Why do people feel the need to 'defend' certain games or consoles?

IAmTheCheapestGamer

IAmTheCheapestGamer

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Admittedly, I stress my point about my problems with the PS2 constantly, to the point of being tedious and repetitive. Yet, I feel that by mentioning it like that, it gives those who may not have one yet a fair warning that they might end up like I did, with multiples of the system and problems with each. It happens, but some people on the net try to pretend like it doesn't or because it never happened to THEM, I must have 'damaged my own console' or 'not taken care of it'.

Personally, I love the people who say this constantly, as it's AS annoying as me saying about my problems with the PS2, but most times the fans are more rabid and adamant about 'their point'.

Another thing that makes me laugh is ANY time I mention not liking XYZ game that other people think is 'the best thing since sliced bread', I immediately get the responses of 'you must have no brain LOLZORZ' or whatever the current response for that day is.

So, can ANYONE tell me why people are SOOOOOOO quick to 'defend' these inanimate objects, since I'm at a loss for words. I thought we were allowed freedom of speech and expression?
 
you answer this question, you answer lots of questions.

simply replace games with your dividing line of choice, such as politics or religion or sports...

i guarantee if you walk into a christian church and say "man, i didn't think the bible was that good" you'll get far worse reactions than an internet post. =P
 
Why do people feel the need to 'defend' certain games or consoles?

1.) We are, as a whole, tribal beings. Personally, I try to relegate this urge to sports teams, as they give us a socially acceptable outlet for aggressive tendencies. And even there, I try to keep it in perspective. Sadly, some people have no other 'tribe' that they take interest in that will 'accept' them outside of console manufacturers, comic book publishers, movie franchises, etc.

2a.) Some people allow their lack of ability to afford all consoles/game franchises to turn into 'sour grapes' towards the ones they don't/can't have.

2b.) Some people invest so much in a given gaming direction that they have to do 'mental acrobatics' to justify (to themselves) their excessive spending. This tends to keep digging the hole deeper, which makes them erroneously even stauncher in their viewpoint(s).

3.) A lot of gamers are just fuckin' sad, sad cases, no two ways about it. They cannot and will not elevate themselves out of their petty 'grade school playground' mentality. Bickering about games is the only venue in which they can express their frustration and anger without suffering dire consequences.

4.) Our whole society seems to 'get wood' automatically these days when it comes to any opportunity to polarize. I blame the atrophying of civility, which is aided and abetted by Internet anonymity, which gives a voice to the malicious and the pathetic.

No thanks, I'll stay on my high horse for now.

EDIT: Also, the gaming community has a high concentration of adolescent/young adult white males that are inherently socially maladjusted. If that isn't the perfect recipe for pointless bickering about completely trivial and ultimately inconsequential pursuits, I don't know what is.

EDIT II: General truth: people are addicted to the drama, however they can get it.
 
Hey now, I'm not socially maladjusted, just misunderstood. LOL Seriously though, I agree with many of the points each of your raised. I just don't get it though....but to each their own.
 
I don't mean to sound callous, but since no one has stated the obvious I would push forth the same reason you are prone to post a negative opinion. Namely that said game/console was a positive experience which they believe should be represented by some vocal minority/majority. This in no way supports posters who feel the need to degrade others, but it maybe why some people may post a disagreement.
 
Your question then becomes too broad. Easy answers may be that it is simply a symptom of the society we live in or a basic defect of human nature. Even these answers don't really get to the root of your question though. A psychological case study could be done, but no definitive answer will ever be found. In the end I would just suggest shrugging off comments and hope that the people who post them are more compassionate in the real world where anonimity does not shelter them. Sorry if this is not a sufficient answer, but it is basically how I choose to view most internet postings.
 
primary reason: when you buy a system, you're investing in that console. You enjoy that console... become friends with it even. Therefore, you don't want people talking trash about it, because most of the time it isn't true. "The Wii isn't two gamecubes taped together" The ps3 isn't a "George foreman grill lookalike" and the 360 isn't crap just because M$ made it.


the question that should be asked is...

Why does a fanboy who's having a great time with his system, fell that he must go to a forum that's specifically for a system that he/she doesn't own, or doesn't care for, and talk trash?
We know that people will defend, but why do people go on the offense about systems they don't care for, or own, or can't even afford?


someone answer that!
 
I liked jollydwarf's post.

During this whole 3-way battle between the Wii, 360, and PS3.. I'll probably be one of those people who just buys all three systems eventually. :)

I have Wii, plan on a PS3 soon, and I'm watching the 360 closely, although aside from Live Arcade, there aren't any games I'd buy on it even now.
 
these inanimate objects (console) become like your sidekicks.. through conditioning.. of course. Its kinda like Micheal Knight, and KITT; KITT was with the same car w/ the same programming since day one, (basically), however over time he bonded with the car, and the car seems to bond with him. Through conditioning, mission after mission, situation after situation Micheal forms the bond with KITT. Same thing with consoles, game after game, good experiences with the console... and you form a bond.
 
Because some people like to hide behind the mantra that if I say that a game sucks everyone should just be quiet about it. Let me bask in my superiority even though I've only played this game for 10 minutes.

This started in a closed thread when you said KOTOR sucks. A couple people said something and then I pointed out that you only played it as a turn based game. I also said if you should try it in the other mode so you could enjoy it as an action RPG. I called you out not because you said KOTOR sucks but because you were recommending to other CAGs that you shouldn't pick up that "piece of crap". You went on about how it was boring. Even after I pointed out that you could play it as an action RPG, you only said you might play it. You also said it'll just be more turn based crap.

Now to totally threadjack your lame thread. Why do some people feel the need to "recruit" people to their side when they've obviously fucked up? I called you out and maybe made you feel like less of a man. Get over it. Don't fullfill another negative CAG stereotype. At first, you were the CAG that disses games without playing them or just "messing around with the demo". Now you're the whiny CAG that starts vague threads to get people to agree with him.

If this is the kind of person you'd all agree with and pat on the back, then I need to rethink my being here.
 
[quote name='Thomas96']these inanimate objects (console) become like your sidekicks.. through conditioning.. of course. Its kinda like Micheal Knight, and KITT; KITT was with the same car w/ the same programming since day one, (basically), however over time he bonded with the car, and the car seems to bond with him. Through conditioning, mission after mission, situation after situation Micheal forms the bond with KITT. Same thing with consoles, game after game, good experiences with the console... and you form a bond.[/quote]If you've got a way to make any of my game consoles even 1/2 as cool as KITT, please let me know. ;)

Maybe I can get William Daniels to live in my linen closet and speak to me via a hole in the wall strategically placed right behind my entertainment center.
 
People defend their choice becuz :
1) The want to defend their investment
2) The companies use subliminal messages in every boot up screen that tells the gamer "Be a fanboy. Defend us!"
 
[quote name='javeryh']Because the New York Football Giants are the greatest team ever assembled on God's green Earth.[/QUOTE]

That made me puke.
 
This happens with any hobby with die hard enthusiasts, but it takes a more "political" form with games because people want their system to "win" so that it'll get more games.

of course, they wouldn't be defending if someone wasn't attacking-- so the reverse question should be asked too :)
 
[quote name='depascal22']Because some people like to hide behind the mantra that if I say that a game sucks everyone should just be quiet about it. Let me bask in my superiority even though I've only played this game for 10 minutes.

This started in a closed thread when you said KOTOR sucks. A couple people said something and then I pointed out that you only played it as a turn based game. I also said if you should try it in the other mode so you could enjoy it as an action RPG. I called you out not because you said KOTOR sucks but because you were recommending to other CAGs that you shouldn't pick up that "piece of crap". You went on about how it was boring. Even after I pointed out that you could play it as an action RPG, you only said you might play it. You also said it'll just be more turn based crap.

Now to totally threadjack your lame thread. Why do some people feel the need to "recruit" people to their side when they've obviously fucked up? I called you out and maybe made you feel like less of a man. Get over it. Don't fullfill another negative CAG stereotype. At first, you were the CAG that disses games without playing them or just "messing around with the demo". Now you're the whiny CAG that starts vague threads to get people to agree with him.

If this is the kind of person you'd all agree with and pat on the back, then I need to rethink my being here.[/quote]

And, as usual, someone who thinks I'm 'continuing something from somewhere else comes into a thread I created to get a GENERAL opinion and restate their point, etc, etc, etc.

Honestly, if you have THIS much time to 'defend' a game or system, then WHEN are you playing these games you feel the need to 'defend'? GET OVER IT, someone has a differing opinion than you, it happens. It's called LIFE. Not EVERYONE will agree with you that 'The PS3/Beyond Good & Evil/Halo/KOTOR are GODLY and do not deserve the crap they get thrown at them'.

And, I predict Shrike will come in to lock this thread unfortunately because SOME people can't just accept other peoples opinions and quit thinking everything is about THEM.

I guess we're ALL supposed to think that EVERY game is perfect?

EDIT:

Oh and I never do give a game only 10 minutes, as that WOULD be asinine, but I do give it at LEAST an hour, which is plenty of time to determine if I will like a game or not.
 
For some kids buying these consoles and games, it's probably the biggest purchases they've made thus far in their life. It's really the only thing they own and represent things they had to actually work for. So when they argue for something, they're trying to reaffirm the purchase to themselves and also hope to hear other reaffirming statements to know what they have is the best thing to put their money down on 'cause certain age groups yearn for reaffirmation and acceptance in society.
 
[quote name='SteveMcQ']For some kids buying these consoles and games, it's probably the biggest purchases they've made thus far in their life. It's really the only thing they own and represent things they had to actually work for. So when they argue for something, they're trying to reaffirm the purchase to themselves and also hope to hear other reaffirming statements to know what they have is the best thing to put their money down on 'cause certain age groups yearn for reaffirmation and acceptance in society.[/quote]I'm not sure it's limited to just younger kids, though. No one likes to think they wasted their money or made the "wrong" choice. Thus, the gloves can come off in attacking and defending.
 
[quote name='daroga']I'm not sure it's limited to just younger kids, though. No one likes to think they wasted their money or made the "wrong" choice. Thus, the gloves can come off in attacking and defending.[/quote]

Yeah. I remember when I was 12, and I worked summers to buy a Sega Genesis. Super Nintendo was already out, but it only had 4 games. So I got the Genesis. I was always arguing that the Genesis had more games. Had the Sega CD coming (another moot point), the Menacer was way better than the Super Scope. Oh God, I was preaching the gospel of Sega. Since then, I have learned just to enjoy what everyone has to offer. So long as I could afford to.
 
I take issue with assumptions/poorly drawn conclusions about other systems.

Generalities that people use like "360s just break all the time, and all they play is shooters anyway" and the "Wii is a fad/two gamecubes with duct tape" and of course the Sony "nothing good to play on it, it's overrated" type statements, which are obviously just ignorant things said to rile up arguements and so the poster can feel like he's a rebel/enlightened individual compared to the drooling masses.

Bring an intelligent criticism or discussion, kids. There's upsides to every downside. The PS3 costs a ton, but it would give good value for some consumers. The Wii is a bit gimmicky, but developers have every opportunity to create "full" experiences on it. The 360 has hardware problems, but provides the most diverse next gen library/best price for pure gaming in HD.

I say it should become common courtesy to provide at least one positive with every negative statement, unless you're talking about something so obviously horrible that it's a public joke.
 
[quote name='daroga']I'm not sure it's limited to just younger kids, though. No one likes to think they wasted their money or made the "wrong" choice. Thus, the gloves can come off in attacking and defending.[/quote]But I think the younger kids are more prone to the bitching and bickering back and forth. That's what I meant to get across. At some point, when you've got other purchases to make and other investments, you realize buying a not-so good game isn't that big of a deal and you just take it as a lesson learned instead of coming online and posting in defense of a game or console choice.
 
[quote name='SteveMcQ']But I think the younger kids are more prone to the bitching and bickering back and forth. That's what I meant to get across. At some point, when you've got other purchases to make and other investments, you realize buying a not-so good game isn't that big of a deal and you just take it as a lesson learned instead of coming online and posting in defense of a game or console choice.[/quote]Oh, very true. When you're working with an income of $400 a year rather than $20,000, your 360 purchase is a much, much bigger issue.
 
[quote name='jer7583']I take issue with assumptions/poorly drawn conclusions about other systems.

Generalities that people use like "360s just break all the time, and all they play is shooters anyway" and the "Wii is a fad/two gamecubes with duct tape" and of course the Sony "nothing good to play on it, it's overrated" type statements, which are obviously just ignorant things said to rile up arguements and so the poster can feel like he's a rebel/enlightened individual compared to the drooling masses.

Bring an intelligent criticism or discussion, kids. There's upsides to every downside. The PS3 costs a ton, but it would give good value for some consumers. The Wii is a bit gimmicky, but developers have every opportunity to create "full" experiences on it. The 360 has hardware problems, but provides the most diverse next gen library/best price for pure gaming in HD.

I say it should become common courtesy to provide at least one positive with every negative statement, unless you're talking about something so obviously horrible that it's a public joke.[/quote]

You mean like State Of Emergency, which I owned for a full week and can't believe actually received a sequel?
 
I defend games I like. Just because people want to say one game or another sucks doesn't mean that I can't say I liked it. We're all entitled to our opinions here.
 
Cause they've invested thousands of dollars into video games and stuff like TVs to use WITH those video games and they don't want to feel like a loser for spending all that money and being told they bought crap or 2nd string products! :D
 
[quote name='depascal22']I defend games I like. Just because people want to say one game or another sucks doesn't mean that I can't say I liked it. We're all entitled to our opinions here.[/quote]

That we are and I do apologize if I came off as a supposed know it all in the other thread, but I did put in an hour on KOTOR and had I known HOW to switch it from turn based to action, like you said you can, I probably would've put even LONGER into it.

I absolutely LOVE action RPGs/dungeon crawlers, though sometimes even their stories are a bit lacking. To each their own.

But I still want to know....what makes someone want to 'defend' a game so much? I mean, I guess maybe I've done that before with Mortal Kombat versus all the Street Fighter purists, so I'm really no better.

Either way though, I'd still like to hear peoples opinions on WHY people do this?

Let's have them CAGs....
 
If someone said your favorite book or movie sucked ass would you say something or would you sit there and take it like a bitch? If someone said your favorite grade school teacher was a whore, would you meekly agree and walk away? Where I'm from, it's considered good to stand up for what you believe in and what you consider great. If that makes me a fanboy, then so be it. I'm all for people having different points of view but if you don't back it up, don't expect me to just roll over and take your side. If you're gonna take a side, take it, and defend it. Don't just sit around and say that you like every game that's ever been released because that's bulls***. On the other hand, don't just sit there and bash entire systems or genres because of limited exposure. I guess when you say "Why?", I say "Why not?"
 
I think the sports analogy was perfect, and Jollydwarf's post pretty much hit the nail on the head.

It isn't the product, it's the people.
 
Because people wrongly base opinions on things they have little experience with. I fall into the 'defender of the PS2' realm. I still hear people saying that they've been through 6-7 PS2s because they all break, and 'Sony is a piece of shit.' My question then comes to, a) if you went through 6-7 PS2s, maybe it's user error? and b)if you bought 4-5 more PS2s after your first two died, then I know you're an idiot.

Because the internet seems to be used to spread negative publicity and not positive publicity. You'll get 100 people bashing something, and only a few defending it. So, if you've also had a positive experience, you join in on the minority. I've had the same PS2 for five years, vertical, and playing DVDs. Not a single DRE or any other problem. Oh yeah, have had the HDD installed for three years and no overheating. I had the PS that everyone said was horrible at overheating and never had a problem with it. My Xbox has a DDE every week it seems like. I might be in the minority, but then again I may not be. But because you hear everything opposite, people get the impression of all the negatives. You simply want to add your opinion to the mix to try and even it out.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']That we are and I do apologize if I came off as a supposed know it all in the other thread, but I did put in an hour on KOTOR and had I known HOW to switch it from turn based to action, like you said you can, I probably would've put even LONGER into it.

I absolutely LOVE action RPGs/dungeon crawlers, though sometimes even their stories are a bit lacking. To each their own.

But I still want to know....what makes someone want to 'defend' a game so much? I mean, I guess maybe I've done that before with Mortal Kombat versus all the Street Fighter purists, so I'm really no better.

Either way though, I'd still like to hear peoples opinions on WHY people do this?

Let's have them CAGs....[/quote]

People 'defend' when they feel threatened or disregarded. If I see someone attack something I feel strongly about, I am going to say something. Whether it's a videogame or a movie. (I got killed for years for reading the Wheel of Time series...'You're such a loser'...these same people sound like they are having an orgasm when the're discussing The Lord of the Rings...lol)

My response would be similar to the attack or critiscism. Say for example, you make a thread about a universally praised game and you talked about how shitty it is even though you really haven't experienced all it has to offer, someone who loves the game might be a little more upset. It's not right or wrong, it just is.
 
This is what the internet is for. You search and find your groups that you fit into, then you defend them, and attack others.

That and porn, and funny animal videos/pictures.
 
[quote name='CocheseUGA']Because people wrongly base opinions on things they have little experience with. I fall into the 'defender of the PS2' realm. I still hear people saying that they've been through 6-7 PS2s because they all break, and 'Sony is a piece of shit.' My question then comes to, a) if you went through 6-7 PS2s, maybe it's user error? and b)if you bought 4-5 more PS2s after your first two died, then I know you're an idiot.

Because the internet seems to be used to spread negative publicity and not positive publicity. You'll get 100 people bashing something, and only a few defending it. So, if you've also had a positive experience, you join in on the minority. I've had the same PS2 for five years, vertical, and playing DVDs. Not a single DRE or any other problem. Oh yeah, have had the HDD installed for three years and no overheating. I had the PS that everyone said was horrible at overheating and never had a problem with it. My Xbox has a DDE every week it seems like. I might be in the minority, but then again I may not be. But because you hear everything opposite, people get the impression of all the negatives. You simply want to add your opinion to the mix to try and even it out.[/quote]

While I am not one of the people who has gone out and bought X number of PS2s at full price each time, I did spend $300 on my first and $50 on the extended warranty thing. I ended up using it after six months and the replacement lasted a year prior to getting video problems.

However, I later on found out it may have BEEN my fault to some extent, since I was always taking it up my one buddies house and plugging and unplugging the system from my tv's AV ports. Well, those AV ports all but burnt out from the constant use, so yeah, I could've still probably HAD my original PS2 had I not been such a worry wart about it.

I went to anal retentive extremes to keep it from getting damaged(imo). I unplugged it after every use and even used the plastic 'sheet' that it comes wrapped in to keep the dust out while I wasn't using it. On the other hand, my 39001 I had I treated alot different, especially since my buddy got his own PS2 by that point. Unfortunately, that PS2 got tripped over the ONE time I took it up my buddies house(the cable did actually) and kept freezing on games after that.

I also had a 50001, which I bought and played the HELL out of for a full year, before it began to get DREs, which I now know can be solved many times by cleaning the lens manually.

Had I known this prior, I could've easily saved buying the slim PStwo I had, before I got my current 50001(which I swapped out the slim PStwo for at a local shop).

I also bought several 30001R's from a local shop for $15-20 each, just to mess around with. One scratched discs up, the other was dead as a doornail and I just experimented on it.

So yeah, I guess I am an idiot to some extent, except for the fact that the 39001 was a gift and all the other PS2s I've had since my first couple I bought super cheap.

But now, I know to keep the damned systems plugged in and quit being so AR about a possible power surge or whatever. If only I had used LESS caution back then, I might still have that first PS2.
 
I don't really defend or attack anything. I'll throw my opinions out there every once in a while(maybe even in a rant like fashion), but I'm not really trying to convince anybody of anything unlike some.

It's especially ridiculous when you are talking about games. It's all about subjective tastes, and we all have our guilty pleasures.
 
I don't really mind the bashing of another console, and people talking trash... but if you really think something (game or console) is a fucked up piece of crap, then that's fine.. but you don't have to call people stupid, assholes, or something other than their name, just because, they don't share your opinion.
 
[quote name='camoor']Rampant consumerism and corporate brainwashing.[/QUOTE]


it's not brainwashing, people breed their own corporate loyalty (which is heavily influenced by advertising, of course ;) )
 
Logically speaking, if you convince enough people that the system you like the most is the best than it will get the most sales and the most games. Similarly, if you convince enough people to buy a game you really like, it is more likely to get sequels and similar games.

Of course many people don't go through this logic and it is often unnecessary if the game is already selling millions of copies (such as Halo, Grand Theft Auto, Gears of War, etc..).
 
Well, I'm one of the people who will, on occasion "defend" a game (can't think of a time when I've defended a console, though I'm not above it).

Usually, when I do it, I feel it's because a game is taking an unfair amount of bashing. I've gone off on people who have said that Halo is the worst game they have ever played. Come on, what, have you played 10 games in your life? Go out and play a truely bad game (try licensed games from about 3-4 years ago), and after that, come back out and say that Halo is worse. The fanboy bashing gets to me.

I will also defend a game that is less popular, sometimes in the hopes that other will give the game a chance, and either love or hate it. I honestly believe that State of Emergency is a fun game. It gets infinitely ragged (maybe somewhat deservedly), but I think there are many people that never gave it a chance, and if they did, they may enjoy it. Same with Ico (other than it is really much more loved than hated), and some other games that weren't played too much.

So, that is why I do it.
 
[quote name='Apossum']it's not brainwashing, people breed their own corporate loyalty (which is heavily influenced by advertising, of course ;) )[/quote]

I would differentiate corporate loyalty from corporate brainwashing.

I consider corporate loyalty to include a modicum of reason (for example - preferring Apple products due to their ease-of-use, but possessing enough presence-of-mind to objectively evaluate Apple TV before deciding to make a purchase)
 
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