WHY? (canon, nikon, mac, windows...the list goes on)

[Permagrin]

Why are there continual debates over Canon vs. Nikon? Or Apple/Mac vs. PC? Or L vs. anything else?

[In2Photos]

Because we feel the need to justify our decisions. ;) And we are bored. :lol:

[steved110]

Because we all need to be continually reassured about the wisdom of the choices we have made - often at the expense of someone else's comfort.

And nothing is more reassuring than having all 101 000 (approx) POTN members urging us to go buy the stuff....sheesh, all I wanted was a camera!

[Permagrin]

LOL...those are both very valid (and honest :lol: ) answers! Thanks!

[steved110]

Incidentally, I've just seen your poll - i voted for the option that states other people are better off once they have heard my opinion.

You see, I am nearly always right. A congenital condition, and a great burden....;)

[gjl711]

I voted other. I analyze every decision to the Nth degree and then some and at times will post something just to stir some debate looking for something I possible overlooked. If there were a clear cut winner it would be so easy. Just buy this and your set. But all this stuff, even the so called crappy stuff in all honesty is so good that the line between good and great is so fuzzy as to be nearly invisible. So, I only have xxx amount of $$$ to spend and I want to make sure that my $$$ are spent as intelligently as possible for my needs.

[cosworth]

Other: Passion. We want others to feel our passion and happiness in the joy of photography.

Some just have fanboy disease.

[Permagrin]

I voted other. I analyze every decision to the Nth degree and then some and at times will post something just to stir some debate looking for something I possible overlooked.........So, I only have xxx amount of $$$ to spend and I want to make sure that my $$$ are spent as intelligently as possible for my needs.

Other: Passion. We want others to feel our passion and happiness in the joy of photography.

oooh, both great answers, neither of which (in my apparent cynicism) I'd ever thought of!

[Grentz]

I think:

a) We like to give advice to others and help others. Usually we are dedicated to a brand/line and thus want to help others make the right choice that we ourselves have think we have made.

b) We are bored and like to argue (even if you think you dont, you do, its human nature) :p

[sugarzebra]

I think that the convictions we have towards our equipment and its manufacturer makes it hard for us not to proselytize.....everyone should have a Canon :D (and the downside that if you don't have a Canon, somehow you've made a mistake)

[PhotoJourno]

Most posts usually start with some valid point, like "Why should I go with Canon, when Nikon gives me a free kick on the nuts when I order at the store". Then the discussion ensues. Some are concerned about the OP, though most use it as a double opportunity:

Extroversial: They Do share their own experience, hoping it will help the OP
Introversial: They are validating past desicions, and reaffirming them. It's like the post places a bit of doubt even on themselves. Therefore, posting helps remove that little speck of "mh, did I do the right thing myself?"...

There are others -very few, maybe a handful- who just like to feel powerful, opposite to their dialy lives, and take the time to tell others what to do, assuming their thoughts are absolute truths. Haven't you ever gotten the "Go with X Lens. If you get Y lens, I just feel sorry for you, and your money wasting. Tell us when it breaks."

Then you have those who are compensating for something. Hey, look at all my L lenses. I am sooooo goooood !!... I got more L glass than Ansel Adams.

Just my ranting. My motivation? I am sitting at my office, I do not want to work, and just before getting my lunch I decided to check the forums. It's like my little social life aside from my jobs.

[condyk]

Most people want to be right and that means others who do not agree must be wrong ... that is the basis of our so called world and that egotism is cause of many ill, global and interpersonal. Personally, buy what you like but if you ask my opinion I will give it and everyone else is wrong :-)

[azphotos]

I chose other
-A - In the Apple vs PC - I supported Apples for eight years and the Apple users IMHO were afraid that they would have to re-learn all the tricks they struggled to learn on Apples if they switched to other operating systems. That is why they are so rabid pro Apple -No flames please, I am typing this on a Mac - :D
- B - As far as other products go - It is insecurity - the need to belong. It would seem that some people need to identify themselves with some product - I guess they feel that they as a person are enhanced by using some product or another, or else they have an inferiority complex? And these silly arguments helps them feel like a person, or they feel another answer or product will be better and hence shatter their self image? Do they feel threatened and thus have to argue to keep their fragile self images intact? All you have to do watch ads on TV - going after and preying upon peoples perceived lackings. Thus we have Dodge vs Chevy etc. Nikon vs Canon, etc - And yes I own Kodak, Nikon, Canons and Seneca.:)
- C - This same insecurity syndrome manifests itself here in this forum and many other forums. All you have to do is look in the signature lines - where the wannabes or braggerts exhibit their IMHO personal lackings by listing all their equipment - or supposed equipment - and my favorite is when they make the "l" red... I don't care what you have - show me what you shoot and then tell me the details - tell me the speed, the film (if any), the f stop, the ISO, how long you waited for the shot - did you have to stalk it - how many days did you come here and wait at sunset, etc and finally tell me of the equipment utilized- I am interested in what shooters have to say and show, not equipment junkies. No flames please - just my personal opinions. :D (and besides, flames would prove the point I am making here, yeah?)

[fi20100]

I believe many people are asking for advice, when they have already made up their mind. Heated discussions that have little to do with fact can often arise from this. And of course, everybody has a need to validate their own expenditures ;)

[Permagrin]

wow...so far this poll is a lot closer than I'd have imagined...(and the glaring absence of any votes in #2 so far is very telling...and does coincide with the points you are making)

You all have very interesting comments too on why we say what we do...or take the stance that we do.....

[rhys]

Canon vs. Nikon? Or Apple vs. Mac? Or L vs. anything else?

I went for Canon because IQ was better on Canon and because Nikon refused to support my extensive collection of Nikon glass. By going to Canon I have better IQ and gave Nikon the finger at the same time.

Apple vs PC? Because Apples don't have viruses or a flawed registry like Windows and because unlike Linux, drivers are available as is decent software.

Canon glass v other glass - simply because I find Canon glass with USM is better.

L versus other Canon glass - don't know as I'm happy with what I already have but with time maybe I'll see a big enough difference between L and other Canon glass to persuade me to get L glass.

[In2Photos]

Canon vs. Nikon? Or Apple vs. Mac? Or L vs. anything else?

I went for Canon because IQ was better on Canon and because Nikon refused to support my extensive collection of Nikon glass. By going to Canon I have better IQ and gave Nikon the finger at the same time.

Apple vs PC? Because Apples don't have viruses or a flawed registry like Windows and because unlike Linux, drivers are available as is decent software.

Canon glass v other glass - simply because I find Canon glass with USM is better.

L versus other Canon glass - don't know as I'm happy with what I already have but with time maybe I'll see a big enough difference between L and other Canon glass to persuade me to get L glass.
So in other words you do it to justify your expenditures. ;) :D

[rhys]

So in other words you do it to justify your expenditures. ;) :D

I don't own a mac - yet. Still saving for one.

[Glenn NK]

The responses by In2Photos and steved110 pretty well sum it up.

[Lord_Malone]

Arguing on the internet is lame... but very very fun. A guilty pleasure I must admit. :(

[Lord_Malone]

Other: Passion. We want others to feel our passion and happiness in the joy of photography.

Some just have fanboy disease.

Jason, let me borrow your 300L for a few weeks this summer.

[350D_Noob]

Without choices everything would be way too boring. Everyone would have the same thing as the next person.

[terriyaki]

I personally think it's just human nature to find similarities and differences with others no matter how trivial they may be.

[belmondo]

I voted for no. 1. Just check out any of the Apple vs. Windows debates. You just don't see a lot of people saying, "I own and use Windows machines, but think Macintoshes are better." Good luck.

Even though (in theory) we all are Canon advocates, we frequently find ourselves embroiled in internecine bickering over things like full-frame vs. crop, Canon lenses vs. 3rd party offerings, amateur vs. professional (especially in wedding photography), L vs. the world, etc., etc. I think we all have the inclination to think the decisions we've made are ultimately the best. That's human nature, isn't it?

[rhys]

I think we all have the inclination to think the decisions we've made are ultimately the best. That's human nature, isn't it?


I'm not so certain. We often have to decide between two bad options and to take the one that is not quite so bad. For example, would you buy coffee from a Fair Trade group knowing full well that the farmers don't receive much more for it than non Fair Trade farmers or do you buy non Fair Trade coffee because you know you cannot afford to subsidise Fair Trade farmers without making your life harder.

I have a Windows laptop. I did not want to buy a Windows laptop. I needed a laptop and at the time Apple was about to change to Intel CPUs so rather than buying an Apple that would be out of date in 6 months I bought a Windows machine and decided to save longer for an Apple. I still want an Apple and I will have an Apple. It's a classic example of a decision that wasn't for the best but which was the least of two poor options.

[Jon, The Elder]

Most posts usually start with some valid point, like "Why should I go with Canon, when Nikon gives me a free kick on the nuts when I order at the store".

Now that one I really like. Can I use it in my Sig. ?

[JimAskew]

I think that many of us use the POTN to validate our decisions and purchases. We often know what course of action we want to take...we just want someone else to tell us that it is a smart path forward.

Case in point...there is a 17-55MM EF-S IS thread on the Lens Forum this week where the OP asked if the 17-55 was a good buy. At last check 22 of 23 responses were positive comments regarding the lens in question.

[lakiluno]

apple vs mac? Why has there been 27 replies to this thread, and nobody has noticed that Apple and Mac are essentially the same thing...

apple vs mac - I pick Apple Mac!

[Woolburr]

Personally I would rather not have to deal with either a rotten apple or a cheesy mac....give me a nice vanilla PC...that works and can do more than play tetris and look at pictures.

Oh yeah...I voted for two...why not let others learn from your mistakes? If I figure it is a waste of my money...odds are good it probably will be a waste of your money too...

[gjl711]

apple vs mac? Why has there been 27 replies to this thread, and nobody has noticed that Apple and Mac are essentially the same thing...

apple vs mac - I pick Apple Mac!
Because as soon as someone reads “apple” they see red and yell FIGHT!!!Fight!!Fight!! No need to read further. ;)

[Permagrin]

apple vs mac? Why has there been 27 replies to this thread, and nobody has noticed that Apple and Mac are essentially the same thing...

apple vs mac - I pick Apple Mac!

LOL...I switched the OP....(guess it's obvious I'm a mac person and there's only one choice for me :lol: )

[cosworth]

I see apple and mac as hardware and software. Very different.

[JCR]

I'm guilty of chiming in on the apple-pc debate.

Call me dumb, but I hate seeing people getting ripped off or feeling inadequate due to the size of their wallet or lack of technical knowledge.
My next pet hate is viral marketing practices.

[Stavhp]

i like to argue.
i love to argue, i had a girl SCREAMING at me today in school when i was talking about macs. Lol

[Permagrin]

Personally, I hate to argue. I prefer to hear informed opinions and then make my decisions based on that...I rarely listen to the repeat poster who says the same thing again and again to drive home a point....or the one who "is the loudest or most rude".

I agree with Wool that if I think I've wasted my money, I'll say so (or if I got a good buy, I'll say so). But I do realize that my opinion may not be someone else's...(as in the case of the 100-400...I really did not like that lens but it's got a great following on here...so accepting that other's may not be of the same opinion, does seem rather vital for decent social interaction...)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Incidentally, I've just seen your poll - i voted for the option that states other people are better off once they have heard my opinion.

You see, I am nearly always right. A congenital condition, and a great burden....;)

Wow Steve, I did not know this about you.. I think we would agree on everything then ;)

[shesgotthepic]

Because we need an identity and need to belong to a group/tribe/herd. Humans are herd animals.

I see this debate in so many other sections of life. equestrian (classical v dressage v western v showjumping or shoes v barefoot or warmblood v balearic breeds you name it) music (hardrock v punk v hiphop v r&b v classical) fashion, food, you name it.

It's the urge to belong that drives us to argue about it.

My opinion is that if it works for you then it is right. (As long as it doesn't harm another animal/human like somethings do)

[gjl711]

Because we need an identity and need to belong to a group/tribe/herd. Humans are herd animals.
If I remember correctly from high school bio. Herd animals is not really correct. Herds imply large, poorly organized numbers, that is a bunch of like critters all milling around with few inter individual connections. I would say we are more akin to pack animals. In any group we have a very clear hierarchy. Those rules apply here as well.

[PhotoJourno]

Now that one I really like. Can I use it in my Sig. ?


Yes, it is copyright free. :)

Courtesy of Nikon
(Call today and you get a free dinner to discuss important Time Share opportunities in East Stockton California, and downtown Philadelphia).

[rklepper]

It is because we firmly believe that we made the decision based on logical reasoning and it was the right decision. Therefore, why would it not be the right decision for everyone else also?

[JimAskew]

If I remember correctly from high school bio. Herd animals is not really correct. Herds imply large, poorly organized numbers, that is a bunch of like critters all milling around with few inter individual connections. I would say we are more akin to pack animals. In any group we have a very clear hierarchy. Those rules apply here as well.

No its lemmings :lol:

"Lemmings -- a member of a large group of people who blindly follow one another on a course of action that will lead to destruction for all of them"