Why so much negativity

[Bytor65]

How are you getting the pulse of the whole media??

I have observed mostly neutral coverage in general media.

But I have seen a lot of link posting of negative stories in net forums, so that may be giving you a one sided view.

For Instance. I bring up Google news. Type in iPad. Stories are mainly neutral. Most seem to be about various companies bringing apps to the iPad. That certainly isn't negative.

Certainly negative stories do exist, but I don't think they dominate, but you may be relying too much on forums that aggregate those negative stories.

 

[samcraig]

If the poster is talking about PEOPLE vs. the MEDIA (which one we are discussing seems to drift back and forth in this thread), then yes, jealousy is a legit human motivation for negativity. It may 'seem' immature to call it out, but pretending it isn't a factor isn't particularly productive either.

Perhaps a select few might be. But really. Does the OP of the statement I was referencing really think that the negativity is coming from someone who owns a netbook and is jealous? Or an HP employee? Or Kindle owners?

That's a very large generalization that, to me - sounds ridiculous.

And these boards have enough hyperbole, poor semantics and other such "abuses" of grammar and logic.

 

[dagomike]

And that's different than what happens here, how exactly?

And conversely - those that don't have one in hand but claim its a jesus device - does that make them feel and look smart (in the snarky way it seems you're implying)?

Since the iPad is a subject of conversation - there's going to be a plethora of articles, editorials, posts, etc - positive, negative, neutral, etc. That's the way it is. If you want shiny happy news - don't click on stories/read threads/etc that are negative. Or if you're worried you might click on one by accident - then don't read at all. When I don't want anything spoiled for me in regards to a movie - I avoid threads/stories about the movie. This is no different.

Here it's much worse. The members of the media has a boss telling them they need to produce content to fill columns, minutes, and pages. Here, people can go out and feed the ducks. The media is feeding a vacuum, and on message boards those who aren't trying to be collaborative and helpful are just feeding their ego.

It's one thing to look at a product and say I think this will work well for me and here why, and it's other to say I have no interest in a product and you're an idiot for wanting it.

Thanks for asking.

 

[gwynne]

Perhaps a select few might be. But really. Does the OP of the statement I was referencing really think that the negativity is coming from someone who owns a netbook and is jealous? Or an HP employee? Or Kindle owners?

That's a very large generalization that, to me - sounds ridiculous.

And these boards have enough hyperbole, poor semantics and other such "abuses" of grammar and logic.

I'm not sure there's much point in getting into meta-criticism of the forum quality if you're still here reading and posting.

I won't get into a blow-by-blow other than to say, having been on both sides of the fence, that yes, I believe people who have recently made an investment in a different device (such as a kindle) may be motivated by jealousy and not even consciously realize it. In their heads they are on "Team Kindle" or whatever. They want to see the other team fail so they can feel justified in their purchase, and not feel like they made a mistake. I try like hell to operate at a higher level of self-awareness than that but I don't always succeed, therefore I'm comfortable assuming other people also fail occasionally.

But this is pretty abstract--if you don't believe that humans operate that way, it's not like I'm going to go dig up psychology dissertations to try to change your mind.

 

[vini-vidi-vici]

simple - follow the money

It's easy to be a critic, and manufacturing some kind of controversy/argument drives traffic... which means money for whoever writes such criticisms.

One person writes an article about how great the iPad is, and it comes across looking like a marketing piece by Apple... and few people bother to read it.

Another person writes an article about 7 reasons you don't want to get an iPad, and everyone looks at it.

 

[Trek2100]

these people are jealous of the iPad:

3) Google, Amazon, Acer, HP, Dell, Adobe, MS, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Sony, etc. employees.

I wonder how many of them pre-ordered the iPad. Thats a joke folks.

However, I am amazed at the number of people who believe whatever the media says without giving any research or personal thought to anything. If the media says it then it must be factual and true.

This morning one of my friends said the iPad will fail. This is someone who owns nothing from Apple except perhaps an iPod. This assumption was solely based on what was heard in the media, not on specs, capabilities, not anything. I know I shouldn't be, but I was amazed anyway. How sad.

 

[DaveSW]

Yes. That's it. It's clearly people that are jealous. How old are you? Do you have ANY business acumen whatsoever?

uh oh i think someone needs a hug

 

[DaveSW]

If the poster is talking about PEOPLE vs. the MEDIA (which one we are discussing seems to drift back and forth in this thread), then yes, jealousy is a legit human motivation for negativity. It may 'seem' immature to call it out, but pretending it isn't a factor isn't particularly productive either.

exactly. "most" of these negative remarks are just immature diatribes fueled by jealousy.

 

[dagomike]

It's easy to be a critic, and manufacturing some kind of controversy/argument drives traffic... which means money for whoever writes such criticisms.

One person writes an article about how great the iPad is, and it comes across looking like a marketing piece by Apple... and few people bother to read it.

Another person writes an article about 7 reasons you don't want to get an iPad, and everyone looks at it.

Being negative on something lends to instant credibility. That's true, but that doesn't always matter. Honestly I read the negative reviews of something more than the positive. I can get all the positive I can handle from the marketing department. If someone hates something they're not going to gloss over anything, and then I can decide if their thinking matters to me.

 

[samcraig]

I'm not sure there's much point in getting into meta-criticism of the forum quality if you're still here reading and posting.

But this is pretty abstract--if you don't believe that humans operate that way, it's not like I'm going to go dig up psychology dissertations to try to change your mind.

Another thing about forums and assumptions - you have no idea who I am or what I do. So a comment about psychology and its implications could be silly if I'm a psychologist. Or perhaps a Business Psychologist whose area of expertise is consumer behavior. Or perhaps not. Point is - you don't know.

I wouldn't discount that some people might react that way. But again, the poster wanted to throw that label on pretty much anyone who was not posting/printing favorably about the iPad. That is irresponsible for a journalist, less so for a board poster. But to not call it out either way is also irresponsible as it furthers the "stereotype."

For every person (maybe more maybe less) that might dig into another product to make themselves feel better about their purchase, there's someone like me who doesn't give an iota what someone else owns. Whether I own a Kindle, PC, Mac, iPhone, netbook, or whatever has no influence whatsoever on whether or not my posts are negative or positive.

And many times people on this board jump to the conclusion you're a "hater" or being negative just because you aren't saying how excited you are. As if being neutral or weighing the pros AND cons is automatically DEEMED negative.

People want to label others "haters" or "fanbois" because it seems it's easier for some to think in terms of black and white (and in hyperbole) rather than accept the fact that people have various levels of interest or opinions and that doesn't mean they fall into either category.

But I digress.

 

[samcraig]

It's easy to be a critic, and manufacturing some kind of controversy/argument drives traffic... which means money for whoever writes such criticisms.

One person writes an article about how great the iPad is, and it comes across looking like a marketing piece by Apple... and few people bother to read it.

Another person writes an article about 7 reasons you don't want to get an iPad, and everyone looks at it.

Everyone? or rabid forum readers who want to tear the author a new one?

In regards to the general population - do you really know what the stats are per article? We can only assume...

 

[dagomike]

Another thing about forums and assumptions -
And many times people on this board jump to the conclusion you're a "hater" or being negative just because you aren't saying how excited you are. As if being neutral or weighing the pros AND cons is automatically DEEMED negative.

I've seen a lot of weighing pros and cons on here. It's all comes down to how you go about it. That's the difference between being down on a product and being a hater... well and deciding you don't want a product but still posting constantly about it in the designated subform.

 

[samcraig]

I've seen a lot of weighing pros and cons on here. It's all comes down to how you go about it. That's the difference between being down on a product and being a hater... well and deciding you don't want a product but still posting constantly about it in the designated subform.

Is that your passive-aggresive way of insinuating I'm a hater? Because you can feel free to point me to posts where I say the iPad is going to fail. That the iPad is a disaster and that no one should buy one. I've done nothing of the sort except express my opinion based on my requirements/usage and have welcomed other opinions regardless of whether or not they are agree. Funny though because I can't say the same as to those that respond back. No matter.

 

[gwynne]

Another thing about forums and assumptions - you have no idea who I am or what I do. So a comment about psychology and its implications could be silly if I'm a psychologist. Or perhaps a Business Psychologist whose area of expertise is consumer behavior. Or perhaps not. Point is - you don't know.

I have no idea what you're even referring to at this point, so I'm going to leave you alone with your straw man.

 

[dagomike]

Is that your passive-aggresive way of insinuating I'm a hater? Because you can feel free to point me to posts where I say the iPad is going to fail. That the iPad is a disaster and that no one should buy one. I've done nothing of the sort except express my opinion based on my requirements/usage and have welcomed other opinions regardless of whether or not they are agree. Funny though because I can't say the same as to those that respond back. No matter.

Dude, I have no idea who you are and I'm not keeping score. I just stated my observation between the people who may be hating on the iPad and just generally disinterested in the product.

 

[samcraig]

I have no idea what you're even referring to at this point, so I'm going to leave you alone with your straw man.

Do you know how a straw man argument is created? It would appear not.

As for relevancy of my comment - it was in relation to your "But this is pretty abstract--if you don't believe that humans operate that way, it's not like I'm going to go dig up psychology dissertations to try to change your mind."

As if trying to assert knowledge or expertise/superiority in the area of psychology.


Straw man. LOL - people use terms they don't understand or use simple labels to be "cute." It's often to the err of the poster.

 

[ugp]

People are closed minded and love to use Fanboy names for Apple products.

I will judge the device once it is in my hands on the 3rd.