From: Goodwin, Greg P. (GoodwinG_at_aafes.com)
Date: Wed Mar 30 2005 - 05:54:53 PST
Years ago at an Atari meeting in 1999, a reporter stopped in and
asked us why an Atari group was still going. He said "It's a religion".
I thought that was funny. We had our former club president who would
preach the Atari gospel and all that was going on in the world, new
advances of digital cameras and his Atari Falcon, and even the status on
the repair of his Hades Atari clone. =20
After the new president came in, we still talked about how great
and fun the Atari stuff was over the soulless windows platforms and the
windows bloatware.
In truth, Windows and the windows platform has made a great
"devil" for many user groups over there years I think. :D
It was all funny. I got swept up in it, and later realized how
I had done so. There was nothing really wrong with the windows stuff,
and many platforms offer about the same thing.
So my computer religious days are behind me actually. I use a
Newton because it is paid for, and it "fits the mission profile". =20
I reward loyalty of a good working computer with continuing to
use it. I will use something till it falls apart, and don't necessarily
need the newest thing out there.
BUT, should what I use fail, I am glad that strives are being
made to make better things out there, and one day, when what I am
currently using turns to dust from use, I will probably pick up one of
those great new gadgets. Maybe.
Greg Goodwin / Doc Clu
@><-- >------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: newtontalk-bounce_at_newtontalk.net
[mailto:newtontalk-bounce_at_newtontalk.net] On Behalf Of RossO
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 5:33 PM
To: NewtonTalk List
Subject: [NTLK] Cults and other fun topics
From: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-03/uocp-tco032905.php
The cult of consumerism
How consumers bind together to religiously worship a (sometimes=3D20
deceased) brand
Everything that is crucial to religion--shared values and beliefs,=3D20
community interactions, storytelling, and an acceptance of the=3D20
supernatural--can also be found in the worship by consumers of many=3D20
marginal brands to hit the marketplace, propose Albert Mu=3DF1iz, =
Jr.=3D20
(DePaul University) and Hope Jensen Schau (Temple University) in
their=3D20=3D
published in the March 2005 issue of the Journal of Consumer Research.
"Our findings reveal something about the nature of the types of
brands=3D20=3D
that foster brand communities. Clear examples of brand communities
have=3D20=3D
been found in cars (Bronco, Jeep, Saab, Volkswagen), computers=3D20
(Macintosh, Newton) and even science-fiction (Star Trek, Star Wars,=3D20
Xena: Warrior Princess, X-Files). All of these brand communities =
have=3D20
been demonstrated to be capable of producing transformative
experiences=3D20=3D
in their consumers and all have traces of magic, religion or the=3D20
supernatural," write the authors.
The researchers examined the intense relationship that certain =
groups=3D20
of consumers forge not only with a specific brand but also with =
each=3D20
other. As a result of this research, Mu=3DF1iz and Schau argue that =
the=3D20
true underlying principle of this behavior stems from "followers" of
a=3D20=3D
brand demonstrating cult-like worship--a consumer culture driven =
form=3D20
of modern religion. In particular, for this study they focused on =
the=3D20
now defunct brand, the Apple Newton.
"The consumers of the forsaken Apple Newton brand are now charged
with=3D20=3D
the responsibility for the entire brand-sustaining experience:=3D20
modifying, repairing, and innovating the product, writing brand=3D20
promotions and performing the brand experience," the authors =
explain.=3D20
"As part of this brand performance, they engage in
consumer-to-consumer=3D20=3D
narrative interactions that bind the community together and reify =
its=3D20
values and beliefs. Supernatural, religious, and magical motifs are=3D20
common in these stories, including the miraculous performance and=3D20
survival of the brand, as well as the return of the brand creator. =
We=3D20
see traditional religious stories, players, and parts played out in
the=3D20=3D
marketplace."
###
Religiosity in the Abandoned Apple Newton Brand Community. By ALBERT
M.=3D20=3D
MU=3DD1IZ, JR. and HOPE JENSEN SCHAU. =3DA9 2005 by JOURNAL OF =
CONSUMER=3D20
RESEARCH, Inc. - Vol. 31 - March 2005
...Ross...
--=3D20
Newton Owner since 1999: MP2000, Wi-Fi, OS X syncing, Avi's =
Backdrop,=3D20
MMC/SD-based storage via ATAdapter, occasional Web server.
Q: "What should I do with my life?" A: "Agitate. Agitate, Agitate." =
-=3D20
Frederick Douglass
--=20
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