T.D.A 4...Internet Responses(11/24/09)

[Mindz]

This weeks question has an answer, and I really hope I can figure this out. It's one of my biggest pet peeves on the internet, and I really want to explore this phenomenon. It's a multi-part question to pay attention and make sure you understand the question(s) before answering.

Fanboy: Not quite a troll, but someone who posts slandering something they don't like and giving props to what they like, whether it's right or wrong. This opinion/judgment has no rhyme of reason other than it's their preferrence.

What causes fanboyism? I'm not talking about people who prefer one of two competitors, but to blatantly spout random nonsense about their choice which is obviously wrong. Also, do fanboys/girls actually believe what they say or are they just stirring the pot? They seem to make a life/hobby out of promoting/slandering certain products because it's 98% of their posts.

Example A: 2 performance cars being compared and Car A excels in every category, yet someone makes a post with their opinion that Car B "would smoke Car A, it's just all around a better car. No contest11!11lopllies". This is for the camaro/mustang debate among many other cars/comparisons.

Example B: PS3 vs. Xbox. "Xbox crap60! PS3 pwns!" "Suckstation 3! Xbox pwn3d it"


Part II: Why do people make redundant posts that make it look like they don't read threads?

Example: A thread is made about something, say an item in a video game which is obviously hacked/hex edited/etc. First person to respond says the item is fake/hacked. Second reply is the OP saying it's not, and asking how it could be fake. Third reply is another person explaining that it's got several characteristics that are solely allowed on different items, but not the item in question. Either the OP is a hacker, or the friend he got it from is a hacker.

Further down the thread, (replies 8-18 to be exact) ever reply says "item is hacked." "FAKE ITEMMMM!" "you're hacker, that item is fake" "item is obviously hacked, and your friend is cheating..." "FAKE!" "hex edited item, not real"


You would think that after the 3 reply, people would understand and not need to post redundant crap like that. Do people not read replies? Are they doing this to just repeat the first response for no reason at all other than to up their post count? What possesses people to do crap like this? Sometimes these replies are on the 6th, 9th, 23rd page referring to the original post. Any person with an IQ of 10 or great could guess that the obvious has been stated by the end of the first page... Not these geniuses.

[Iwantone2]

I'll take a shot...

Part 1 - Fanboyism could be the cause of an emotional bond to something. For example, if somebody grew up around Mustangs their whole lives and they later find out that their dad's first car was a Mustang, maybe the person links Mustang's to their father. That bond is greater than any numbers or proof about something than anything else.

Part 2 - I'm thinking that they want to be part of the crowd, to be accepted by the crowd that is. Or, they might just want the rest of the posters/readers to see that they also agree with the general consensus. Would it be okay, or the same, if the poster only posted "+1"? Or does that still count as redundant?

[Mindz]

Personally, I would say +1 or "I agree with the majority" would be better because it shows that you read the replies already.

Anyways, great response. =)

[Iwantone2]

I feel so sophisticated whenever I reply to these threads! Good way to excercise the brain! Thanks Mindz!!!

[Brokinarrow]

Interesting... here is my take:

Part 1 - Such fanboys/girls are usually too immature/unintelligent to look at a reasonable argument and accept that their product is, indeed, inferior or (a number of Apple fanboys come to mind here) not suited for the purpose at hand.

Part 2 - I agree with Iwantone2 on this one. They probably saw all the other responses, but still felt that THEIR wording of the same sentiment was needed (the kind of people that like to hear themselves talk perhaps?)

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by Iwantone2

I'll take a shot...

Part 1 - Fanboyism could be the cause of an emotional bond to something. For example, if somebody grew up around Mustangs their whole lives and they later find out that their dad's first car was a Mustang, maybe the person links Mustang's to their father. That bond is greater than any numbers or proof about something than anything else.

Part 2 - I'm thinking that they want to be part of the crowd, to be accepted by the crowd that is. Or, they might just want the rest of the posters/readers to see that they also agree with the general consensus. Would it be okay, or the same, if the poster only posted "+1"? Or does that still count as redundant?

Originally Posted by Mindz

Personally, I would say +1 or "I agree with the majority" would be better because it shows that you read the replies already.

Anyways, great response. =)

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

Interesting... here is my take:

Part 1 - Such fanboys/girls are usually too immature/unintelligent to look at a reasonable argument and accept that their product is, indeed, inferior or (a number of Apple fanboys come to mind here) not suited for the purpose at hand.

Part 2 - I agree with Iwantone2 on this one. They probably saw all the other responses, but still felt that THEIR wording of the same sentiment was needed (the kind of people that like to hear themselves talk perhaps?)

I would post a reply to this thread, but it would be redundant.

Therefore, I shall post this:

QFT.
- X

[Mindz]

Originally Posted by Iwantone2

I feel so sophisticated whenever I reply to these threads! Good way to excercise the brain! Thanks Mindz!!!

Anytime.

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

Interesting... here is my take:

Part 1 - Such fanboys/girls are usually too immature/unintelligent to look at a reasonable argument and accept that their product is, indeed, inferior or (a number of Apple fanboys come to mind here) not suited for the purpose at hand.

Part 2 - I agree with Iwantone2 on this one. They probably saw all the other responses, but still felt that THEIR wording of the same sentiment was needed (the kind of people that like to hear themselves talk perhaps?)

Originally Posted by Xanthos

I would post a reply to this thread, but it would be redundant.

Therefore, I shall post this:

QFT.
- X

I see what you did there.

[CamaroFemme]

Originally Posted by Mindz

What causes fanboyism? I'm not talking about people who prefer one of two competitors, but to blatantly spout random nonsense about their choice which is obviously wrong. Also, do fanboys/girls actually believe what they say or are they just stirring the pot? They seem to make a life/hobby out of promoting/slandering certain products because it's 98% of their posts.

As to whether they believe it, that will vary from person to person. But a major cause is the net itself. You can basically say or act however you want here, without real consequences. Sure, you might get your post deleted, or even banned from a site, but there's always another site to post on if all you want is to be an ass.

And it seems like way, waaayyy too many people just want to be an ass, or a tough guy, or pretend they're something they aren't here on the net. I've seen it here on this forum: a person disliked OnStar so much they stated, as fact, that it was listening in on a conversation of theirs, cut in, and asked them if it needed to call the police. 95% of people here will think "bs" and forget it, but a few people really will believe it, the paranoia spreads, and a good company suffers. Another example: here in this very section, some people were putting up pics of celebs they thought were attractive. So here comes Captain Assitude, stating, "OMG HOW OLD R U PEOPLE??? *PALM*" What was the point of that, other than to be an ass?

If you said, "Um...well, there would appear to be no other point," you would be correct.

Part II: Why do people make redundant posts that make it look like they don't read threads?

You answered yourself here a little. They may want to raise their post count, be seen, or maybe they HAVEN'T read the whole thread and don't want to hear what anyone else has to say about it, they just want to state their opinion. Or maybe it's more of a "poll" issue. If I say ____, that's one thing. If 50 people do, that's another. Lending more weight to an issue, maybe?

[PQ]

I agree.

But for real. I have actually done this. I have been reading a thread that interests me and have something come up

And I know if I leave I will forget to respond so I'll make a quick response meaning to come back later.

Not very often but it has happened. Maybe I should not?

Do you see it in newbs more than longer members?

Maybe it's a desire to fit in on the forum quicker?

[Mindz]

[QUOTE=CamaroFemme;1212436]...QUOTE]

Great explanation. I agree with you on all points, which is the point of this thread, I want to know what other people think. Thanks for contributing =)

Originally Posted by PQ

I agree.

But for real. I have actually done this. I have been reading a thread that interests me and have something come up

And I know if I leave I will forget to respond so I'll make a quick response meaning to come back later.
Not very often but it has happened. Maybe I should not?

Do you see it in newbs more than longer members?
Maybe it's a desire to fit in on the forum quicker?

I see it in long time trolls as well as forum newbies. It's across many forums and different types of media.

[springerpete]

I think they are weak minded and don't have the ability to think rationally for themselves. Therefore they jump on bandwagon A or B and ride it until its basically over or not the "in" thing to do anymore.

I personally believe that these people are the worst kind of fan of anything because their devotion or lack thereof is not base on anything of substance. Mostly just a reason to fit in.

[Mr. Wyndham]

People don't like to be wrong. This goes for you, me...everyone. But some simply cannot accept reality.

I firmly believe fanboyism (true fanboyism, now...not way it's thrown around here) stems from a person's inability to accept being wrong. Even the concept scares the bejesus out of them. They have to choose something to be right, however...so when they do -- they cling to it like a life-preserver in the middle of the atlantic.

Not to be mean, or come off elitist...but most fanboys (true fanboys) are awfully simply people, intellectually.


There are two other groups that exhibit similar characteristics to a fanboy, however. And are often mistaken for one when someone attempts to label these people:
The Passionate Enthusiast, and the Ignoramous. I trust I don't need to explain the two.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

People don't like to be wrong. This goes for you, me...everyone. But some simply cannot accept reality.

I firmly believe fanboyism (true fanboyism, now...not way it's thrown around here) stems from a person's inability to accept being wrong. Even the concept scares the bejesus out of them. They have to choose something to be right, however...so when they do -- they cling to it like a life-preserver in the middle of the atlantic.

Not to be mean, or come off elitist...but most fanboys (true fanboys) are awfully simply people, intellectually.


There are two other groups that exhibit similar characteristics to a fanboy, however. And are often mistaken for one when someone attempts to label these people:
The Passionate Enthusiast, and the Ignoramous. I trust I don't need to explain the two.

Admittedly, I have fallen into this category a time or two. Usually after exhausting all knowledge of the opposit point of veiw from the other person. Normally I'll just be quiet. It's HARD sometimes to admit you may be wrong. I can do it but it's a lot easier to do at the beggining of a conversation or debate.

I just don't PUSH my opinion on people. I'll give it. And respond if wanted or warranted.

I'm not really a 'Fanboy' of anything. At least not according to Mindss description.

[Mindz]

The only thing you're a fanboy of is your football team. =P

j/k. I don't believe anyone that's responded in this thread is considered a fanboy, based on how I described them in my op.