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Gilda · 07-12-2005, 08:51 PM

In the Calvin and Hobbes thread, someone made mention of the sticker that has Calvin peeing on a logo, such as a car company.

I've seen these, almost always on pickup trucks. I've also seen bumper stickers saying things like "I'd rather push my [brand] than drive a [rival]."

I haven't seen it here, but on other forums, I've seen people asking for Windows help openly insulted for not having Macs.

My mom collects Coke memorabilia, and used to actually take a little offense at the thought of me drinking a Pepsi.

On one comic book board I frequent, there are a minority of Marvel and DC fans who will go out of their way to defend everything X company makes, and insult everything the other makes.

I can understand brand loyalty on one level. If you've had good experience with, say Dodge pickup trucks, it makes sense to continue to buy them. If you like the taste of Coke better than Pepsi, by all means, that's a good reason to buy and drink Coke exclusively. The comic book company rivalry baffles me. Is Frank Miller a genius when writing Daredevil but a hack at Batman? If George Perez's Teen Titans were wonderful, how can his Avengers suck? The vast majority of talent has worked for both companies at some point. Following a favorite character makes sense, being loyal to a company doesn't.

If you have a tie to a company, you of course have vested interest in promoting your company's products and an incentive to find fault with your main rival. What I don't understand is why people go out of their way to insult brands/companies, and by extension, the people who patronize those brands/companies that are rivals to those that they happen to like.

Ford/Chevy/Dodge; Coke/Pepsi; Marvel/DC; Donna Karan/Ralph Lauren; Windows/Mac, etc. What is it about being a consumer of one brand that leads people to want to denigrate rival brands? Why are some people who choose brand A compelled to say that brand B sucks?

What's wrong with, as a consumer with no vested interest, saying, "I use product A because it better fits my needs/tastes/desires, but B is also good."

07-12-2005, 08:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	Extreme Brand loyalty. In the Calvin and Hobbes thread, someone made mention of the sticker that has Calvin peeing on a logo, such as a car company. I've seen these, almost always on pickup trucks. I've also seen bumper stickers saying things like "I'd rather push my [brand] than drive a [rival]." I haven't seen it here, but on other forums, I've seen people asking for Windows help openly insulted for not having Macs. My mom collects Coke memorabilia, and used to actually take a little offense at the thought of me drinking a Pepsi. On one comic book board I frequent, there are a minority of Marvel and DC fans who will go out of their way to defend everything X company makes, and insult everything the other makes. I can understand brand loyalty on one level. If you've had good experience with, say Dodge pickup trucks, it makes sense to continue to buy them. If you like the taste of Coke better than Pepsi, by all means, that's a good reason to buy and drink Coke exclusively. The comic book company rivalry baffles me. Is Frank Miller a genius when writing Daredevil but a hack at Batman? If George Perez's Teen Titans were wonderful, how can his Avengers suck? The vast majority of talent has worked for both companies at some point. Following a favorite character makes sense, being loyal to a company doesn't. If you have a tie to a company, you of course have vested interest in promoting your company's products and an incentive to find fault with your main rival. What I don't understand is why people go out of their way to insult brands/companies, and by extension, the people who patronize those brands/companies that are rivals to those that they happen to like. Ford/Chevy/Dodge; Coke/Pepsi; Marvel/DC; Donna Karan/Ralph Lauren; Windows/Mac, etc. What is it about being a consumer of one brand that leads people to want to denigrate rival brands? Why are some people who choose brand A compelled to say that brand B sucks? What's wrong with, as a consumer with no vested interest, saying, "I use product A because it better fits my needs/tastes/desires, but B is also good." __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert