What's A Touhou Fan?

[Pesco]

A Touhou fan is one if they think they are.

/thread

[Silent Harmony]

A Touhou fan is a Touhou-themed implement used to move air in order to cool onesself.

But seriously, a Touhou fan is, to me, someone whom has, at minimum, basic knowledge of the series (can name a handful of characters, knows the names of the games (and perhaps order) and likes it. This can, of course, be broken down into smaller groups: fans of the games themselves, artwork, comics, music, canon, fanon, etc.

Even those groups can be broken down; most easily seen is the people whom play the game on Lunatic difficulty are often grouped together and dubbed "lunatics."

Really, it's a broad term for a broad series.

[?q]

A Touhou fan
1) has a particular interest in at least one part of the canon or fandom
2a) unnecessarily references Touhou in conversations not directly related to it on occasion, OR
2b) has started a project of some kind about Touhou
3) knows what Touhou is; specifically, they know that it's not an anim? or an IOSYS flash

A Touhou fan is one if they think they are.

/thread

This will be an excellent catch-all answer when I finally play Mafia enough to develop latent psychic abilities

[Garlyle]

I want to say that I don't want to make a distinction between an 'actual fan' and a 'would-be fan' but sometimes it does bug me.

Specifically when a self-titled fan constantly references the YouTube memedom but will rarely pick up a game and constantly goes "Who?" when you talk about a lot of the characters - and not uncommon ones, either ("Who's Yuyuko again?" FFFFF IT'S ONLY THE FINAL BOSS OF PCB).

I'd say someone who qualifies as a fan at least has a general understanding of what's going on and who these people are, and has probably at least explored a little bit beyond just one facet of the Touhou fandom.  Oh, and actually likes it, of course.  I'm not going to blame someone for saying "I'm a fan, but I'm mostly in it for the art" but not if they've never actually tried one of the games or listened to some of the music or whatever, you know?

[mew77]

We're all bat snarking insane.

60% of the fanbase likes their loli hentai way too much.

Spoiler:

And I hate it.

I hate it too, but 60%? That's just creepy.

If you aren't insane for one character,

Spoiler:

even secretly,

you suck.

suwako hats count?

[Bias Bus]

I'd say there a couple different types of fans. Those that like Touhou for the games, for the characters, for the music... Most of them are different, though you can certainly like any of these things and still be a "fan of Touhou". I guess the simple question to ask would be: "Do you like Touhou?" If your response is "yes", then you're a Touhou fan.

Pretty much this.

[Benny1]

I haven't been around for long compared to some people around here, but I've been around for four years and I have been having fun with Touhou games since then.  Honestly, I don't think I am any different than any other sort of a fan.  People differentiate fans a lot, but I don't think just because you're a fan of one thing doesn't mean you're a different type of a fan than somebody who is a fan of something else.

What do I like about Touhou?  I like the gameplay, the music, and the character designs.  Their personalities are generally distinct, and even better, ZUN stories are improving constantly.  I don't feel at all though like I am a "different kind of person" or something than somebody, who say, plays DotA a lot.  I play Melty Blood (almost) competitively as well, and it's not like I feel like a different person for that, either.

If I was to sum up what I've seen in Touhou fans, it's a very active group of people, who like to do what they can to support the community, and though a good majority have their odd quirks, they are also in general very good people.  We have such a wide variety of people, of course, that I wouldn't like to sum up people at all, but this community is so diverse and so into helping each other and getting community projects done that it really impresses me.

But at the same time, no, I don't think we're any different than any other fanbase.  Fans of a series are fans of a series, no matter what the series is.  Somewhere deep in all of us, we are all just touhou fans because we like Touhou, and nothing more than that.

[Dead Princess Sakana]

I was skimming through this thread only to see if something like this had already been posted  :V

Other than that:

A Touhou fan is one if they think they are.

/thread

Exactly as the rabbit said.
If you're looking for common characteristics of Touhou fans, there are none. The diversity of people here on MotK is proof enough for that.

[Alice Fact]

Common characteristic of Touhou Project fans: they like Touhou games

dohoho

[Letty Whiterock]

Common characteristic of Touhou Project fans: they like Touhou games

dohoho

lol you wish. more like:

Common characteristic of Touhou Project fans: they like anime

dohoho

[Kinzo the Astro Curious]

lol I did wonder if a touhou related air moving object would get posted. Cirno fan... ahh cooling.

I wonder If a common theme of touhou's is they have, or would like to learn, some japanese?

I only started to make finding the music mixes easier lol.

[orinrin]

The difference between a fan and a troll is very subtle.

Very subtle indeed.

[Mikirin]

Well, if we look at the anatomy of a Touhou fan, we can see that brain activity does not revolve mainly around that of which the average human does. We in fact see that instead of the average Touhou fan thinking of sex every second seconds, they think of Touhou every seven seconds. But of course, averages are terrible ways of judging things, because see, Gpop has Koishi on the mind at all times, and therefore unbalances the scales. However, what we do see is that reflexes and hand-eye coordination are improved in comparison to blah blah blah...

When it comes down to it, if you know of Touhou, you're a beginner. If you play or watch or read or listen to or whatever to Touhou, you're a Touhou fan. If you do any of the above constantly, your a Touhou addict and are in the right place. If you're like Gpop and wanting Koishi every second of the day, then you are what I would call a Touhou specialist.

Pardon me if I overused Gpop as an example or exaggerated on Gpop's character a bit.

'Guess I'm not a "true Touhou fan", Since I don't think of "sexing" a Touhou chara all the time.
Since I'm not a pervert, I'm not a Touhou fan..?
Gah, I'm confused. I'll go play some UFO.

[Gpop]

'Guess I'm not a "true Touhou fan", Since I don't think of "sexing" a Touhou chara all the time.
Since I'm not a pervert, I'm not a Touhou fan..?
Gah, I'm confused. I'll go play some UFO.

People who think of sexing a Touhou character are called perverts.

Touhou fans just play the games and like it.

Patorikku just has no idea what goes in my mind at all.

[Patorikku]

People who think of sexing a Touhou character are called perverts.

Touhou fans just play the games and like it.

Patorikku just has no idea what goes in my mind at all.

Well, looks like my research papers were a waste, then. Wait-- I never said sexing a Touhou character!

In all maybe-seriousness, Touhou fans consist of anyone who, like Gpop said, play and like the games. Or at least recognize that the series is a game series that is worth playing.

[Mikirin]

People who think of sexing a Touhou character are called perverts.

Touhou fans just play the games and like it.

Patorikku just has no idea what goes in my mind at all.

I know, cuz Yukari gaphax'd it for me.
You're thinking of pancakes as I type this, now you're wondering how I even contacted Yukari.
Anyway, yeah. So I guess I'm a touhou fan then?
I showed the kids in my Accounting period MoF and they liked it, I guess everyone's a fan.

[Chainsaw Guitar]

lol you wish. more like:

But Touhou is an anime game. A sad life anime game.

[KrackoCloud]

I'd say the first step to defining a Touhou fan is defining what a fan is.

DICTIONARY.COM GO

an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer

So really, a Touhou fan is someone who likes Touhou for any of most reasons, and preferably is willing to define him or herself as such.
One's knowledge, involvement, and devotion may help you become closer to an "ideal' or "true" Touhou fan, but it's not too hard to fit under the bare minimum for being one.

[Formless God]

They must first have decent knowledge.
I'm sick of those who don't know anything better than the SDM, Hakugyokurou, Eientei, and IOSYS.
i.e. most if not all of the so-called Touhou fans in my country. Derp. Glad I'm better :V

And then there are those who go "LOL MUSHIHIME IS LIEK TOHOO ON EASY" "Play Imperishable Night Extra motherfuckers"

[orinrin]

"Play Imperishable Night Extra motherfuckers"

Wait, isn't IN Extra one of the easier ones?

[♛ Apher-Forte]

we a group of self insert godhax characters who want to sleep with their waifus and talk openly at the sort of things you will do to your dakimakura in your mom's basement.

[Letty Whiterock]

And then there are those who go "LOL MUSHIHIME IS LIEK TOHOO ON EASY" "Play Imperishable Night Extra motherfuckers"

If people think that Touhou isn't one of the easiest danmaku games out there, they are retarded.

[Formless God]

Wait, isn't IN Extra one of the easier ones?

Probably because 1) they keep getting owned by IN Extra 2) they don't know of anything past IN.
And yes that one is seriously loleasy :V

You will see those comments all over THE HARDEST VIDEO GAME BOSS EVER. I even recognize some of the usernames from DS :V

If people think that Touhou isn't one of the easiest danmaku games out there, they are retarded.

Yes it's indeed easier than most other danmaku games, but an easy danmaku is still capable of blowing your socks off more chaotic than your average games BV
Then again I'm not in for the challenge. Touhou has more than anything else could offer.

P.S. "I like Touhou because it's excellent fap material and IOSYS rocks" is an insta-fail :V

[Patorikku]

Had it not been for Mushihime videos and Ikaruga, I probably would be one of those people saying Touhou is one of the hardest bullet hells. Now it's just really high up on difficulty in comparison to regular SHMUPS.

And whoever says Mushihime is easier than Touhou better start actually PLAYING these two games. Seriously, one video of Mushihime ensured me that it's quite a bit harder than Touhou.

[Spidere]

Man...Ikaruga kicked my ass when I had a Dreamcast...Prepared me for the later stages of my life playing Touhou...Even if I still suck  :V

It just amazes me though when someone has beaten everything, memorized every pattern, and has gotten outrageous scores, that makes me say, "Holy shit."

[Kinzo the Astro Curious]

P.S. "I like Touhou because it's excellent fap material and IOSYS rocks" is an insta-fail :V

What if this, and you still play all of the games for the sake of them being games and not IOSYS and excellent fap material?

Cause I have this friend...  :V

[Alice★f]

If you just like Touhou for the Mountain of Faith Porn, then that's a phail.~

Touhou Fans are obviously people who like Touhou.

Now, what is Touhou? It's a shmup, but even if IOSYS makes flash, even if there are Touhou songs, even if there is fanon and all that diverse stuff, a true fan knows that Touhou is much more than that. To be a Touhou Fan is to realize the existence of the original games, and to appreciate it, of course. You can suck at easy modo for all I care, but if you like it, then you're a fan.

Obviously, people who only like IOSYS flashes and go WHAT ANIME IS THIS do not qualify.

[OkashiiKisei]

Your typical Touhou fan suffers from a great lack of decent sleep.

[Ghaleon]

I think the op was hoping for silly judgmental stereotypes that aren't neccesarily true rather than a realistic view. I shall attempt to provide without stirring up trouble.

Bad stereotypes I have notices with my 1 year of fandom first:

1: Touhou fans are loli-pervs
2: Touhou fans think Touhou is the hardest game ever
3: they aren't gamers, they only like games with girls

some of the stereotypes I think are actually are accurate:
1: most like anime, despite touhou not being anime
2: fanbase is super-productive as a whole in terms of fan-made games, music, art, etc
3: most are...I don't know the word, I can only describe it as sexually confident. I mean I would not expect to see a homophobic Touhou fan, or any kinda sexual-oriented-phobic fan. Own orientation is irrelevant.
4: enjoy fancy clothes and/or cosplays
5: Enjoy music more than average.

Enough for now.

[HyperGumba]

I guess you could count people who excessively play Touhou as Touhou fans.

People listening to IOSYS,Silver Forest, COOL&CREATE and all that guys.

People referencing Touhou related memes.

People with some Touhou hentai which is indeed fapworthy at some points.

...wait a minute...