Topic: Why are video gaming fanboys the worst?

This is not meant to start anything but a thought occurred to me today when I read an article about Microsoft's Phil Spencer saying the worst thing about gaming are the fanboys.

I mean fanboys aren't just a video game thing you have them in everything from clothing to store to even drinks yet you don't see the animosity between those products like you do video games. I mean I don't see on the Internet where people are insulted or called out for liking Pepsi over Coke or Nike over Converse or Snickers over 3 Musketeers, but for some reason people do when it comes to Nintendo/Playstation/Xbox. Why is that?

The only theory I can think of is it goes back to the 16 bit gen back with the old Sega does what Nintendon't adds where it seemed cool to be a fanboy and insult the other group. Maybe I am wrong but it just seems odd that gamers in general are that way anyone else have an idea?

Let's try to keep this positive.

Well the gaming community hasn't always been known for being one cohesive, intelligent whole. Plus gaming is somewhat semblant to sports in a way. Take the dumb online troll culture and mix it with the intense rivalry of sports and you're bound to have all sorts of idiots about.

I think it has to do with age/maturity. Most of the fanboys are probably children, with a small minority being really sad adults.

@MegaKillScreen: I think you are onto something there. This answer has cropped up on Pushsquare and Nintendolife as well where I asked the same thing.

It might hold some truth as I have always been lucky to have multiple consoles so it would make sense why I have a hard time grasping this idea. Even back when I was a kid I had both a Genesis and a SNES. But still even when I didn't have one I for a bit, I never felt that way towards Sega. I had my SNES for a few years before I got my Genesis and when other kids on the playground would say oh Genesis is better cause of blah blah blah I just though hmmm I am going to have to get a Genesis then lol.

Yeah, I've just never had the mentality of a fanboy, and it's something I'll never understand.

I'll admit I have a bit more of an affinity towards Nintendo than the others, since the NES & SNES were the first two systems I played on, but I was fortunate enough to have just as easy access to the Genesis & Playstation as I did their Nintendo counterparts, and the PS2 was actually our main system during the 6th gen (and somehow managed to luck out during gen 7 to get all three home consoles and a DS).

Thanks to that exposure, even now, when I don't have the money for a current gen system (other than my 3DS), I don't get all that defensive over what I do have. I just make do and play.

It is security, plus its a (bad) part of human nature not say "Oh yeah, my console is inferior to yours, thanks for noticing!". Its a choice. I had a 360 and a PS3. I had 100 friends on Xbox, I had 3 on PS3 (Playstation folk seemed a lot less "chatty" than Xbox people, that may be why I didn't bond with many?) so my choice of next gen was easy. Plus the games I've really enjoyed (Gears, Forza) are on the Xbox, so it really was a no brainer.

I wonder how much of the vitriol/threats would happen if these same people were put in a room? Just a thought....

"Playstation folk seemed a lot less "chatty""

Thank God.

I prefer Nintendo, but I've never fathomed why people would actively deride other brands instead of simply enjoying their own.

Of course, that's not to say you can't give your opinion - that's a basic right. But the sheer idiocy seen on the internet usually comes from children and/or mentally disturbed adults (like @tylertreese said), and unfortunately, there are a lot of 'em.

With that said, I preferred PlayStation over Xbox in the last generation - but now, things have reversed. Microsoft have been doing a sterling job with Xbox One, whilst Sony have been terrible, IMO.

"Microsoft have been doing a sterling job with Xbox One, whilst Sony have been terrible, IMO."

Not something you hear often.

Oh, I'll weigh in, then...

It comes down to a couple of things, with most of them based in pride. I'm echoing things people have said here, to an extent.

People don't want to admit that they made a "wrong" choice, or admit that they're "not allowed" to own more than one console (either because their mum or their partner says so), or that they just can't afford a second system. This manifests itself in a lot of ways, from simple "my console is better than yours" shouts to full-on assimilating yourself with the brand and sounding like you're seconds away from supping the Kool-aid at Jonestown.

There are other reasons, such as wanting to feel like you're part of a community or group, which is understandable to an extent. Not sure that being in "Brand Name X Haters' Club" is the best way of going about it, but I dislike pretty much everyone, so what would I know?

You dislike pretty much everyone, but me, right? Right, Ken? @superKmX!?

@Utena-mobile: "I bet it doesn't help that some journalists write opinion pieces that just fan the flames. (o. O )" They gotta get those clicks somehow.

I'd say that it isn't journalists who are writing those pieces