Being a fan. What is that?

Nowadays a lot of artists are coming up and a lot of different fan bases are holding their grounds. Or so people say.
But what is really a fan?
What makes you call other people fans, and what makes you consider yourself a fan of someone?

Tons of people are convinced that to be a fan you have to know basically everything concering your designated favorite artists/s, coming down to even the littlest detail.
They even inform that you're not a fan if you don't know every single fact about said artist/s.
They are basically socially-accepted stalkers.

What is your opinion on that?
I personally think they're exaggerating a bit (okay, a lot). I've known a lot of people who looked you up and down when you told them you liked some particular band, like you were not worthy of liking them. You know, like those dudes who make fun of you because you say you like Metallica but then you don't go out all dressed in black and chains. As if you were the one who had the problem. (not saying you guys who dress like that have something wrong with you! I used to dress like that a few years ago. But I just didn't go out and give the stink eye to any people who happened to listen to metal like me but dressed 'normally')
And that is so ridiculous, let me tell you. The way music is becoming no more than a fashion statement, these days. That's what music is about? Having the right clothes? Music used to teach us appearances didn't matter, what you had inside mattered. What you had to say mattered. But I guess those times have passed?

But, back to the point.
I don't think you necessarily have to know by heart these artists' discography to consider yourself a fan. It can happen, sometimes, that you listen to a couple of things by a particular singer, or a particular band, and in a way you get them. You feel a connection. And then you don't need to know every basic detail of their life, because you appreciate them just as they come. From those few songs you kind of got to know them, you understood them, you understood what they were about and you realized they really deserved your liking.
Sometimes you just need a few right thoughts to make you realize if a person is worth knowing or not.
And same goes for singers, bands, or even painters, writers, whatever.
Here I talked about music but these ideas can be extended to every artistic camp. I'll always see it the same way.

So how do you call someone a fan? What makes you decide you are one? I'd really like to know.





Thanks for reading!
Elena