People sleeping on line to buy a phone...

[WCGreen]

Let me say that again.

People sleeping, SLEEPING on line to buy a phone.

Lining up for up to two days, 48 hours that they could have been doing something productive.

I know, I know it's their choice to do as they wish.

Still, TWO FUCKING DAYS STANDING IN LINE TO GET A PHONE THAT ANYONE CAN BUY ANYWHERE STARTING TODAY.

Oh, isn't there an app for that....

And the media coverage does little to dissuade the narcissism that is on display or the lack of self worth that 'gee if only I was the first one in line to get that phone Molly would love me" feeling that comes from a deep sense of inadequacy.

Do what you want but to stand in line just to be first just feeds in the corporate tool that Apple and Steve Jobs have become.

Maybe Apple pays people to be all a twitter when the lines form.

I could see if there were only 2,000 or so made available.

Defining yourself by what you buy is really, well, there must be an ap for that...

[SunnySong]

1. It seems some days that the stupid people still have to much money. nt

[marylanddem]

2. consuming more toys

to fill up the emptiness inside...

[WCGreen]

3. that's all I can think of...

The economy of the US is really based on text messaging, cool aps and video phone so everyone can be a porn star...

[Oregone]

9. Which I find less fun than pills

But to each their own, ya know. We are all empty.

Im as bored without a joint as a nerd is without their iPhone

[WCGreen]

10. good point....

[Obamanaut]

4. On the plus side, it gives other people someone to ridicule, also 'on line'. nt

[xultar]

5. [phone]

[WCGreen]

7. Like I said, if there was a shortage it would at least make sense...

But just to be the first to get this phone when a year later they will be hyping the newest and best IPhone evah and the line will form again..

[emulatorloo]

20. If they are having fun, why do you give a shit?

I think "early adopters" are a bit nuts, but they are enjoying themselves, probably meeting people, hanging out talking.

[Oregone]

6. Well, they do that stuff to watch Harry Potter and Star Wars Episode 12.5

Now they can just download iPhone Cams of the movie on their new gadget and watch them at home.

[dkf]

11. Yeah the movie thing is more lame.

I don't get standing in line for black Friday either.

[Oregone]

13. I dont like lines for anything

Except maybe a Tijuana Donkey Show

[dkf]

8. They just want to tell a good story IMO.

[Oregone]

12. Ya man! Like one time, I stood in line in the rain for a nerdy electronic device. It was fuckn cool!

Initiation to the lifetime virgin club

[dkf]

14. Bet you everyone will know what they went through to get that thing.

I envy them the fact they have the time to do that.

[WCGreen]

16. Yep...

I stood in line to get a concert ticket because it is a finite event.

I can at least justify the time spent because of that.

But I never stood in line more than 4 hours for anything.

I have waited longer for medical procedures.

[snooper2]

15. Well, just look at it this way, it is "sort of" productive...

At the end they will be one of the first to get their phone so a goal will have been reached.


Compare it to the billions of people wasting minutes/hours each day- praying :rofl:

[WCGreen]

17. That's true....

God never seems to be home when they call him...

Maybe there's an ap for that...

[Oregone]

26. But the Cult of Apple demands consumption

Being productive makes it worse, environmentally speaking. A product is produced, which has a footprint on nature to create and keep running.

When you pray, God either doesn't give a shit, or doesn't exist to give you anything. Therefore, no tree needs to be chopped down to give you a fancy home, and no mountainside needs to be mined to give you that car you want. It just happens in a vacuum.

[emulatorloo]

31. And what does the Cult of Apple-Bashers demand?

Its just a phone, some want Apple, some want Droid. Or samsung or whatever. If people want an Iphone, let them get one. If people want a Samsung let them get one.

Personally I am too dumb for a smart phone.

BTW OS 4 is available for download for the older iPhones. That seems to have little environmental impact.

[Oregone]

32. Well, my post here only contributes to .003 g of carbon emissions

Im not too concerned...I just planted a marijuana offset today to balance it out.

I don't buy the alternatives either. Find one of those people to address that point.

[emulatorloo]

34. offsets are good! So congrats on that.

Oh yes I understand you are not the cel phone type, and for that I applaud you. I can't stand them either, partially for the environmental impact, partially for the social impact.

Was addressing the "Cult of Apple" issue, which you brought up. I don't know if that exists, but it is clear to me that there is a Cult of Apple-Bashers. I don't know how many gazillions of rabid threads I've seen on the issue. And I don't understand how it fits on DU.

To me it is obsessive behavior over something that just doesn't matter. If I prefer a craftsman drill over a black and decker drill, who the fuck cares. No body is going to rant on DU that I am part of the Cult of Sears.

[Oregone]

35. "I don't know if that exists"

2 days

In a line full of nerds

2 Fuckn days

Yes, there is a Cult of Apple

(though I used the term only in response to the religion angle, not to invoke anything else. I remember now people have coined the term to talk about Apple consumers)

[emulatorloo]

37. LOL - yeah you certainly have a point there. But think of it this way:

Probably this is the most face-to-face contact and fresh air they've had in a long time. Like the star wars and harry potter crowds.

If nothing else it makes me want to go to a DU meetup.

[emulatorloo]

18. I think they go for the social event. Like Rocky Horror Picture Show or the new Harry Potter

Personally I would just buy something online, or go buy the Harry Potter book the next day.

But if it is fun for them, why not?

"corporate tool that Apple and Steve Jobs have become"

Well Apple is a corporation. And they treat their employees very well, one of the first with gay partnership rights.

[WCGreen]

19. Not the way they treat their customers....

That is what I was referring to.

[emulatorloo]

21. They are always at the top or near top of JD Powers in customer satisfaction

[WCGreen]

23. that is probably because they have a cult like following..

[emulatorloo]

28. No it is because they have good customer service. BTW OS 4 is available for download for older iPhon

So older customers can easily upgrade to the new features if they want them.

[Contrary1]

22. Oh, oh..."iPhone 4’s first users report reception, color problems "

They may also be standing in line to return them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37899765/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

[emulatorloo]

29. There are stories like that after most every tech introduction.

If their iPhone is defective, they will get a new one.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. Interesting...

Maybe that explains the line we saw today...

A huge line outside the mall, snaking down the sidewalk, all these people waiting for god knows what...

Maybe it was for the iphone.

As far as I'm concerned, life is too damned short for such nonsense.

:shrug:

[blogslut]

25. Meh

They're probably having a hell of a party. I won't be buying an iPhone but if people want to spend a couple of day waiting for one, that's their business.

[hobbit709]

27. Nothing like being a F.A.D.

Fashion Addicted Dolt.
you gots to have it because it's the latest overpriced gizmo.

[Stuckinthebush]

30. Good for them

It sounds like they have a nice hobby. Some people waste time watching sports. Others waste it posting on message boards. So what?

[lpbk2713]

33. Back when it was freezing ...

some idiots stood in line at 4 am in sub freezing temps just to get The Quitter to sign a copy of her ghost written book.

Some people will fall for anything.

[Evasporque]

36. But waiting in line for Rolling Stones tickets is okay?

or waiting in line for AVATAR...?

Or for Harry Potter books?

Or <name the sport> playoff tickets....??

double standard whining.

[WCGreen]

38. Waiting in line for a finite event such as a concert is different

because there is a clear supply and demand issue.

Waiting on line for a movie or a phone that are both in abundent supply makes no sense what so ever.

And please tell me who died and made you the boss of the Whine Patroll...

whatever Dude.

[Mimosa]

39. Sickening example of consumerism

I guess some fools ARE what they own. But that's all they are. SAD, really sad.

[Stevenmarc]

40. Mmmm what line? The FedEx guy handed me mine this morning

[rbixby]

41. Shhh....don't gloat!

The fedex guy handed me mine yesterday, and I was kind of afraid to take it out in public because of all the 'ooohs' and 'aaahs'.....Its not really that big of a deal, I do like it though.

[Blue_Tires]

42. that's not new...

i still remember people sleeping in line to buy a PS2...they didn't sit for two days, though...

[musette_sf]

43. "on line"

I assume you grew up in the Northeast?

[Urban Prairie]

44. It must be something to show off to their iphone4-less friends

With about one day of bragging rights....:shrug:

Reminds me of waaay back when (late 60s) one of my neighborhood friends got a brand new purple Schwinn 5 speed Stingray bicycle for Xmas and had to show it off to me in his parents basement.

Unfortunately for him, we lived in Detroit, which had real cold and snowy winters, so he had to wait until springtime to ride it, and of course by then the "excitement" factor had worn off for him.

I had also purchased a used 10 speed bicycle that spring, with my savings from shoveling snow for our neighbors all winter, at a police auction that my father took me to. My buddy and I were both tall for our age (13) both of us being around 6', so I felt much more comfortable riding the 26" Schwinn 10 speed than he did with the smaller-framed Stingray.