Assaulting the Hype

[Reeve]

I've noticed a lot of the time when a new technology or a new product or whatever gets announced and a lot of people get excited about it, there's an immediate backlash, where people attack it and try everything they can to pick it apart. Why do they do this?

My gut feeling on it is that they see something a bunch of others are excited about and if they can show that those people are dumb to be excited about it, it makes them feel smarter than all those other people. I think it's a need to feel superior. Next time you're shooting down something someone else feels excited about, ask yourself if it really affects you, or if you're just trying to ruin someone else's excitement because it makes you feel superior to them.

I also think there's a little of this going on:



Any other thoughts?

[Tradewind]

I'm often sceptical, especially since "science media" has a terrible habit of jumping the gun or blowing every little thing out of proportion. Though not averse to change, I get more excited when I have said miracle thingy in my hands or I can go buy it.

Some people are just cocks though.

[adonty]

Maybe it's because every time you get hyped for something, it comes out and its dogshit

[Deleted]

cock reporting in

[Malachi256]

For at least some products, I do feel like people are more like programmed consumer zombies rather than responsible, rational adults. But hey, people in the western world are renowned for their ability to manage money well, right?

[Reeve]

Maybe it's because every time you get hyped for something, it comes out and its dogshit

So what? You have to ruin someone else's excitement? Have to make them justify why they're excited? Just let them be excited. If it turns out the new tech/product is no good, that's their business.

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For at least some products, I do feel like people are more like programmed consumer zombies rather than responsible, rational adults. But hey, people in the western world are renowned for their ability to manage money well, right?

But there. That's what I'm talking about. The idea that you're a free thinking person who understands these things but all those other consumers are just zombies strikes me as a seriously superior attitude. One that gains you nothing but smugness, but kills someone else's joy.

It's like this cartoon, only people are saying it aloud:

[Deleted]

So, Hipsters then?

[Malachi256]

But there. That's what I'm talking about. The idea that you're a free thinking person who understands these things but all those other consumers are just zombies strikes me as a seriously superior attitude. One that gains you nothing but smugness, but kills someone else's joy.

Racking up credit card debt and ignoring retirement savings just so you can have the latest gadgets is foolish. If people really can't come up with a better way of getting joy in their life, then yes, I'm going to look down on them.

edit: It's worth noting, I don't seek out putting these people down. I keep it to myself - I'm not part of the public backlash you mention in the OP. Nonetheless, I'm just offering you what goes on in my head occasionally.

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Coveting is what currently drives our economy. So this is not such a bad thing, as long as you are responsible.

People who are responsible can do whatever they want with their money. My issue is with the people who clearly aren't responsible.

[Samarin]

I don´t think that sort of behaviour is limited to said subject tbh. Some people are just assholes.

[Reeve]

Racking up credit card debt and ignoring retirement savings just so you can have the latest gadgets is foolish. If people really can't come up with a better way of getting joy in their life, then yes, I'm going to look down on them.

But you aren't looking down on people who rack up credit card debt here. You're looking down on someone for liking a product/service/technology/entertainment thing or whatever. You're (the people I'm referring to in the OP anyway) looking down on them as a class, not based on their individual circumstances, but because they like something.

[Samarin]

People who are responsible can do whatever they want with their money. My issue is with the people who clearly aren't responsible.

As long as it doesn´t affect me I see no reason getting a headache over it. Then again I´m not that savvy when it comes to economics.

[Malachi256]

As long as it doesn´t affect me I see no reason getting a headache over it. Then again I´m not that savvy when it comes to economics.

That's the foundation of my irritation. I know I'm paying for the irresponsibility of these people in many many indirect ways.

[Samarin]

That's the foundation of my irritation. I know I'm paying for the irresponsibility of these people in many many indirect ways.

Ok, am I wrong in assuming that you are referring to credit-institutes or such like increasing fees to cover for less responsible individuals ability to pay off their debts?

[Reeve]

I like to hear both the negative and positive reviews.

I don't mind hearing negative reviews. What I don't like is that there seem to be a group of people who search out things others get excited about, then go through a lengthy attack process where they work to show why people are stupid for liking it.

[Malachi256]

But you aren't looking down on people who rack up credit card debt here. You're looking down on someone for liking a product/service/technology/entertainment thing or whatever. You're (the people I'm referring to in the OP anyway) looking down on them as a class, not based on their individual circumstances, but because they like something.

I think early adopters are a vital part of an economy, as well as consumer tech progress.

At the same time, I already feel a generation gap with the smart-phoners. I have genuine crotchety-old-man-irritation when I see people glued to their smart phones out in the world. It just bothers me. I'm not saying it's rational, I'm not saying I haven't even spent more time in front of a screen in my life than them (heck, I was chatting on the internet when some of them were in diapers), but it just bugs me.

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I don't mind hearing negative reviews. What I don't like is that there seem to be a group of people who search out things others get excited about, then go through a lengthy attack process where they work to show why people are stupid for liking it.

That just sounds like haters / trolling to me, which is sad but everywhere.

[Kuntantee]

I often criticize consumerism and hardly avoid expressing how stupid mindless consumers are. Not sure if this is the "attack" you are referring to.

[Halyon]

Hype is fine when the subject deserves it.

Extreme hype over something that is good is annoying as fuck. And it makes me hate them.

[Revi]

I do it if people ask my opinion, but I wouldn't just shit on others excitement for the hell of it. If you make a thread asking what people think, or bring it up with me in real life, I'm going to be honest about what I think

[Sama-81]

I'm often sceptical, especially since "science media" has a terrible habit of jumping the gun or blowing every little thing out of proportion. Though not averse to change, I get more excited when I have said miracle thingy in my hands or I can go buy it.

Some people are just cocks though.

Couldn't agree more. Most articles about 'scientific breakthroughs' in normal media nowadays are so beyond overhyped (considering the scientific data its actually based on, and how the 'journalist' interprets that), that actually understanding the science done, means that you will almost automatically be seen as a downer by those that somehow buy the description and scenario given. However optimistic ones viewpoint actually is, if it is based in scientific reality, it simply can not compete with that. For my part, I think it's better to keep at least one leg in reality, but of course there is no reason to go bashing away just for the sake of it.

[Independent voter]

There are negative people out there. If you're excited about your idea they're more than happy to tell you how bad your idea is and how you'll fail.

It's wonderful to prove them wrong. They motivate me like nobody else can. lol