In some ways, he sure was.

Exactly!

To clarify, a douchebag with mouse ears.

And Apple products aren't all that. I see plenty of news about Apple product this has problems, Apple product that has problems. I've had to reset my iPod to factory defaults a number of times because of it freezing up. Bill's copy of iTunes is corrupted, and we can't update it or even unistall it. Their customer service is a joke. On the other hand, my HP desktop with Windows 7 runs like a dream. I just have never understood the cultish loyalty to Apple.

Just so I understand, JW

1) Steve Jobs is a douchebag
2) Apple is a bad company and its fans are wrong for being loyal
3) People shouldn't take it personally when you attack the thing they like and in the same gesture basically refer to them as sheep

I completely understand.

I don't have a problem with people who like Apple stuff. I like Apple stuff and I wish I could afford a Mac laptop so I could cut things on it with FinalCut.

But I have a problem when a people tell me, "You should buy ____" or "You should only buy _____" or "Everybody should have a _____". Like I've gotten lectured about how I should drive a Prius. "It's the right thing to do." That kinda bugs me. And, yes, it definitely depends on who is saying it to me. Strangers, acquaintances, commercials = I totally ignore. Family (some of them) and friends = I will listen to the suggestion. Whenever I see someone all high and mighty talking about their Prius or their Escalade, I just want to tell them both to shove their vehicles up their asses.

I will use myself as an example. I like the Dave Matthews Band, maybe you've heard. But I don't find it necessary to see them 20 times a year, buy all of their merchandise, all of their live CDs, etc. Daveheads bragging about the fact that they've seen him 80 times overloads my circuits.

I don't know if that makes any sense but that's what I think. I also give the cold shoulder (maybe only at first) to something/someone who is wildly popular. Justin Bieber (holy crap, give me a break) fans can be annoying at times but I actually like one of his songs.

And as far as doucheyness goes, I find Bill Gates to be a douche but not Steve Jobs. Maybe because I get so annoyed with Windows at times.

I never said that.

Again, I did not say that. Apple is not a bad company, but neither is it the great shining paragon of technology some people make it out to be.

Also, there is nothing wrong with being a loyal customer. But worshiping a particular brand like a cult, and defending it religiously, is beyond being a fan.

Who's attacking Apple? Not me. Apple makes good products - popular products. See my response to #2 above. Yes, I did point out that they do have problems (just like any other company), but that's hardly attacking them.

I was poking fun at those people who worship Apple and everything it makes. Obviously I hit a nerve. Sorry I poked your sacred cow. But if you took it personal, that's something you need to deal with and figure out why.

Obviously you don't.

Say what you want, JW, but when you enter into a conversation thusly:

And then say "Who's attacking Apple? Not me. Apple makes good products - popular products," after you just said

,

I'd consider your point-by-point response to my defensive answer to be a little duplicitous or at least, to borrow a couple of popular words, "bullying" and "douche-y".

And believe me, I do understand.

You're way over-reacting, I'd say. If he's attacking anything directly with those words, it is a certain type of Apple-product groupie.

And if saying that Apple products aren't perfect and the end-all-be-all is the same as attacking Apple then that's a low bar and definitely one that even casual Apple afficianados have engaged in with much enthusiasm.

And Microsoft may be a douchier company than Apple, but I'm hard pressed to imagine the argument that Bill Gates is a douchier person (over say the last 15 yeass) than Steve Jobs. At least on the level where any of us know either of them. That's not to say Steve Jobs is a horrible person, just that Bill Gates seems to be a pretty good one.

You're absolutely right, Alex. I've had a rough week, and I'm certainly overreacting to JWBear's comments.

I apologize for contributing to bringing the conversation to a silly level.

But still, JWBear is being kind of a douche.