rocketpig said:
That analogy only works on a base level. More often than not, sports loyalties lay on a regional basis and much of sports fanaticism comes from a "my suburb/city/state/country is better than yours", not a "company a is better than company b, even though we can both buy the exact same product anywhere". There's a certain pride that comes from seeing your home team do well because, in many cases, they are a representation of the city and the people within. The same thing doesn't apply to products or companies because they're universal and have no ties to a region or city (well, other than their corporate base but that's such a small part that it doesn't apply). I just don't get brand fanaticism, that's all. Will I buy products because the company usually produces high quality pieces, such as Apple? Yes, but that's based on my experiences with the company and the second they stop producing quality products that I want, I'll stop buying their crap. I'm as loyal to a company as they are to me; in other words, I buy stuff that works well and has features I desire and the second the company stops providing those services to me, I stop providing them with my money. |
I think it works on more levels than you give it credit for. It hast the same schoolboyish competition and growing up with a group you follow flair that console fanaticism has. Do you honestly think it's so much about the city you're living in? Does a Red Sox fan become a Yankees fan if he moves to New York? Absolutely not. And what about the people living in the middle of Connecticut? Chances are that, much like video gamers and voters, their preference comes from what they grew up with rather than a deliberate, rational choice on their part.
