We've observed that over the course of one's Rocky career, any given fan is apt to go through a number of stages of enthusiasm. Hope this willring true for some of you.

First stage: Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Symptoms: counting the days and hours until the next show, buying anything and everything with lips on it, watching the movie and then rewinding it and watching it again immediately, buying a plaid bowtie even though you don't play Brad, "not being able to help" using AP in non-Rocky forums, referring to yourself online as "Columbia" (or whatever).

Typical quote: "I love Rocky!!!!!!!! Tim/Richard/Susan is so sexy!!!!!!!!!! I watch the movie 12 times a day!!!!!!!!"
 

Second stage: Hey, wow, there is Rocky outside of my city.
Symptoms: shouting your theater's lines really loudly at other theaters, being baffled at people at conventions who confess that they only see Rocky at conventions, constantly talking about "my good buddy Sal/Larry/Quad/whoever" even though you've only briefly met, having a huge signature file, and generally making it known how essential you are to the Rocky scene at large.

Typical quote: "Bill was BEGGING me to come to New York and play Riff!"
 

Third stage (and this one isn't for wussies): Leading the cast.
Symptoms: bloodshot eyes, trying to remember sewing skills gained in high school home ec so that your cast can not look like crap for once, improved negotiation skills, knowing EXACTLY how everyone in your cast feels about everyone else ("I won't play Janet unless Bob plays Rocky," "Yeah, well, I won't play Brad if Mary plays Janet," and so forth.)

Typical quote: "Fine, I'll give you a ride, just be there, okay?"
 

Fourth stage: Realizing how Rocky works.
Symptoms: none of the cast that was there when you joined still remains, upon breaking up with a cast member you resolve that nobody should ever date a cast member, you take hardcores' claims that they're quitting with a grain of salt, you have a constant yearning for "the good old days", stage one people give you a massive headache.

Typical quote: "If she wants to play Columbia, she should start as an understudy and work her way up, just like I did!
                          Dammit!"
 

Fifth stage: Complete and total disgruntlement and quitting.
Symptoms: Thinking "Oh shit, it's Saturday, Rocky tonight," not buying Rocky stuff because you have no use for it (ie a box set because you already have the individual discs and don't see the point of paying $50 for a new booklet), attending the occasional convention only to be baffled by stage two people who are at Rocky EVERY DAMN WEEK and are still that jazzed about a convention, getting pissed when you say you're quitting and stage four people say "Yeah, right," because you mean it.

Typical quote: "I can't get laid at Rocky without committing a crime! When did the audience get so much younger than me?"

After this point, most people alternate between stages four and five.