The Cult of the Mac

            I enjoyed reading “The Cult of Macintosh” because I was able to relate to many of the ideas and rituals associated with consumption culture.  This article cited Boorstin’s description of so-called consumption communities: “in consumption communities, Americans’ sense of unity and commonality is increasingly more likely to be based on common consumption patterns than daily interaction due to living in geographic proximity to one another.”  I agree with this statement, because I think that many people associate with each other based on what they buy.  For example, my Dad is a big runner, and he buys a specific type of running shoe.  When he sees other runners with the same shoe at a race, he will strike up a conversation with them, and the shoe brand serves as the platform for this type of consumption community. 

            I really liked reading about the different brands that are considered “cult brands”.  It got me thinking about what brands I treat as “cult brands” and why I place a higher value on certain types of entertainment or brands and not others.  Although I have a MacBook Pro laptop and an iPod Classic, I wouldn’t call myself a member of the cult of Mac.  I know people who are obsessed with Apple products, and I am not one of them.  Even though I really like my computer and iPod, I am perfectly satisfied with these gadgets and I don’t see a need to constantly update my iPod every time a “better” model comes out.  A lot of my friends have iPhones, and they update their iPhone with each new model.  I just can’t see myself doing that because I’m not a member of the cult of Mac.  I don’t have unquestioning faith in Apple products, even though I am perfectly satisfied with the Apple products that I own.

            This essay made me realize that the Mac and its dedicated users constitute the equivalent of religion.  I find it fascinating that basically all aspects of religion are covered by the true believers of Mac products.  I also found it slightly funny that the distaste of Mac users for non-Mac products was referred to as “the existence of one or more Satanic opponents.”  I understand how exaggerated that sounds to someone who isn’t familiar with Mac fanatics, but I completely understand how “Satanic opponents” could be used to describe other technology companies in the eyes of the members of the Cult of the Mac.

Goldfarming

            After Wednesday’s lecture I decided to investigate the phenomenon of goldfarming, because I am very intrigued by the subject.  Before this class I had no idea that such positions exist in the world, but now that I do know my eyes have been opened to the extreme significance that video games have for certain people.  This class, and this lecture in particular, taught me that playing videogames such as “World of Warcraft” serve as a social platform.  Now that I know that these online games act like a sort of “advanced form of a pen pal” it makes much more sense to me that people would place such significance and put so much time and effort into these games.  I understand the appeal of that online social experience, and I also understand how people would be attracted to online video games because of the issue of anonymity.  Facebook and Twitter are somewhat anonymous, but I think that most of the time, a majority of people on these websites interact with their actual friends and acquaintances, so its not like you can just say anything on Facebook and get away with it.  However, online games are unique because a person can take on any identity they choose, and if they are not playing with their actual friends, they can say or act in anyway without repercussions.  

            Knowing this background information makes me realize that there is a lucrative market for goldfarming, because people place so much importance on the friendships and identities of their online gaming personas.  I just wonder if people realize the conditions of goldfarms, and the significance of their actions.  If people stopped supporting goldfarms by buying already earned in-game currency, then people would stop taking advantage of economic inequalities.  I learned that in the 90s, goldfarming was someone undercover and unknown, but now the sale of in-game currency has become increasingly more commercialized.  I also learned that this year, “The Guardian” reported that prisoners in Chinese labor camps were forced to engage in gold farming for the benefit of prison authorities.  This shocks me, because this displays how goldfarming permeates underprivileged people in China.  However, the thing that shocks me the most is that the sweatshop-like conditions of goldfarming ultimately appeal to people in poor areas because people earn $3 a day…which looks like a good and sturdy income to these people compared to other available jobs.