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Gadget Lovers Are Jerks

According to an online survey, those who are first in line to buy the latest and greatest gadgets are not only assertive, but arrogant. If you go to just about any user forum on the the major tech blogs, you'll see firsthand how fanboys and haters alike prove the study true.

I recently wrote a review about an upcoming phone for my main job. The network operator that is introducing this phone has a lot riding on its success. It desperately needs a win.

In the review, I pointed out all of the new phone's positive aspects -- and faults -- as I experienced them over the course of a week's use. Once the review was posted, readers who work for and favor the network operator in question cried foul, and said the review was biased because it was less than favorable. The amount of venom, vitriol, and flat-out idiocy spewed in the forum discussions is quite amazing. What's clear is, this set of early adopters displays many of the characteristics found by Mindset Media to be true in its recent online survey ... especially arrogance.

According to Reuters, Sarah Welch, lead researcher at Internet ad network firm Mindset Media, said, "A lot of previous research points to wealthy young males as early adopters of technology. But this study tells us that there are characteristics beyond age and gender and income that are also extremely highly correlated with tech consumption." In Welch's most astute observation, she said, "Those who are really assertive are the types to grab life by the horn, so it also makes sense that when they see something they want or like they go straight for it ... There's an element of pride in being able to have the latest and greatest, not just in the realm of technology, but in all other areas."

That pride, assertiveness, and arrogance is all too clear when you visit the user forums and discussion boards of most major technology sites, InformationWeek included. While it's often beneficial and amusing to watch the arrogant duke it out, anger is quick to flame up. Anger appears to result in an IQ drop for most people, demonstrating just how right Mindset Media is.

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