Explain to me why people develop such strong connections to products and brands

[Brawndo]

The whole fanboy concept extents well beyond video games: just look at the Apple zealots, or the extensive forums and aftermarkets that exist for many makes of cars and motorcycles, Coke vs. Pepsi, or people who wear only particular brands of clothing.

Personally, I've always found this to be pretty pathetic. I have products I enjoy using and owning too, but I don't get into heated arguments and develop intense loyalties. I know that ultimately I am only valuable to these companies for my dollar, so it is foolish to fight over products with other consumers.

I have my own theories, but I want to hear other people's ideas and explanations.

 

[x0ny]

Sometimes people get a product, find it really reliable or it does the job well, and then stick with it. My examples: I prefer Nvidia to ATI, and I ONLY use Kikkoman soy sauce in cooking because I really like the taste and I know I'm getting a quality product because it's Japanese.

 

[Dogstile]

Because its done you a good turn, you like it, why not.

I will always buy an xbox over a playstation because i've had excellent service out of them. Therefore I will fanboy it up. Not to the extreme though, that's sad beyond all reasoning

 

[Gesellschaft]

Kikkoman is gdlk, I always throw that into my ramen with a tad of worcheshire. A brand is usually a safe attempt at getting a decent quality product of whatever, so it's the 'safe' option. It's like buying something from a convenience store, sure it costs more but its 'convenient' to get something either with ease or familiarity.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Advertising agencies go to alot of time and effort to develop that sort of brand loyalty. It's not surprising that they can get it right.

On the other hand, people will form factions and fight others over anything whatsoever.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

People like to feel confident in their purchasing decisions. They hate to think that they wasted money on something that isn't the best thing they could have bought. This means that if they think that what they bought is the best, then the things that everyone else bought that differs from their purchasing decision is worse, and therefore everyone but them is stupid. Since people usually like to point out their superiority to others, they have to point out how stupid everyone is for not buying X product, and then those people who also bought X product, end up agreeing. Thus fanboys are born. It's a pretty simple concept really.

 

[TerranReaper]

"Oh hey, this product is fairly reliable/good and I spent good money on it too, I really like this product/brand!"

"Oh? That guy is using a brand that I found to be inferior/stupid/crap and was overpriced? I NEED TO CORRECT HIM!"

Ok, maybe not with those words, but it's for different reasons. People often develop some kind of loyalty because they've had good experiences with said product/brand, therefore, whatever comes next from the people that made product, can be trusted to make another good product that they like.

 

[Twad]

Its.. rewarding? Give you a sense of identity? Wich leads to some sort of self-security?

When young maybe you really liked the thing and its (kinda) part of yourself (hence why its so important for corporations to hook kids to brand names early..)

Familiarity could work too, you know the thing inside out, you like it, the other stuff you dont know as well are somewhat mysterious and confusing, hence you dont like them as much and dont feel the need to defend them.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Usually because said product is suited to the person. For example, I wear a lot of Vans, DC, Quicksilver etc. clothes, because I like the designs and the connotations that those brands have.

Similarly, sane people prefer coke to pepsi because coke tastes nice, but pepsi tastes weird. Coke being the superior product, coke drinkers are well within their rights to treat pepsi drinkers like second-class citizens.

 

[Antari]

Side effects of marketting and branding themselves. In order for one product to appear better than the other. Either the competiting product must loose some appeal, or the new product must be seen as better in some way. Its just a continuance of the process...

 

[Daveman]

People love familiarity. Well... I probably should rephrase that as "familiarity is a big part of love" as what else is the shared experience that is a relationship.

edit: also, off-topic, I really wnt you, OP, to join the pub club just so you can set your motto to "The Thirst Mutilator".

 

[Chromanin]

"We're consumers. We are by-products of a lifestyle obsession. Murder, crime, poverty, these things don't concern me. What concerns me are celebrity magazines, television with 500 channels, some guy's name on my underwear. Rogaine, Viagra, Olestra."

 

[TeeBs]

I don't get it ether, but what does coke vs pepsi have to do with this.

Coke is just better. I will fight to the death this fact.

 

[RountreeUSMC]

The whole fanboy concept extents well beyond video games: just look at the Apple zealots, or the extensive forums and aftermarkets that exist for many makes of cars and motorcycles, Coke vs. Pepsi, or people who wear only particular brands of clothing.

Personally, I've always found this to be pretty pathetic. I have products I enjoy using and owning too, but I don't get into heated arguments and develop intense loyalties. I know that ultimately I am only valuable to these companies for my dollar, so it is foolish to fight over products with other consumers.

I have my own theories, but I want to hear other people's ideas and explanations.

I feel it has alot to do with operant condition and social/peer pressure. If you ever get a chance look up "Psychological Operations" (or PsyOps) and compare the techniques they use to win "hearts and minds" with what we are exposed to by advertising and the media.

 

[RountreeUSMC]

I don't get it ether, but what does coke vs pepsi have to do with this.

Coke is just better. I will fight to the death this fact.

Nah, Royal Crown (RC) Cola is the best!

 

[TeeBs]

I don't get it ether, but what does coke vs pepsi have to do with this.

Coke is just better. I will fight to the death this fact.

Nah, Royal Crown (RC) Cola is the best!

You got a death wish boy-o.

 

[Zaik]

Says the guy named Brawndo? lol >.>

Anyway, people becoming attached to inanimate objects is nothing new, and extremists aren't either. Though the people typically involved in fanboyism generally seem exceptionally dumb, they are apparently not below being able to form a compound idea from the two.

 

[UltraParanoia]

I wear whatever clothes I can buy cheapest. Wrangler jeans have proven to be the best for my price range, so I wear them. I prefer Chryslers and Shitsubishis because I've owned nothing but them and they've done everything I've ever asked with no issues. I prefer Sony to Xbox because my PS3 puts my shitty 360 to shame reliability wise.
Does this mean I wont buy other products if the opportunity presents itself? Hell no. Does this mean I'll get into pointless arguments with other folk about the obvious superiority of my preferred products? You bet!

Coke being the superior product, coke drinkers are well within their rights to treat pepsi drinkers like second-class citizens.

Incorrect. Coke is horrible, plus Pepsi makes Mt.Dew, so they automatically win.

"Olestra."

Hey, I'm concerned with Olestra. Specifically that it is in nothing that I eat.