iPad Owners Are ‘Selfish Elites.’ Critics Are ‘Independent Geeks.’ Discuss.

Demiurge

iPad Owners Are ‘Selfish Elites.’ Critics Are ‘Independent Geeks.’ Discuss.



It’s not exactly official, but should also surprise no one: According to a new study the psychological profile of iPad owners can be summed up as “selfish elites” while have-not critics are “independent geeks.”

Of course the “haves” would probably call the “have nots” “cheap wannabes” to which the “have nots” would retort: “FANBOI!!”

Which is why we should stick to the science.

Consumer research firm MyType conducted the study, in which opinions of 20,000 people were analyzed between March and May. The firm’s conclusion was that iPad owners tend to be wealthy, sophisticated, highly educated and disproportionately interested in business and finance, while they scored terribly in the areas of altruism and kindness. In other words, “selfish elites.”

They are six times more likely to be “wealthy, well-educated, power-hungry, over-achieving, sophisticated, unkind and non-altruistic 30-50 year olds,” MyType’s Tim Koelkebeck told Wired.com.

96 percent those most likely to criticize the iPad, on the other hand, don’t even own one, although as geeks, they were slightly more likely to do so than the average population — and far more likely to have an opinion about the device one way or the other (updated). This group tends to be “self-directed young people who look down on conformity and are interested in videogames, computers, electronics, science and the internet,” said Koelkebeck.

One might expect people with an interest in videogames, computers, electronics, science and the internet to be interested in a device that lets you play videogames, functions like a computer, is made of electronics, relies on science and connects to the internet, which suggests there would be a high convert rate if the “have nots” just went to an Apple Store for the afternoon.

Why does the iPad apparently appeal to self-centered workaholics who value “power and achievement” and tend not to be kind or to help others (iPad owners in the Wired.com ranks notwithstanding)? MyType speculates that one factor could be the device’s high price tag, and because screen-bound workaholics are likely to want another screen with which to stay engaged. The urge to include another screen in one’s life correlates strongly to seeing value in connecting to information in a new way, which is basically a nice way of saying what a lot of people were saying when the iPad was released: What do you need one for, really?

As to the critics-who-are-a-test-drive-away-from-being-fans, the study found that “bashing the iPad is, in a way, an identity statement for independent geeks,” wrote Koelkebeck.

“As a mainstream, closed-platform device whose major claim to fame is ease of use and sex appeal, the iPad is everything that they are not.”

Ouch. For the record: Koelkebeck said it, not we.

Read More http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/07/ipad-owner-are-selfish-elites-critics-are-independent-geeks-says-study/#ixzz0uzEUVaR5

PhantomOG

Demiurge wrote: »

As to the critics-who-are-a-test-drive-away-from-being-fans,...

I guess we know the writer of the article is a "selfish elite" then. :rolleyes:

Cpyder

Hey! I own an iPad and last night at the grocery store I found a credit card on the ground. I promptly took it to customer service because I didn't want whoever's card it was to get abused.

How's that for selfish and not atruistic? Haha

Ummm... yeah. I'd probably agree to most of the article. But just remember there's always outliers. Just because your friend owns an iPad doesn't mean he's a "selfish elite."

Disc Jockey

Cpyder wrote: »

Hey! I own an iPad and last night at the grocery store I found a credit card on the ground. I promptly took it to customer service because I didn't want whoever's card it was to get abused.

Yeah right, you probably turned it in because it wasn't a gold card and not good enough to steal you elitist so-and-so.

BlueFox

Funny how the stupid people like to call the educated 'elites'.

zombie boy 2000

Anti-intellectualism is everywhere nowadays. And that's a fact Jack.
Either way, I don't own a laptop... much less an iPad.

concealer404

Funny how the "elites" like to call me "stupid people."

bobman1235

BlueFox wrote: »

Funny how the stupid people like to call the educated 'elites'.

Funny how "educated" people don't understand classism, or that "uneducated" doesn't necessarily mean "stupid."

fusion2

I can't agree that there is a new social group like "elites". We have equal possibilities.

ohskigod

bobman1235 wrote: »

Funny how "educated" people don't understand classism, or that "uneducated" doesn't necessarily mean "stupid."

\



ding ding ding....WINNAH!!!!!!!!

educated people can be stupid, which would be somewhat excusable if they didnt flaunt a worthless degree as the only proof of "lack of stupidity"

I met a lot of "uneducated" people that were very intelligent.

of course, the vice versa on both exists.

you're education is just that, education, which is to be used to further gain knowlege which can lead to intelligence. education alone is NOT intelligence.

education is a tool, it's a tool very useful in some ways, and frikkin useless in others.

this coming from someone who is educated.

I see a growing number of 20 somethings thinking they are hot **** based on there degree. I know uneducated 30 somethings and above that can out think them on virtually every level.

cstmar01

zombie boy 2000 wrote: »

Anti-intellectualism is everywhere nowadays. And that's a fact Jack.
Either way, I don't own a laptop... much less an iPad.

oh so very true.

BTW nice sig! I love ATHF.

concealer404 wrote: »

Funny how the "elites" like to call me "stupid people."

Ben I always thought of you as an elite looking down upon us little "stupid people".....does that make me an ever stupider stupid people....or just plain dumb?

concealer404

cstmar01 wrote: »

oh so very true.

BTW nice sig! I love ATHF.


Ben I always thought of you as an elite looking down upon us little "stupid people".....does that make me an ever stupider stupid people....or just plain dumb?

I know i'm hawt, you don't have to say anything.

cstmar01

concealer404 wrote: »

I know i'm hawt, you don't have to say anything.

your so hott I gotta use two t's to express the hottness...oh baby oh baby....


just don't turn sideways, I might not see you standing there.......:p;)

GoBigBlue

I have an iPad and I'm 19. But all those adjectives sum me up pretty well.

Sherardp

I have an Ipad, and won't say I'm selfish in the least. I'm well off, but I tend to share that and give to others who aren't as fortunate. I mean isn't that what life's about. Maybe I've been in Japan too long and have strayed away from our normal American customs.

Also my daughter is 10, and she now has the 16gb Ipad. The coolest little person you could meet.

Demiurge

bobman1235 wrote: »

Funny how "educated" people don't understand classism, or that "uneducated" doesn't necessarily mean "stupid."

I have to wonder how many "educated" people took this article seriously.

j allen

zombie boy 2000 wrote: »

Anti-intellectualism is everywhere nowadays. And that's a fact Jack.
Either way, I don't own a laptop... much less an iPad.

This is somewhat off topic, but why do you think that is? One of my employees was not the least bit ashamed of failing a developmental class at the local community college. And today, I was ribbed for using words with more than two syllables. I've got to say, I don't get it. Why is it considered a downfall to have more than two brain cells to rub together? Why is the trailer trash mindset being embraced by the majority? If you aren't smart, it's okay, but it isn't something you should wear as a badge of honor, dammit! Do people honestly want to end up amounting to nothing, and leaving behind nothing meaningful? To die destitute and be buried in a pauper's field due to a lack of enthusiasm? The framework is there for people to come up from nothing and become something, but they actively choose to remain nothing. Why?
/endrant

Also of note: is saying legit and legit'ly popular in other areas than Dayton, OH? I don't understand it.

And, on topic: I don't own an iPad, but I'll freely admit to being a greedy, self-serving sort of person. Altruism has been burned out of me by being repeatedly screwed every time I give someone a chance. I'm #1! Seriously, though, as a geek, I have no problem with the iPad, as such. I have a big problem with it as a device for me, personally, because I really wouldn't have a use for it. I'll admit, they're cool, and given unlimited funds, I would probably get one, but there are cooler things I can blow my money on than that. If you own an iPad, kudos to you for having a use for such a techy toy. I would love to be able to justify the expense.


Cheers, JA

BeRad

I am an educated gadget-lover who does not own an Ipad and probably never will. I don't criticize the Ipad itself as much as I criticize it's value. I have played around with one and can't understand how somebody could choose it over a $250 netbook. I understand that it can be ideal in certain situations and some that own one love it, but I still fail to see how the price-tag is justified.
The one person I know who owns one, used it like crazy for a week and hasn't touched it since.

Sherardp

BeRad wrote: »

I am an educated gadget-lover who does not own an Ipad and probably never will. I don't criticize the Ipad itself as much as I criticize it's value. I have played around with one and can't understand how somebody could choose it over a $250 netbook. I understand that it can be ideal in certain situations and some that own one love it, but I still fail to see how the price-tag is justified.
The one person I know who owns one, used it like crazy for a week and hasn't touched it since.

I can see your reasoning here BeRad. I have a netbook also, and to me the Ipad is just a smaller platform. I would carry around two laptops due to work restrictions in Windows. I'm much happier carrying around the Ipad, once I get with my helpdesk and figure out how to get mail, I wont even carry around my work laptop. Netbook is great, just a tad big to me.

tonyb

Demiurge wrote: »

I have to wonder how many "educated" people took this article seriously.

Bingo !!:)

Shizelbs

I had one, then sold it. What does that make me?

RuSsMaN

A doucher?

Gregor? (Opulence, I has it)

danger boy

Shizelbs wrote: »

I had one, then sold it. What does that make me?

smart

Shizelbs

RuSsMaN wrote: »

Gregor? (Opulence, I has it)

And how.

madmax

Shizelbs wrote: »

I had one, then sold it. What does that make me?

Several hundred dollars richer?

shack

I guess we are now a family of "Selfish Elites". The kid is carrying one with her on her journey through SE Asia and my wife's was delivered today.

Let them eat cake...or whatever...

steveinaz

I don't get the "connected" revolution at all. I can't even get myself to carry a cell phone. I hate telephones, I hate gadgets, I hate communicating. I do have a laptop, but that's just an in-house convenience; I don't pack it with me either.

I had jury duty once, and this young gal on the jury had a laptop, cell phone, and ipod with her at all times. She looked like a cyborg with all those wires and crap hanging off of her. I thought "and this is suppose to be convenient?"

shack

steveinaz wrote:

I don't get the "connected" revolution at all. I can't even get myself to carry a cell phone. I hate telephones, I hate gadgets, I hate communicating. I do have a laptop, but that's just an in-house convenience; I don't pack it with me either.

I had jury duty once, and this young gal on the jury had a laptop, cell phone, and ipod with her at all times. She looked like a cyborg with all those wires and crap hanging off of her. I thought "and this is suppose to be convenient?"

You are a dinosaur. (as I type this from my netbook)

Sherardp

With my job it's a must I travel with laptop and phone even on vacation. I love the netbook for it's convenience. I can even control my new Squeezebox Touch with it. Awesome indeed as I sit on my deck and relax to great tunes.

Bobsama

An iPod Touch doesn't fit my needs, so why would an iPad be any better?

Either way, I've had lots of nice tech but I don't see the value of a bigger iPod Touch. Perhaps if they bring out a Touch Nano or something that will actually fit into the pocket I'll like it, but until then an iPad is simply too big.

Demiurge

I believe I saw a few iPads in the hands of the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff during tonights game...

You'd think something like that would have to be approved by the NFL. Maybe it was.