Are you starting to feel compassion for belligerent fanboys yet ?

Washerman


Joined: 19/09/2008
Posts: 2301

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 07:12

We've all encountered them. They lurk in Internet message boards, comment threads, and chatrooms. Addressing anyone and everyone, they type up lengthy tirades with Cheeto-stained fingers, extolling the virtues of their product or brand of choice. They angrily accuse even the most impartial reviewers of taking handouts from reviled competitors of a beloved company, and they casually and systematically dismiss any evidence that might conflict with their worldview.

Are you starting to feel compassion for belligerent fanboys yet? Clearly, they can't help refusing to see reason. Their brains have automatically and unconsciously re-wired themselves to view their product of choice as markedly superior. Competition that might have seemed just as good before now appears clearly inferior to them. In their minds, everyone else is irrationally refusing to see the world as it is. Why wouldn't they get mad and write angry rants on message boards?

story: http://techreport.com/discussions.x/21294

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 07:19

Don't see much evidence of it here other than 'Apple' aficionados... who will insist on spending more bucks for less bang.

Agobard


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 07:47

Message 2: I switched to a Mac PC a couple of years ago for a number of reasons and have been very satisfied with the outcome. I am not any kind of computer 'anorak' but the Mac fulfills all of my requirements. I have never tried to sell the 'Mac experience' to anybody else but I have been surprised by the number of Microsoft users who constantly rubbish the opposition!

Washerman


Joined: 19/09/2008
Posts: 2301

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 08:05

Groucho (G'd Mornin') - Think a little harder !

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 08:12

I quite like the idea of useing children and monkeys for this experiment,now i can clearly see the connextion.

cypgab


Joined: 09/01/2010
Posts: 338

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 09:51

Let me guess Washerman - a self portrait?

Washerman


Joined: 19/09/2008
Posts: 2301

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 09:56

cypgab................er maybe, but then, as a legitimate TRNC business with a declared self-interest, I doubt it.......you will have to think again !

DoctorW


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 10:01

How about enlightening us?

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 10:28

Washerman did you even read the article to the end. If you did, did you comprehend it ? The whole argument of the article is actualy that when one chooses between two roughly equally desirable items, the proposenity to then favour the chose item and to disfavour the unchosen one increases, is a 'basal', subconsious reaction. As the author clearly states "In any case, the truth seems to be that we're all born irrational fanboys—every single one of us." Of course you doubt that this could be true of you yourself.

Whilst 'fanboyism' may well be the manifestation of a deeper rooter probably genetic propensity, there is no doubt that for me, as well as fanboyism you see on boards like this manifestations of

"Are we seeing the manifestation of a rational process, whereby people attempt to validate and elevate themselves by loudly trumpeting the superiority of their choices? "

This kind of rational self trumpeting is something we do see in various forms from some posters imo.

Washerman


Joined: 19/09/2008
Posts: 2301

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 10:35

erolz................of course I didn't, I just decided that I would just use the bits of the story that suited my agenda. That's one that I learned from you and 6ms

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 10:41

Hook line and sinker

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 10:48

I hope not.....

erolz


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3456

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 11:18

Washerman msg10 says "I just decided that I would just use the bits of the story that suited my agenda."



Clearly you attempt to do this, its just a shame then for you that so much of the article you try and use for your 'agenda' reflects as much or more on your own behaviour, both in its content and in it use then than it does on anyone elses.



I must say its pretty amusing to see you quoting an article that descirbes "They angrily accuse even the most impartial reviewers of taking handouts from reviled competitors of a beloved company, and they casually and systematically dismiss any evidence that might conflict with their worldview."



Given you recent comments about Which / Consumer Associations ability to indpendently and impartialy assess TV manufacturers

DoctorW


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 12:15

Hoisted on your own petard comes to mind!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 13:20

Msg 3

And there you go....

bigOz


Joined: 29/09/2010
Posts: 1244

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 14:16

And it leaves me with nothing more to add

Agobard


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 14:43

Sorry, message 15, I don't know what your posting means? I have never encouraged anybody else to go the Mac route and I'm not doing so now - it suits me, that's all, and the price certainly wasn't an issue as it was extremely competitive.