Absolute Absurdity

So, as usual, I'm going to start this out by apologizing for not posting anything recently. New job, new lady friend, Springtime/summer/birthday/etc...been keeping me pretty busy. Been a great time in my life. As Spock one said "Surely the best of times." Indeed.

As for this blog, its become more and more scary for me. The thought of writing a full length blog entry with the limited time i have, its not very practical. When i have something to write about and find the time to, i will, but when it comes to day to day mundane aspects of life, look for me on facebook or twitter. 140 char micro blogging suits me a bunch better.

However, ive decided to post today because something amazing has happened. I have finally seen something so absurd and mind bogglingly dense, i had to write about it here. Ive been tweeting about it on twitter and responding to the original article. However, before i get into all that, here's a bit of back story.

Yesterday at WWDC, Apple announced the newest iPhone, the iPhone 3GS. Its a step up from the 3G, with a few new features, nothing overly groundbreaking. Neat things, but no game changers. The pricing follows suit of the subsidized pricing ATT/Apple announced last year with the launch of the 3G. 199/299 depending on HDD size. The actual retail prices of the phones are much higher(2x or more) but as an incentive to sign a contract, ATT will subsidize the cost and build it into the cost of the plan. All straight forward.

Well, it seems that there has been some issue taken with some early adopters of the 3G phone that they cant get the new 3GS at the discounted prices, like those folks who either are new customers are didn't upgrade from the first gen iPhone. I can understand disappointment about this, but there seems to be a focal point point of this issue. None other that someone i have known for over 5 years and have worked on several things in that time in the area of Mac/iPod news/journalism. Bill Palmer. He now runs a very successful commentary/news/review/online magazine site focusing on ipod and iPhone news at www.iprong.com. I am a daily reader and think hes a good guy. I like how hes stepped out on his own and followed what he loves to do and made it a career. Hes got alot more balls than i do to take those risks, and i admire him greatly for it. I want to make this clear that i personally love this guy and this has nothing to do with some kind of personal feud. Because when you read some of the things I'm about to talk about, you'd think i ate his cat.

The source of the fire is here:

iprong.com - The war between Apple and AT&T


I suggest reading the article/comments before continuing on.


Ok, all read? Good.


I cant even begin to understand the mindset of people feeling like they are entitled to consumer products. Like it or not, this is a capitalist society. Don't like it? Don't enter a contract. Don't like a company? Find a competitor. There is no entitlement for whiny apple fan boys to get subsidized pricing on new toys every 12 months. That's what an iPhone is. Its a toy. Its not food. Its not water. Its not shelter. Its not a life necessity. If you view a cell phone as a life necessity, then get a prepaid phone. Get a cheap phone. Not an iPhone. Its like saying a car is a necessity and then getting worked up because you cant get a BMW. This is how our economy works.

I used to be a big supporter of blogging and individual journalism. However, lately i am finding i am gravitating away from it the same reason i got out of podcasting. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a constitutional right to speak their opinion. That doesn't mean you are automatically right or can make wild accusations with no backing and say that it is their opinion. Tactful journalism is hard to find anymore. Objective journalism is hard to find anymore. Its harder and harder to find news that isn't slanted by politics or personal opinion.

Its easy to see in this article and its comments how basic journalistic items like "proof" and "evidence" have gone out the window. Claims like the following just blow me away.

"The vast majority of iPhone users I’ve encountered over the past twenty-four hours are in agreement with me on this one.”

Really? That's how we show support for our argument? I could say the same thing and both of us have nothing to show for it. This is a high school argument that offers no proof or evidence of what they say. Ironically, looking at the article and the comments, almost all of the comments go against what the author has written.

Next, its suggested that iPhone customers are being forced to use iPhones under duress.

“So we’re forced to agree to these contracts under duress, and our justice system has reiterated time and again that contracts signed under duress (such as signing while a gun is pointed at your head) aren’t legally valid.”

Can this be serious? THIS IS A CELL PHONE. This isn't north korea and the government isn't forcing you to sell your land. ATT is offering a service. Don't want it? Don't get it. This argument is just absurd!

The article goes on to suggest that apple is a victim in this relationship with ATT because of this. I cant even begin to go into that point. Am i an ATT apologist? No. Am i some corporate lackey who loves corporations and all they do? No. I have one purpose with my energetic responses to this.


Personal responsibility. I was raised to take responsibility for what i do, say and agree to. If i sign a contract, i abide by it. Whether its to ATT, the government, a bank, my neighbor or the neighbors pet fish. That is the point of the contract. If there is a breach of contract, there is legal grounds for someone to file a grievance. But to have this kind of furor and to label ATT and Apple as fraudsters for making people who got the 3G phone pay actual retail price for a new one since they ha vent fulfilled their contract....its just not right.

Slander, libel, however it comes out, its the same thing. Would ATT give 2 poops about this article? Naw. This issue is basically a handful of people crying and screaming into the wind, despite what Bill has to say about it. Nowhere near the complaints that brought the 100$ early adopter credit from 1g buyers. However, i find it slightly odd that someone who makes their living writing about corporations and does so with fan boy like fervor, now sees them as evil and only out to screw people over.

Oh how easy the table turns. Feel free to post your thoughts on it. Agree with me or not, ill post the responses. No censoring here, unless its spam, foul language or other objectionable content.