What makes a fangirl a fangirl?*

[teddog]

Is it that she's given a huge chunk of her life to a fandom? Is it that she's a well-respected fan author and/or artist? Is it that she's known to give "favors" to fellow fans? Is it that she's just well known in fandom for no apparent reason?

Is it because she's been in a fandom long after its best before date? Is it because she'll stay up until all hours to get a glimpse of her fandom?

Is it because she has stacks upon stacks of fan crap? Or is it that she chooses to not buy anything related to a fandom in order to prove how pure she is?

Or could she just be a girl who is a fan?

(*The above statements do not relate to me in any way... except the part about staying up to all hours to watch a TV program.)