Apple Fanboys

Apple Fanboys are the most annoying group of droids (pun intended) since Jonestown. They take any and every criticism of Apple and their dear leader, Kim Jong-il—eh em, Steve Jobs. Apple fanboys are rabid in their response to any and all criticisms of Apple products. It is utterly impossible for one of them to accept any fault in the business practices, much less the products marketed and designed by Apple (I won’t even get into the suicides at the manufacturing factory where the products are made).

First, Apple designs some great products that are visually appealing and enable the creatively inclined to bring wonders to life much more easily than a MS operating system ever has. With that said, everyone makes mistakes, just as Toyota. I have an IPhone 3G and it works well. I experience dropped calls in two areas on the same street each and every time I drive through there, but I know this is an issue with AT&T. I do not own an IPhone 4, but I’ve followed the issues with the antenna design. From the anecdotal responses by fanboys to these stories, one would believe these incidents are only isolated to four or five people even though Apple acknowledges otherwise.

I do not begrudge those who have chosen to purchase the IPhone 4 in spite of the apparent flaws with the antennae. It is a great product otherwise. I find it really sad and disappointing that Apple and its fanboys are unwilling to accept criticism and instead act like ungrateful adolescents. The truth is, it was insulting to tell customers they are holding the phone wrong; it was juvenile to later acknowledge problems only to point the finger at other smartphone makers; it is absolutely inane for fanboys to support Apple’s tacit stance of return the product for “more deserving” consumers—as one fanboy so eloquently commented on Forbes. This is an issue of operating a business with integrity which involves apologies when something—albeit beyond the control of the company—goes wrong. Apple has essentially said some people are too stupid and gullible to own or use its products. The company is right; its fanboys are too gullible to be critical and walk away if necessary from a product while perhaps not inferior by market standards, is inferior by the standards the company itself has set.

If I visit my favorite five star restaurant and during this visit receive sea bass that is less than perfection and even worse, over-cooked, I would be appalled if the owner responds to my concern with “I ate the fish wrong.” Further, such a response would make me wonder if the five star reputation is well earned. For fanboys to defend such uncouth behavior is disconcerting to say the least. It is setting the stage for Apple to become the next Microsoft—heaping inferior products onto the market simply because idiot consumers don’t know they hold the power in a capitalist economy.

Apple demonstrates American arrogance and hypocrisy--unwilling to be criticized because of prior triumphs in excellence and unfortunately taking on the persona of those whom they previously criticized and defeated for acts of tyranny. When Toyota was the center of media attention for alleged sticking accelerators, the company president was contrite and pledged to resolve the issue the issue following an investigation. It is apparently a cultural thing, and this is one culture that has no shame.

A smartphone that doesn’t work well as a phone isn’t very smart.

A Moment of Silence

This entire Shirley Sherrod snafu demonstrates live and in living color how true my grandfather’s words were: “The less you say, the less you have to take back.” Now this is applicable to all parties involved, but is most applicable to President Obama. If I could only get this man to close his mouth. I so tire of seeing his or Press Secretary Gibbs daily press conferences. I don’t need to see you to know that you are doing your job. Whatever happened to no comment? President Obama could certainly learn from his predecessor in answering only what he deems necessary and nothing else. By responding to any and everyone’s criticisms, he is rendering himself not only unlikeable, but also impotent.

For the three of you who may be unfamiliar with this situation, an edited You Tube video (that’s right, everyone knows how credible You Tube is) suggested that former USDA official, Shirley Sherrod, discriminated against a white farmer. Ms. Sherrod defended herself against the video and claims of pundit, Bill O’Reilly and it was later revealed, along with the rest of the video, that she was sharing an experience that taught her the value of integrity. Within the video going “viral” and the truth of the matter, Ms. Sherrod was forced to resign, allegedly at the request of the White House.

The irony in all of this is that Bill O’Reilly, who was the first person to publicly scold Ms. Sherrod and call for her termination, has remained relatively unscathed though he is just as culpable in this hoopla as is the president. Nevertheless, I find error in the fact that President Obama has even dignified any of this insanity with a response. Why he insists upon responding to attacks and fake outrage is beyond me. The nation remains as polarized as it was in 1996. Attempting to appease both sides only adds rocket fuel laced with hydrogen to the fire. Mr. President, please for the sake of all of us who simply want to keep it moving, be quiet.

King James The Abolitionist

Much has been said about Lebron James' decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. The media would like to make more of the way in which his decision was broadcast a much larger issue than it really is. Even the NBA commissioner David Stern has called Lebron James' "The Decision", "ill conceived."

I for one (of millions) find Jesse Jackson unnerving, opportunistic, and a supercilious, obnoxious, idiot; but am inclined, much to my surprise, to agree with him on Dan Gilbert's response to Lebron James' departure. This is, in fact, no different than Katie Couric leaving the Today Show or Meredith Viera leaving the View. However, in culture, in the understood relationship of athlete and team owner, it is very different. Lebron has usurped control from Dan Gilbert and David Stern. He has stepped forward as a man and stood for his freedom and Dan Gilbert responded like a slave master or perhaps a jilted lover. Hell hath no fury and the hunt knows no better hunter than a slave owner scorned.

Upon reading the initial response of David Stern, I was at first hopeful because he iterated that Mr. James had fulfilled his contractual obligations. As I continued to read, Stern also demonstrated slave master mentality or at the very least hypocrisy in saying that Mr. James' broadcast of "The Decision" was ill conceived. So in essence, he is saying that this man, making a manly decision and making some of the money, to donate to the Boys & Girls Club no less, that would have otherwise been retained by ESPN and the NBA solely, was ill conceived. What hypocrisy! Each year, David Stern, and the NBA broadcasts their decisions of whom to draft to what team. How is this any different? Other than it being the slave, eh em, player taking control of the situation and assuming the role of the NBA, there is none.

I applaud Mr. James, that is right, Mr. James for such a business minded and philanthropic move. It was courageous and very respectable. Other players are more content to be pawns and mockeries than to step forward as men. Mr. James decided he would no longer be just Lebron or the so-called "self-proclaimed king." He demonstrated that he has truly earned that name and commanded respect obviously not truly bestowed upon him by Dan Gilbert (a man who has made his fortune through sub-prime lending as owner of Quicken Loans). Get over yourself Dan Gilbert, there are still plenty of other slaves on your plantation and many more who would jump at the opportunity to be one of your slaves. Mr. James chooses greener pastures and perhaps he'll be allowed in the house this time.