Real fans are the ones who are led by their delight in their chosen media, not the ones who are led by their delight in bullying.
A person who finds a beginner fan in their fandom, i.e. an opportunity to share the love of the thing they’re a fan of with someone, to squee over Star Wars or delight in recommending their favorite Pink Floyd songs, and decides, no, they’d rather enjoy shaming them for their lack of knowledge instead? That’s a fake fan right there. That’s someone who, however much they claim to like Star Trek, or comics, or RPGs, has made it clear they like bullying better.
