from fanum "temple," related to festus "festive" (see feast). Current sense of "extremely zealous," especially in religion, is first attested 1647. The noun is from 1650, originally in religious sense, of Nonconformists.

"A fanatic is someone who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." [Winston Churchill]

fan (2)
1889, Amer.Eng., originally of baseball enthusiasts, probably a shortening of fanatic, but may be influenced by the Fancy (1807), a collective term for followers of a certain hobby or sport (especially boxing). There is an isolated use from 1682, but the modern word is likely a new formation.

fancy (n.)
1465, contraction of fantasy, it took the older and longer word's sense of "inclination, whim, desire." The v. meaning "take a liking to" (1545) is a contraction of fantasien "to fantasize (about)." The adj. is mid-18c.

(from the Online Etymology Dictionary)

Fantastic. And this...

Fancy, high-commission'd:--send her!
She has vassals to attend her:
She will bring, in spite of frost,
Beauties that the earth hath lost;
She will bring thee, all together

-Keats, Fancy

Comments

[windiain.livejournal.com]

Fansquee?

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Well, you could use "fannish, be about?"

& ;-)

[iamsupernova.livejournal.com]

Well, most people assume the majority of our fan community is made up of girls and some people would take "fangirl" as a mark letting others know that yes, the speaker is female. It would confuse most people if a guy or a gender-uncertain person were using the term, so I see where you're coming from with the need for a neutral term.

That being said, all of The Cab totally fangirl Panic At The Disco.

[thelemic.livejournal.com]

Well, there's fanperson, but that's awkward. I use fanboy? but idk. Fan seems to work well though.

[azurejay.livejournal.com]

I have no solution, just a reaction to one of your own suggested solutions: when people use "fangirl" as their neutral term, or when they intend to encompass all fans (ie, the original proposed name of bandcon), it hurts and angers me. So.

But hearts and hearts for thinking about this :D

[stepps.livejournal.com]

I don't tend to use the term "fangirling"... probably because I don't get very much oportunity to be fangirly. I totally see your point though. Fanning is an okay verb, for me. I'd say something like "fanning it up" or "fanning about", but those are my ideosincrasies (gaddamned english spelling crap). "Fenning" doesn't work for me, because it refers to many fans (the term "fen" being the plural of "fan"). Could one say they were/are being fantastic? Or is that too much queer slang centric? IDK.

[apples]

I use the term "fangirling" the way I use "dude". Gender neutral.

[decor-noctis.livejournal.com]

When I use fangirling as a verb, it's gender-neutral. Mostly because I think it's more of an attitude than anything. I think fanperson is the current accepted term, but it's a bit clinical. Fankid?

[blood.livejournal.com]

I like 'fankid'. Fankid is good. Also, 'superfan'.

fangirling

[scifigal.livejournal.com]

Okay, I use the term. I told someone that I met a winner of Who Wants to be a Superhero and I fangirled all over him. ^_^ I love being a fangirl, so I can see the dilemma if you're a fanboy or something in between.

Anyway, you added me a while ago, but as I have changed *all* my entries to friends only, I am adding more people. So, hello!

Re: fangirling

[kaizoku.livejournal.com]

Hello, welcome! I haven't been around much lately, but yay new friends!

Ahaha David Tennant!