Letters to the Editor
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Wonderful
Yet another column my Mr. Manjoo where he manages to completely insult the very people he depends on to keep his column alive. Way to go. I don't know what sort of school you went to (that is, if you went to school), but I'd ask for my money back if I were you.
In all of your wisdom, you may think that the mere act of standing in line in order to buy a product "suggests an obsessive and soulless devotion to commerce and materiality", but you are completely missing whats underneath the surface. Sure standing back in your cubicle, watching people stand in line via the Internet, it could look like soulless devotion to commerce and materiality. But a lot of those people have other reasons for being in that line. Some are there for the experience. Some are there because they would like to spend the money that they earn on something fun. So they don't want to wait a couple weeks in order to get one, so what? That makes them soulless pukes who are the "worst kind of losers"?
And you will be enveloped by these losers come Friday. You say its because of your "job", but we all know thats a lie. You would be there otherwise.
Here's to hoping the soulless loser in front of you gets the last iPhone.
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How very nice
I knew you were an elitist, Farhad, but it seems you're incurably rude as well. So people who wait in line for things are obssessed with materialism? Has it occured to you that one of the main reasons people do that is for the company?
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What is up with the letters system over there?
This is the second time today that it's cut off part of one of my posts. Here's all of what I posted:
I knew you were an elitist, Farhad, but it seems you're incurably rude as well. So people who wait in line for things are obssessed with materialism? Has it occured to you that one of the main reasons people do that is for the company? That people might actually want to spend time with others - talking, laughing, playing games, you know, socializing?
No, I expect you don't. A so-sophisticated city dweller like you just wouldn't have time for something so childish. That is, when you're not holed up in your office playing with your geeky toys.
Gods, what a jerk.
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How long?
How long, really, before Apple makes the iPhone available on other carriers? I know they're really good at keeping the system closed and limited, but there's no way I'm thinking twice about the phone as long as it requires me to sign up with Cingular/AT&T.
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stand in a virtual line for a virtual iphone!
on facebook, of course:
http://apps.facebook.com/iphone_sfn/
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(/) ATT!
First off, I am so NOT a techie. While mildly intrigued by the consolidation and ease of use as reported by some early reviewers of the I-Phone, I will wait, and not join in the retail campouts that are occurring even here in the hinterlands of Sacramento. Why? Because early models of anything -- especially high tech products -- are rushed to market before they are thoroughly debugged. Plus, if ATT/Cingular is the only available carrier, I'll wait it out until others carriers hook up. ATT keeps swallowing up as many complimentary companies (i.e. Cingular, DISH satellite network) it can, making it an monopolistic octopus of a service provider.
In other words, ATT is Satan, and I'm avoiding it, as I try to avoid most evil things.
--Stacy Selmants
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Irony
I don't know, Manjoo's irony in this article seems intentional. If not, then he's earned the scorn he's receiving.
I do think, however, there is something tragic in the story that doesn't speak so much to the cool factor of those who stand online for consumer goods, but to the utter lack of gathering places in our culture that don't revolve around consumer goods or alchohol consumption.
People go where other people gather, as Seria1 said. The fact that, in America, community has become inextricably linked to the release of new gadgets is very very sad indeed.
It would seem we're community starved.
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Agreemsg but...
Although, more politely, I'd liken the lines for the iPhone more akin to the lines of Apple fans who await the opening of a new Apple Store: it is about sharing your enthusiasm with others of the "Cult." It is AN EVENT. While I'm sure there will be a share of those craving the latest tech (ala PS3) or those hoping to scalp the iPhone on eBay (also ala PS3), I {expect | hope} most are there to be part of the camaraderie.
I, myself, have to work and have offered money for one of my nephews to stand in line for me... :-)
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My line-waiting strategy...
if I had the time to do this, that is.
Back when some overly shilled toy came out (Playstation 2, XBOX, I don't really remember...) my mom was working at Walmart. She told me that people were lined up outside the day before. One smart guy was in line early, but not to buy the toy. He sold his PLACE IN LINE to another line-waiter for a reported $300. Now THAT'S a good deal.