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Or, an attempt to vaguely classify, mock, and point out the interactions that make fandom a fun and ridiculous place.
Flash: This type of BNF comes from the unranked masses, the legions of fans that sweat over fics without receiving true recognition, until one day a fic catches the eye of a BNF, usually an Advisor, iPod or Laptop, who bestows a random and rare recommendation on the fic, elevating the fan to Flash status. The Flash may enjoy a brief spurt in popularity, or she might settle into a Renowned or Advisor role.
Supporter: A quiet, unassuming type of BNF, the Supporter is someone who made a name for herself not by writing fic/vidding/doing fan art, but just by being involved with the fannish process. A Supporter might do episode reviews or be otherwise involved with the source material, but their primary role is to comment, beta, and enjoy. They will often be the ones who chat with everyone, regardless of apparent rank.
Renowned: The Renowned BNF is known for a primary work, from which other works are known and acknowledged to have sprung. Fannish arguments will often acknowledge the importance of a Renowned's work, holding it up as a standard of a character's behavior, or a writing style.
Advisor: The Advisor is usually a Renowned with the addition of a visible presence in the fannish community. The Advisor may be well-known for a work, but their role transcends the fic. They are often the people who help other fans connect, discuss, learn, and grow. They may facilitate discussions on subjects tangentially related to the fandom, expressing their opinions concisely and inviting further discussion.
Sycophant: Sycophants are shifty, devious fans. Not true BNFs in their own right, they often attach themselves to the nearest BNF and ride on the coattails of that person's fame. A sycophant might seem to have no true opinions of her own, especially if she deals with two BNFs of differing opinions.
iPod: iPod BNFs start out as innocent Renowneds or Advisors, but get corrupted by the ego-inflating adoration of the fanbase. No one is quite sure what makes a good Renowned or Advisor go wrong, but one theory suggests that competition among sycophants for a BNF's attention is a large contributing factor.
Laptop: Laptops are the most twisted form of iPods. They will make summary statements about fandom that are highly divisive, accuse mere Flashes and Renowneds of stalking, and generally make a nuisance of themselves. Eventually, the unranked masses will combine forces behind an uncorrupt Renowned or Advisor and shut the Laptop out.
EDIT: Don't miss Spiletta's definition of a BOFQ in the comments! An important addendum to any field guide!
Note: This is my attempt to actually differentiate between types on BNF. I don't believe for a second that BNFs all fit into one description, nor do I believe that mine in an exhaustive list. All descriptions of BNFs should be taken with a lot of salt and possibly some ibuprofen. Any resemblance to actual BNFs is absolutely not coincidence, though perhaps not the coincidence you're thinking of.
*This is not the wank you're looking for*
Flash: This type of BNF comes from the unranked masses, the legions of fans that sweat over fics without receiving true recognition, until one day a fic catches the eye of a BNF, usually an Advisor, iPod or Laptop, who bestows a random and rare recommendation on the fic, elevating the fan to Flash status. The Flash may enjoy a brief spurt in popularity, or she might settle into a Renowned or Advisor role.
Supporter: A quiet, unassuming type of BNF, the Supporter is someone who made a name for herself not by writing fic/vidding/doing fan art, but just by being involved with the fannish process. A Supporter might do episode reviews or be otherwise involved with the source material, but their primary role is to comment, beta, and enjoy. They will often be the ones who chat with everyone, regardless of apparent rank.
Renowned: The Renowned BNF is known for a primary work, from which other works are known and acknowledged to have sprung. Fannish arguments will often acknowledge the importance of a Renowned's work, holding it up as a standard of a character's behavior, or a writing style.
Advisor: The Advisor is usually a Renowned with the addition of a visible presence in the fannish community. The Advisor may be well-known for a work, but their role transcends the fic. They are often the people who help other fans connect, discuss, learn, and grow. They may facilitate discussions on subjects tangentially related to the fandom, expressing their opinions concisely and inviting further discussion.
Sycophant: Sycophants are shifty, devious fans. Not true BNFs in their own right, they often attach themselves to the nearest BNF and ride on the coattails of that person's fame. A sycophant might seem to have no true opinions of her own, especially if she deals with two BNFs of differing opinions.
iPod: iPod BNFs start out as innocent Renowneds or Advisors, but get corrupted by the ego-inflating adoration of the fanbase. No one is quite sure what makes a good Renowned or Advisor go wrong, but one theory suggests that competition among sycophants for a BNF's attention is a large contributing factor.
Laptop: Laptops are the most twisted form of iPods. They will make summary statements about fandom that are highly divisive, accuse mere Flashes and Renowneds of stalking, and generally make a nuisance of themselves. Eventually, the unranked masses will combine forces behind an uncorrupt Renowned or Advisor and shut the Laptop out.
EDIT: Don't miss Spiletta's definition of a BOFQ in the comments! An important addendum to any field guide!
Note: This is my attempt to actually differentiate between types on BNF. I don't believe for a second that BNFs all fit into one description, nor do I believe that mine in an exhaustive list. All descriptions of BNFs should be taken with a lot of salt and possibly some ibuprofen. Any resemblance to actual BNFs is absolutely not coincidence, though perhaps not the coincidence you're thinking of.
*This is not the wank you're looking for*
