But you love the backstreetboys too right?

I don’t care for the company (to me that’s the downfall of a lot of zealots) but rather the “tool” that they produce - that’s what I’m far more likely to talk about.

Here are my full thoughts on the broader subject: Colin Devroe asked, “Are you a fanboy?”.

Zach: Although you are speaking about a very specific case here - your point is well taken and was actually stated by Oyvind, Jon, and Shane already - just not in such specific terms.

While I somewhat agree with you Colin. I love Mac’s, yet unlike a fair amount of Mac users that I meet, I can tell that there are problems and I won’t be “I love Macs, they’re so leet, nothing ever goes wrong with them, EVER’. I see this so much. Hell, I’ve even done it.

If Mac’s could play games like PC’s did, and could be upgraded like PC’s can, for the same price. I’d go ALL Mac. But the thing is, they can’t. I’m not upset that I have to use a PC, even when a lot of zealots look down their nose for owning a PC.

I want an iPhone, but it has MANY problems. First off the biggy, at&t uses EDGE, which at best is at the bottom end of 3G broadband phones. Even worse it relies on not many users being in the area, the ratio of quality is dependant on the amount of users in the area. Poor Silicon Valley ei.

Brand loyalty is not a bad thing. I go for HP printers, every time for example. I noticed you spoke up about the Apple keynote, but a lot didn’t.

The problem is, Apple are a great company but not flawless as so many think. Read this: http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

That’s what gets to me the most, Fanboys usually take a position with their company, and more often than not, would defend them on any situation, where they’d usually insult another company for doing the same thing as theirs did.

I think it’s cool if someone is really into something, it’s awesome when I’m excited about something so when someone else is happy about XYZ that’s great for that person and should be enjoyed.

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this comment and I look forward to your post.

I think this is a great topic that is really about human nature and the society we live in. I’m going to write more about it on our company blog and link back here later today. But for now, here’s a summary.

1) Idea of Scarcity. This is the idea that there’s not enough of something to go around. So if you have it, that means I can’t have it or I can’t have as much of it as you do. The idea of scarcity can lead to resentment.

2) Group Mind. This relates to a feeling of being powerless which can also lead to resentment. If all your friends are really excited about and love something, and you don’t, then surely your opinion counts less than theirs and and perhaps there is something wrong with you. Almost everyone I know loves “Lost” but I don’t get it. My opinions on “Lost” must therefore be less important than everyone else’s.

3) Making Comparisons. I have a car and you have a car. Different Makes and Models but similar list of features. They both get us where we want/need to go. But, MAN you love your car. You’re excited to tell anyone that will listen how much you love my car and why. Hmmmm…. My car is similar but I sure don’t love it as much as you seem to love yours. Perhaps I made a mistake buying my car? Why am I not as excited about my car as you are about yours? These aren’t the questions I ask out loud. Instead, I exhibit self-doubt, confusion, and most overtly, resentment about your enthusiastic excitement about your car.

I’m out of time. I’ll go into detail later today and post a link back here.

The issue of disliking fanboys, or anyone enthusiastic about what they’re doing, is usually about our own self-doubt, our own resentment, or our making up stories about scarcity and comparisons.

Oyvind: Very well said, and I completely agree.

Jon Christopher: Good advice. I’ve found good information in the oddest of places - so never discount the fanboy for having good ideas now and then!

Thanks for your comments so far.

What is a bit annoying, is people who want you to adopt their view. And if you don’t they, oversell it. Some people who - everytime they find something new and cool - try to make their friends like it just a s much as them. For any price.

Enthusiatic good. Car salesman bad.