An Electronic Fanboy Culture

So, I'm scoping some technologies forums (a part of my Internet ritual), and I'm discovering more and more people are becoming fanboys or fangirls. Fervently so. Did I miss something? Since when do people buy very expensive technology products because Microsoft or Apple or Sony or whoever made it? I don't remember growing up (or now) ever thinking, "Oh, man! _______ just released a new _____ ! I'm going to go pick it up right away without looking at the competition! I definitely won't think about where my hard earned cash is going!" Exaggeration you say? I don't think so.

I was looking at an article that recapped what Microsoft had to say about it's less-than-stellar sales of the Zune this past holiday season. Interesting, albeit biased article. But then I look at the comments for the article. I am shocked at the sheer stupidity! On a technology site no less! I won't go into specifics, but people basically commented on the Zune (and to a much lesser extent the iPod) and its software using facts and descriptions that were completely unfounded and just plain false. All in the name of their product they bought. So, they bash a product they don't own (or know much about) simply because... their penis is small? I don't know honestly.

Who cares if I bought a Zune and someone else bought an iPod! I don't! It's your money just like it's my money! I owned a PS and PS2, but "jumped ship" to the Xbox 360 because I thought it would suit my needs better. Do I bash people who own a PS3 or a Wii? Hell no! Why would I? What exactly do I gain from trying to argue that? I understand praising a product you own because you want to feel good about the purchase, and you want to tell other people your great experience. I can and do agree with that. But bashing someone else's purchase simply because it's not your own? That makes no sense to me. Be a fan of your specific purchase-- not the brand. Always reevaluate for next time you need to replace product X.

I know, I know. People have doing this for awhile. But have they really? I think the fanboy has only really emerged in the last decade to fifteen years. I don't once remember having a conversation on whether Sega or Nintendo was better. Or whether my neighbor's computer was shitty because it was a Dell and not a Hewlett-Packard like mine. Who honestly gives a shit? But, I think I answered my own question: I'm trying to find a conversation. People are much more aggressive and zealous when they know there are no consequences (like in some comment boards or forums), and there are definite consequences to saying something to someone's face. Perhaps, with the emergence of the Internet, people have forgetten what the words "logic", "facts", "first-hand", "kindness", or "discussion" mean. Maybe people have always been jackasses and blow their wad at the sound of their favorite company's name. Maybe. I don't think so though.

What do you guys think? Do fanboys annoy the crap out of you too, or am I alone on this one?