You may have heard the term Stockholm Syndrome used in reference to hostages that form bizarre attachments to their captors. Analysts from Strand Consulting are using the same term to describe iPhone owners.
“Apple has launched a beautiful phone with a fantastic user interface that has had a number of technological shortcomings that many iPhone users have accepted and defended, despite those shortcomings resulting in limitations in iPhone users’ daily lives.”
“When we examine the iPhone users’ arguments defending the iPhone, it reminds us of the famous Stockholm Syndrome – a term that was invented by psychologists after a hostage drama in Stockholm. Here hostages reacted to the psychological pressure they were experiencing, by defending the people that had held them hostage for 6 days,”
Jesus Christ, it’s called being a fanboy you morons – and it happens with every major product, not just with the iPhone. Despite its shortcomings, the mere mention of Windows Mobile in a negative light produces the same wave of irrational fanboy rage, as does arguments between PCs vs Macs, Xbox vs PS3… hell, even Firefox vs Chrome. It’s not about defending products really, it’s about one-upmanship, insecurity and defending a nerdly pride. [9to5Mac Image via Joy of Tech]
boc
Monday, December 14, 2009 at 12:56 PMOr it could be Stockholm Syndrome or a variation of it.
They propose it could be and Sean strongly says that it is not.
“It’s not about defending products really, it’s about one-upmanship, insecurity and defending a nerdly pride.”
One-upmanship would only apply when compared to something else otherwise what would you be one-upping? So in the one sentence it’s not about defending the product – it’s about defending the product…
Fanboyism may be a term we all know and accept, but, I don’t see why fanboyism couldn’t necessarily fall into the same family of mental conditions as Stockholm Syndrome. It’s not like they’re saying it’s exactly the same.