BlackBolt's Journal: Rabid Pro-Apple Moderation

Reading this story, I noticed the massive flood of pro-Apple sentiment. For an article where the AMD64-bit chips competed against the IBM G5 chips, and supposedly won, I noticed a strange phenomenon. NOBODY WANTS TO BELIEVE IT. Many of the arguments are sour grapes, whining, not logical, or just stupid, but they get modded up anyway, because we WANT them to be right. Why is that? Part of my job is to see things for what they really are; if my vision is clouded by zealotry I lose money. It's obvious that much of Slashdot aren't looking for the truth, they're only out to defend their team without regard for the facts.

Out of 875 posts, only 39 Posts were moderated to 3 or higher:

19 were very pro-Apple or anti-AMD
02 were neutral in tone but were ontopic
06 defended the AMD and the test results
12 were offtopic or funny

Out of 875 posts, there were only 6 defending the AMD position that were worth a 3 or higher. Doubtful.

*Almost everything* that was modded up supported Apple.

I like Apple as much as is humanly possible, but I haven't lost sight of the fact that

Apple is an EVIL MULTINATIONAL who have screwed LOTS of people over (users, developers, third-party vendors, supplier channel, etc.) I've got the links saved, and there are HUNDREDS of outrages they've committed which we've all forgotten. MS commits just as many, but we hold a grudge against them for eternity (that includes me, btw).

Despite their coolness, I don't think the G5's ARE as fast as the AMDs. From what I've seen, the Apples are still short of what they could be. I remember Apple putting faster RAM in their PowerBooks with bus speeds that can't support it. Then they speed up the bus but ditch cache. Then they fix the cache somewhat but ship with 4200RPM harddrives. Apple always wants to give you *just* the amount of computer they can get away with selling you, and nothing more. As you're handing over the cash for your TiBook, they're already planning for your upgrade to an AluBook. That's good business, but it doesn't make for any speed records.

Apple ARE great innovators. They succeed by forcing new standards on their users, and once they've created demand, the more staid PC world hops on board without taking any risk.

Apple ARE more concerned with image than reality. One of the poor pathetic ACs posted something to this effect, and was moderated down immediately. But he's right. They have an air of professionalism and quality in their literature and materials that is greater even than the quality of their hard-and-software. And they make great quality stuff. I just don't think they are the greatest in EVERY category, which so many are prone to think nowadays.

I still remember when "megahertz didn't matter". Now that it's a selling point for Apple, it sure as hell matters to the Slashbots, who will defend the speed on a G5 that 90% of them have never seen in "real life" to the point of rage.

I still prefer the Mac package to the Wintel offerings, because of the integration. But if you've used an Apple, you know they're not perfect. And even with these 2 Ghz chips from IBM, they're not THAT much ahead of the AMDs of the world, if they're ahead at all.

I just hate zealots. I'm a reformed one myself. I guess I got tired of comparing penis size on Slashdot with the other teenagers and slackers.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Excellent points.

[BlackBolt]

Yeah, everything on Slashdot is mostly irrelevant. There's more stupid anger and wasted energy here than anywhere else in the world, I think. I've done a lot of screaming myself in my younger days, but it's getting ridiculous as the uninformed uncaring masses swarm into Slashdot. I don't see anybody lying, sugarcoating numbers, and insulting the intelligence of other people when their toaster's specs are brought into question. It's a FREAKIN' TOASTER! Does it make toast or what?

I hope Apple *and* AMD do we

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

You hit it on the head

[giverson]

(See, someone reads your journal)

Make a post saying that PCs are better in a specific respect than macs(no matter what it is) and you will get a flood of responses telling you how superior the mac is. These people don't want to believe that a wintel machine is better in any way, shape or form.

Incidently, try saying something positive about the US and you'll get a flood of responses telling you it's not true. If you say something negative about another country, the responses will be telling you how much

Re:You hit it on the head

[BlackBolt]

I not only added you to my friends list, I saved a copy of your journal entry for permanent archiving. Good stuff, you should write some more!

btw, YOU hit it on the head FIRST!

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:You hit it on the head

[n0wak]

Exactly. Kind of like posting something as historic as a manned space flight by China. 95% of the comments to that are an embarassment for Slashdot (well, one of many.)

Re:You hit it on the head

[aardvarkjoe]

On the same note, I had to read an article for one of my classes today, about adolescent development. One sentence caught my eye:

"Adolescents often respond in an immature manner to the realization that the perspectives of others are different from their own."

The very first thing I thought of was how that exactly describes posters on Slashdot, as well.