Fake Fan

Fancyclopedia 2, Joe Siclari

Phrase coined about 1940, applied to Jack Weidenbeck, who roomed with fans and enjoyed their company, but shunned all responsibility in fan doings and institutions. Generally, one who hangs around fans but takes no active part in fan affairs, and doesn't even pretend to enjoy fantasy and/or SF. Some fans like to describe themselves as fakefans, but their continued fanac belies them.

Compare Fringe fans.

from Fancyclopedia 2 ca. 1959

Phrase coined about 1940, applied to Jack Weidenbeck, who roomed with fans and enjoyed their company, but shunned all responsibility in fan doings and institutions. Generally speaking, one who hangs around fans but takes no active part in fan affairs, and may not read fantasy. Fans are, after all, at least theoretically fantasy enthusiasts; fake fans are fandom enthusiasts. They don't read prozines. (Sometimes they don't even read fanzines.) They don't remember vast numbers of insignificant details about fantasy stories and their authors illustrators and publishers. They don't collect books or proz. Fake fans do not have the haggard look that is the mark of the true fan trying to keep abreast of the latest developments in stfdom. And there are some fans who like to describe themselves as fakefans to symbolize disinterest, but their continued fanac belies them.