Fan, Fanatic or Crank: Enthusiast, Extremist or Radical; Fine Lines
The word FAN is described as someone who has an intense appreciation for something or someone or even an object. A similar word which most think of as the same is FANATIC,, it is described as an emotion of being filled with excessive, uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme or dangerous, in this case, Sport, or with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime. The difference between a Fan and a Fanatic is that while both have an overwhelming liking or interest in a given subject, behavior of a Fanatic can be looked upon as violating social norms, while that of a fan will not violate those norms (although, to some people it is usually considered unusual). Taking it one step further is a Crank,, which is a derogatory term for a person who holds some belief which the enormous preponderance of his social group would consider bogus, is oddly eccentric, especially one who is disproportionately zealous, is bad-tempered. A Fanatic is different from a Crank in that the second term is typically linked with a point or opinion which is so far from the average as to come out nonsensically ludicrous and/or provably wrong, while the area under discussion of the Fanatic’s obsession may well be “average”, with only the level of involvement being abnormally lopsided.
Home Front
In my home there are two types of these people living with me,, one is a fan,, one who looks at a race,, sorta evaluate,, watching it with appreciation of it,, and with Respect given to all drivers/teams, they extend a well known Atta Boy and then look forward to the next race with hopes that their driver/team is victorious,,, in fact,, I got a couple of them thar folks here,, and then there is that one,,
Personality Traits
Now this person has traits that can be similar to those of the FANATIC,, and then at times show that Ugly side (like a Fanatic was not bad enough) you know the one,, that CRANK rears its old mean head, bellowing flames of discontent about the very thing that they love to watch,, or hate to watch,, depends on which side of the fence you own,, you know,, a race,, they love to hate it,, or is that hate to love it,, either way,, they scare me,, looks,, if they could kill,, well them looks might not be making me lifeless,, but I would be seriously wounded,, every race weekend,,, you’d think I would learn to duck,, huh,, but,, no,, not me,, and to make it funny,, add on a Stout 7 & 7,, yup,, then they get downright mean,, wanting to throw stuff,, come on,, that TV cost a lot on coinage,, and it is NEW,,
Plot Thickens
To make it worse is that this here person,, they are Jr. Lovers,, and when he don’t do well,, well it is always someone else’s fault, never his,, no matter what,, it don’t matter,, it ain’t him,, it was them there other stupid no driving SOBs that have no business on a track,, any track,, yea yea yea,, I hear it constantly when a race is going,, now turn the tables and let the very same thing that someone else supposedly did to Jr.,, let him do it to another driver,, well it is okay,, it’s Racin,,,,,,
Onward Through the Fog (Oat-Willies)
Now of course I am just kidding,, no she (my wife) is like that,, but it ain’t out of hate or anything like that,, I think she just likes Jr. cause when we met many moons ago, she knew nothing about NASCAR,, she liked who most people did,, Dale Earnhardt Sr.,, when he passed,, she inherited Jr.,, now,, there is no other driver on any track that makes a comparison to him,, he can do no wrong,, no matter what,, it is forgivable and if someone does something to him,, then for the Love of Pete get a Rope,,
Self Described
FAN, FANATIC, CRANK,, which one is she,,,, which label applies,, are you similar to any one of the ones described,, do you know someone who fits,, are you a Fan,, a Fanatic,, or a Crank,, tell the truth,, no one will tell,, besides most of us here,, the ones who have been here since the start,, we know who is who,, and by what label they would,, should be referred to as,, here in my house,, I have all three,,,
Keeping the Faith
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2.0.5.1/461 Mon Aug 25 20:51:19 UTC 2008
31 Comments
Dominic18719
Jul 03 2008 11:16
Fan-definitely, fanatic-maybe, crank-never!!
Luv this blog!! If i had to label myself I’d say ‘fan’, but I think everyone else would say fanatic! I’m always wearing JR stuff, I have every race JR won burned on DVD… and we go to 2 or 3 races every year. But to be a fanatic, isn’t it one driver and no one else? I am a die-hard JR fan above all, but I’m extremely pleased when certain other drivers do well. Michael waltrip, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, Jeff Burton, etc… at NHMS, yea, JR got trashed, but the day wasn’t a total loss (Mikey got a 2nd spot!!). And, cranks, well I think those are the guys that complain about nascar in general, and make statements like “that’s it! I’m not watching ever again!!”. but next sunday, there they are…
d3jr88
Jul 03 2008 10:21
Fan...
I personally just started watching Nascar in January 07 when I met my now husband. I would consider myself a fan though. And yes a fan of JR. My husband on the other hand, I would have to say he is on the boarder line between Fanatic and Crank!! He watches every Sprint Cup race and every Nationwide race that JR is in. He is true to JR!! He says he likes a couple other drivers but when it comes to race day it is JR all the way!!!
salvosg23
Jul 03 2008 10:06
Fan
I am a fan and fanatic, depends on how my driver is doing and who is doing better than my driver. I think from time to time we all get the team blinders on when we root for our drivers as to who spun out who. I for one though feel that JR, did not earn his fans and I think that is a shame. I think a lot of people either were rooting for his father, or saw his tragic death and saw how his son handled it (which in reality was not well but it looked good in public) and felt sorry for him and or respected the way he tried to handle it, and switched over to him after his dad was dead, not many before that really like JR (not as a driver, he was taking on the role of the next Kyle Petty). I wish the majority of those fans would stop and really ask them selves why they root for JR. and if his dad was a Wallace, or even worse a Bodine would they still root for him, I think the answer to that is something we all know. I for one was rather happy about his last win, not because of the fact its been along time since his last win, but in the dramatic fission that he did it, and the fact that my driver/team owner need him to win or look like a fool. So am I a JR fan, I don’t hate him, I never had, I for the most part do not like his fans since I don’t feel that they ever really took the time to get to know who or what he was about before the just decided to like him because their hero is gone. So I guess I can say not I’m really a fan, but I definitely like to see him win and be able to fulfill his want and desire of making something out of himself to make his daddy proud. So if that makes me a fan so be it, but I didn’t make the decision because his daddy died, but it’s because he has earned my respect because he has done something that the majority of us can not do, and that is grow up in front of all those cameras and press, and so far he has not embarrassed himself one little bit.
JKW
Jul 03 2008 09:42
I was a huge Dale Earnhardt fan and now am a Dale Jr. fan.
I never missed a race when Earnhardt was running. I started watching the sport in the late 70’s. When he lost his life I didn’t even want to watch anymore, as to me he was what the sport was all about. Hard racing. No complaints. Then I watched his son Dale Jr. come back to Daytona the same year as Dale’s tragic death and won the race. I have been a Jr. fan ever since that day. He drives his own race, does not complain if he is wrecked and takes the blame if he thinks it is his fault. I can’t stand Kyle Busch, for the same reasons. If he wins a race, it is because of his driving, if he loses, it is his teams fault. Stand up like a man and take what you dish out. I hope that he does not win the Sprint Cup as no helmet would fit on that huge head that he already has. I am rooting for Dale Jr. and if not him, Tony Stewart. Thanks to Montoya for finally giving it back to Kyle, too bad Ron Hornaday didn’t get to him at the truck race. He might think he is the bad guy of racing but he is no Dale Earnhardt. He is just obnoxious. Go Jr. I guess I am a fanatic!
BCunningham
Jul 03 2008 09:36
Good Article
bahaha, I do love though how most of the people who left comments saying they were cranks were JR fans. I love JR, he is a great guy, but some of his fans are total idiots and have no respect for anyone. Most of them are the reason that I believe a lot of people still think this sport is for stupid rednecks. Anywho, go 48 24 88 and 5!
Pawleys
Jul 03 2008 02:02
Awesome blog Thunder!
I’m between the fan and the fanatic. The crank in me used to come out at some of the Bristol races in my younger days, all between friends and we all had been drinking homemade shine for those nights. Come to think of it, the crank would come out in all of us even if it was just a party at home and no race that weekend. Miss those days.
KittyandBear
Jul 03 2008 01:02
I can be all three.
I am a die hard Dale Jr fan. But I also like Tony Stewart. I don’t wish anyone misfortune, Ok I was not disappointed when Kyle Busch spun out all by his lonesome and I might have left Juan a thank you note on his IP page. I hate missing a race. But will be the first to say NASCAR has forgotten that it’s fans have functioning brain cells. Dale Jr. can pretty much do anything he wants and I am ok with it. And Kyle Busch well he can do anything too as long as it’s at a different race track. LOL. Ok I admit it I may be a fanatic with crank tendencies. But truly I am harmless. Great Blog.
smiley18fan
Jul 03 2008 00:58
Right on!
I loved your blog. Some of the fanatics sort of scare me by what they say about my favorite driver.
I’m not sure what kind of fan I am. I know I get ticked off if there is Kyle bashing on a blog. If he’s not racing, I’m not watching. It’s really exciting when he is racing all 3 series on a weekend. I was grateful when Junior won because I figured maybe people would back off on wishing Kyle would get wrecked.
I was a Jimmie Johnson fan and therefore cheered for all HMS drivers. After JJ won his first championship, I started cheering for Kyle. After Hendrick put the screws to Kyle, I began cheering for the 18 only. (I try to cheer for 11 & 20, but I don’t really like them—although they’re good drivers.) For the first time, I bought Kyle “stuff” and joined the Kyle Busch fan club.
What kind of fan does that make me?
fanofreed41
Jul 02 2008 23:19
Reed Sorenson fan
A big Reed Sorenson fan!!!! GO 41 Target Dodge!!!!!!
DALEJRMOTORS
Jul 02 2008 23:05
I'M A JRANATIC.....
I KNOW I’M A DALE JR FANATIC. I NEVER MISS A RACE, WHETHER IT’S NATIONWIDE OR SPRINT CUP. MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A DJ BUSINESS…I WON’T EVEN SCHEDULE A MEETING OR TRY NOT TO BOOK AN EVENT ON RACEDAY…MY HUSBAND HATES THIS (HE’S SAYS WE NEED TO MAKE MONEY AND HE’S NOT A NASCAR FAN, I DON’T KNOW WHAT PLANET HE’S FROM…LOL) ANYWAY, I HAVE SEVERAL ROOMS DEDICATED TO DALE JR, I HAVE ALL NEW STUFF AND STILL THE OLD STUFF SHOWING….I EVEN HAVE HOTPASS ON DIRECTV AND NASCAR TRACKPASS, JUST IN CASE I MISSED SOMETHING DALE JR SAYS ON THE RADIO…FAMILY KNOWS NOT TO PLAN PARTIES AROUND MY NASCAR…ALL I HAVE TO SAY, “GO DALE JR, YOU CAN DO NO WRONG”