I think that real, primary qualification for the Psychotic fan is that they have no realization when they gone too far. In other words, when they take the thing they're Fanning for about so seriously that they are no longer cabable even accepting that other people might think they're weird
To help with proper fan idenfication, we here at the department of extreneous levels and tables have constructed the following Fan-O-meter to rate how dangerously whacked a given Fan is.
Casual fan - Acnowededges that anime has it's movements, and will watch if other people are. Would rather gnaw off leg than to have enything to do with fringe stuff such as Sailor Moon.
Fan - Occasianally pokes about in "fan material" in 'zines and web pages. Own a few commercial tapes. Pokes a fun at hard-core fans. If member to a anime club, attends meetings whenever they're showing something and there's nothing better to do
big fan - Owns a few subtitled tapes. Occasionally takes part in "fan politics" discussions such wether Minmay should be strung
by the toes, wether fan-subbing is "moral", and merits of sub vs. dub. pokes fun at hard-core fans. Will watch "finge stuff" like Sailor Moon and Childs Toy, but will be a it unconfortable in
doind so, and will generally poke fun at it.
Big, big, fan - Chibi otaku. Owns a many subtitlied tapes.
If in gollege also owns TV and VCR setup--and does watch things
othe than anime on it. Can talk for hours and somedays days about
"fan politic" issues. if local to an anime club, attends ewery meeting unless there is something utterly cool that takes their attention from anime. pokes fun at "hard-core" fans somewhat half-heartedly, as the jokes are starting to get closer to home.
Will watch "fringe stuff", and secretly kinda likes it.
Will generally have few posters of a "mainstream" anime on their walls. Attends cons whenever possible.
Big, big, big fan. Otaku - Owns enough anime to stun unprepared observers. Is generally either an officer in the local
club, or the President. Gets up to the point of violence by "fan politics" issues. Is regonized by name on most anime newsgroups
At this level may accumalated fame to have attacted followers of a lesser nature by sheer magnitude of fannitude. Pokes fun at "casual" fans. Openly hostile to anyone who poke at the One True Medium. Has a pocky stick or two on their person when possible.
Unabashadly a fan of "fringe stuff". If female, will often dress
as Sailor Moon or other "fringe" characters. Has a large, expencive, full-sized posters of their favorite, generally fairly obscure, show.
Huge fan - Has connections with every fan-subtitler around.
Will often subtitle their own tapes. Owns multiple laserdisc players and large number of subtitled Laser discs. Has a non-trivial amount of people who follow them around bacause they
are such a big fan. Openly scornfull of "fanboys" and incabable
of realizing that they are one. Maintains at least a one or more standing good-natured feuds with people whose tastes in anime run
counter to theirs (ie. Mecha Fans vs. Sentai Fans).
has life-sized wall hangings of the entire cast of their favorite series. Is not only a President of the local club, but the acnowledged authority on anime in the area.
Attends MANY cons.
Ludicrous fan. otaking - their home anime-watching theatre is so super that its cost more than their house. Are concidering attempting to get accredition. Are attempting to subsidize UPS by
having daily packages from Japan sent to them. Speaks japanese fluently, working on learning Zen-Taoism. Knows more about Far East than the people who live there, has everything--*everything*
that relates their favorite show, including the $1000-value B-Club special that went out of print before they had become a fan, and complete set so animation cels that were smugled out of AIC headquaters by a ninja commando team. Is far too cool to get involved in any "lesser" affairs. Feels completely confortable
dressing in Sailor Senshi(even if male). Own property near every major Con area, and lives off the rent from those places when it's not "Con season". Considering funding terrorist attacks on dubbing studios. Completely an utterly insanely addicted to anime.
Burn out fan - No, this is too hoorifying! I cant write this!(Growel, growel)
