Fanboy isn't a derogatory. I don't know when it BECAME a derogatory to Star Wars fans, it wasn't before, but once again, I think people are just kinda running with half-truths they saw on some other messageboard and using it like they really know what they're talking about.
Anyone who takes the time to register online, to post opinions about a movie with giant talking slugs, frog/kangaroo hybrids, little green men with hairy ears and bearded heroes who wear terrycloth and have laserswords--is a fanboy. There's no negative or positive in it. The word comes from the comics world, where it's pretty easy to see that "Fanboy" was just a cutesy comics-style nickname for a a comics fan. Someone who's a little more deep into that fantasy world than the average joe.
when I use fanboy--I'm not using it as an exclusionary. I'm simply using it to define the kind of people who would go online and spend about 5000 words talking about Star Wars and not even question whether they're wasting their time or not.
Everyone here is a fanboy.
whether you're a cool fanboy or a dickhead fanboy is completely up to you.