I admit, I tend to use fanwank as a way of correcting for The Handwave (i.e., fixing or explaining things that make no sense in the canon universe, like working out translator microbes or PK genetics). But the word "wank" isn't quite so genial in origin, so it sounds like there are two conflicting definitions for fanwank.

OTOH, you can generally tell which use is meant by context.

"Oh, go see the fanwanking over in Lotrips where the tinhats are all kerfuffling about someone showing Dom some manips!"

vs.

"Nutty came up with an elegant fanwank to explain why Aeryn came back as a pod person this season."

I think the Buffista meaning of fanwank is a genial, logical outgrowth of the general meaning; it's just that words usually go downhill in connotation, rather than uphill.

"Nutty came up with an elegant fanwank to explain why Aeryn came back as a pod person this season."

I wish I had. Mostly, all I could come up with was, Christie Brinkley is the evil queen of the pod people! Eyebrow waxing for EVERYBODY!!

Mostly, all I could come up with was, Christie Brinkley is the evil queen of the pod people! Eyebrow waxing for EVERYBODY!!

Oh, snerk.

t heavy sigh

God, I hope they let her have her old eyebrows back for the mini. I'll sacrifice a logical resolution of the jujubes issue (because none of their cliffhanger resolutions ever make a lot of sense anyway) in order to get a recognizable Aeryn.

one is to throw bones to the fans so they feel pleased with themselves, without actually contributing to the quality of the product (continuity nods that don't add to the story, but make you feel all cool for noticing)

I would correct to say "nods that don't add to the plot, or possibly even themes," rather than the story itself; I tend to think the continuity nods and other internal allusions add to the story by creating a sense of depth and history to the fictional world under construction.

Thanks for clearing that up...well, kinda.

I tend to think the continuity nods and other internal allusions add to the story by creating a sense of depth and history to the fictional world under construction.

My interpretation had been that a fanwank was one that didn't even do that -- otherwise it'd have a nicer name. Just something to make me feel all special in my obsessiveness.

But what's the difference between a continuity nod that adds depth and a continuity nod that's a shout-out besides the viewer's perception of it? Before I started reading the Buffistas, it never even occurred to me that continuity nods might be meant as a dialogue.

"ita moon" is a fanwank in the "nod to the fans" sense, but it's not a continuity detail. I just don't tend to think continuity is gratuitous.

Continuity, like sex, is never gratuitous. But I know what ita means. Like continuity is that Oz's band was still Dingoes. Little fannish details like Will taking the Dingoes poster to college? Fanwank. Cause I appreciated it, but I wouldn't have missed it, right?

I've never heard fanwank used to mean small continuity details/shoutouts to the fans, but it could be I'm just not paying attention.

Little fannish details like Will taking the Dingoes poster to college?

No, that I think is a character note for Willow.

But sometimes (so of course my mind is blank) it's a "Aren't we clever! We remembered! You're clever too, because you noticed!" and that's what I'm thinking off.

Now I just have to think of an example.

I don't interpret shoutouts as wanks.