Fans, questions I can't answer.

[charles175]

Look out everyone, I have been thinking again! I have some questions that I can

[Josslyn]

1-The word "fan" is obviously a dirivative from "fanatic". Thus, being a fan would indicate that one is fanatical. However, you don't have to live and breathe something to be a fan so my own personal definition of a fan is "one who enjoys ______". Since I enjoy Christopher Lee's films (and other works like his book) I consider myself a fan minus the more "fanatical" aspects.
2-No, not really. Different degrees of being a fan, yes, but "better"? No. You can be a casual fan or more hardcore. Neither is better. Each has drawbacks.
3-Neither. It is all opinion.
4-Yes. However, if the person (although one can be a fan of many things including genres of entertainment, etc.) has no redeamable qualities as a human being it would be difficult to justify being a fan. Talent alone gets you only so fan.
5-That because of them I continue to work. That someone appreciates my work. That I bring enjoyment to people.
6-The psychos. The media. The lack of privacy.

[Juan Aneiros]

I only speak from experience dealing with CL fans.

1. Follower, admirer or friend. Even the word derives from fanatic, there are big differences.

2. Not a better fan, but perhaps a better person or different degrees of admiration and following. Less or more dedicated.

3. I would say the person who has the fans or those who deal with them. Some fans can be self-proclaimed and have no respect whatsoever about the artist's wishes but only their own. The perfect example in Mr Lee's case, would be the Dracula fanatic, who identifies only with the character as sees the artist in that way.

4. It's a combination of many things and obviously personal taste comes into it.

5. Although I cannot speak for him on this issue, Mr Lee considers his fans as friends. He has repeated in several occasions and has been quoted to say "I do these films for the public, the fans"

6. To Mr. Lee, is no doubt the Dracula fanatics to the point that he regrets having been in some of those films. Who wouldn't? Besides that, Mr Lee fans do not bother anyone and there are the nicest, most helpful and considerate fans that any artist can have. Regarding having an open life, with Mr Lee that is not the case. He has his artistic life and then his private one of which no one knows much. He also keeps away from scandals, too much publicity and controversy.

Something else that needs to be said, as perhaps that explains why CL fans are so nice is that they identify themselves with the artist. In many cases, they follow the artist example and share many things in common. The nastiness comes when instead of the artist, it is the character who they identify.

[Evil Peter]

I don't think that a fan must be fanatical but I still think that he must be something more than just someone who enjoy the works of that artist. If I see a movie with a, to me, new actor and like it I wouldn't call myself a fan just because of that. A fan should be an enthusiast. A person who really admires CL in this case because of his works.

On the rest of the questions I agree with the previous answers to such extent that I don't need to elaborate more on this. :)