http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/07/28/new-religion-apple-say-academics/
For Apple Followers, It's a Matter of Faith, Academics Say
By John R. Quain
Published July 28, 2010
FoxNews.com
Its tablet computer can't play most of the videos on the Web ... its cell phone has trouble making voice calls ... and yet its products are wildly popular, selling millions worldwide and engendering a cultish devotion among followers.
Apple is the new religion, say several academics. It's not a matter of rationality, it's a matter of faith.
In a research paper published this month by two professors at Texas A&M University, the authors argue that the only way to understand the slavish adoration and over-the top financial success of Apple and its "Jesus Phone" (the iPhone) is to understand its minimalist, white-walled stores as the new churches of the tech generation.
"The religious-like behavior and language surrounding Apple devotion/fandom is an example of 'implicit religion,'" Prof. Heidi Campbell, one of the authors of the study, told FoxNews.com. Implicit religion can happen when the use of, say, technology becomes a substitute for belief and behaviors once attached to religion and religious practice, she said.
That, according to the authors, explains why fans still believe when the leader of the Church of Apple, Steve Jobs, blames consumers for the poor reception of the company's cell phone (clearly, users are holding their phones incorrectly). In fact, they flock to buy the device despite its serious design flaws.
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General forum, Thread 132489, p. 3:
(picturing Palynka in front of his little iShrine (tm) burning iIncense (tm) in his iIncenseBurner (tm) to his iPad (tm) and iPhone (tm) in their iDocks (tm) )
Originally posted by KazetNagorraeven tech journalists who are competent technically have to target their articles to the average person who, compared to yourself, is probably decidedly non-technical.
Well, it is a Fox News article. I suppose a tractor is hi-tech to most Fox News viewers.
that could be why tech articles sometimes seem so stupid.
Originally posted by yarborgGood luck running that farm without subsidies taken from California taxes. We, on the other hand, have an extensive network of professional farmers. You know, the "Indians" so many people think are "foreign" to America?
i dont listen to fox,iphone users cant operate tractor and when food shortages come eat your tech.
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperI think it's mostly that Apple users tend to be smug about buying inferior products at higher prices, which is a pretty obnoxious type of smugness.
Why is it ever since Apple became the big dog people are wanting to grab their torches and pitch forks and storm the place?
I bought in at $135.
Thanks, Jobs.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraWhen I worked as the creative director at an ad agency in Australia in the early 2000s, Macs were de rigueur and ubiquitous, not only in the advertising business, but also in graphic design type stuff and pretty much all desktop publishing.
I think it's mostly that Apple users tend to be smug about buying inferior products at higher prices, which is a pretty obnoxious type of smugness.
Originally posted by zeeblebotI have no love for Apple and I never owned any iPod or Mac or whatever. I don't attach any sentiment to brands, that's just silly.
General forum, Thread 132489, p. 3:
(picturing Palynka in front of his little iShrine (tm) burning iIncense (tm) in his iIncenseBurner (tm) to his iPad (tm) and iPhone (tm) in their iDocks (tm) )
However, the iPad interface is simply outstanding and super comfortable for most non-work related surfing (news, RHP, Facebook, emails, etc.).
Did you ever try one? In your home, sitting in your sofa and picking it up from your coffee table?
It's also mildly amusing how some people liking one product or brand irritates so many. Who exactly is the shallow one? LOL!