Who are the "Mac Marines" and how can we get them to shut up?

[guitarist]

From an article I read this morning, a positive look at Apple's success.

The five rules of cool
By Harris Collingwood

December 13, 2005 - 12:00AM

Almost since its founding in 1976, Apple Computer has enjoyed a prominence out of all proportion to its rather modest share of the personal computer market. That prominence can be measured by the attention lavished on the company's every move as well as every attempt to analyse its strategy and tactics.

Consider the uproar from Macintosh purists when Apple launched its brief attempt to license its operating system to other hardware companies. When Apple reversed course and opted to keep its operating system to itself, another camp bellowed just as loudly.

Whenever a journalist suggests that Apple might be something less than the most perfect organisation in recorded history, the poor sap is deluged with emails and phone calls from self-appointed "Mac Marines."



------

note: the "Mac Marines" line made me laugh, but really, who are these people? Why do these self-appointed militants feel compelled to display blind loyalty, and get infantile about it? These are the nuts who amplify Apple's "Cult" image, which hurts more than helps. This must drive columnists crazy, always having to qualify analysis or criticism by adding "mac fantatics, please don't bomb my inbox".

What's the deal with these guys? Would any of you admit to having done this? Written an angry note to an editor after an article about Apple you didn't like? Know anyone who has? Any way we can get these people to SHUT UP? Interested in your thoughts on this. I'm sure you've seen columnists make a note about this, begging mac heads not to bomb them. Why do this? How does it help anything? I wish we could stick a sock in their mouth, or take away their mac priveleges for a month. You know what I mean?

Full article here:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/soapbox/th...e=fullpage#

[iaJim]

I have met the enemy, and they are us. -Pogo

[Lux Interior]

Guy Kawasaki did this, but he always encouraged "friendly" communication and only if you really cared about the particular subject, e.g. if company X dropped Mac support for product Y, please contact them and let them know if you used this product. I was on his mailing list way back when, although I never helped in any email campaigns.

Some "journalists" are anti-Mac and deserve a good ass-kicking, however. *cough*DVORAK*cough* *ahem*Kim Komando*ahem*

[$tevie]

Isn't this the legacy of Guy Kawasaki and his MacEvangelists? Woe be to the reporter that says anything about Apple: it doesn't have to be wrong, or nasty, just saying something NOT flattering will draw their wrath. I find it pretty obnoxious, myself. And it creates this illusion that we all foam at the mouth.

I don't bother reporters or writers with this stuff. I have complained to companies on occasion, for example if they offer bonus software for a purchase but none of it works on a Mac even though the purchased item does. And even then I try to be polite.

[Paul F.]

I was one of Guy's Mac Evangle-Lista's...
To my recollection he NEVER requested ANYONE to respond negatively just because someone says something "unflattering"...
He encouraged people to make POLITE CORRECTIONS to any unfactual information presented. Not ranting, flaming, or being generally obnoxious... just polite comment and correction where applicable.

[$tevie]

My memory was quite the opposite, but I think I will have to take the word of two former Evangelistas over my lousy memory.

[Paul F.]

There is always the possibility that I'm wrong... but I don't think so

[Jack D.]

I was also an Evangelista.

The email list we received was called the EvangeList and the full archive used to be floating around out there but I haven't seen it in years. All Google links that I tried are dead.

Guy alway suggested tact, clarity and politeness when writing and pointing out factual errors about Apple. In reality it was more like a pack of rabid wolves attacking the offending party. Pretty agressive and over the top by todays standards and maybe even a little scary back then.

Remember though, it was a different world back then and we didn't question orders, we just did what we were told! So I hope you youngsters appreciate that a lot of good men were lost just so you could have those shiny new G5 cheese graters today! ;-)

[bangman]

Right on, Lux is here. You know the forum is official when Lux appears.

"For the Love of Ivy" - Gun Club

[RonT]

I could be wrong about who they are referring to in the article but there is a site called www.macmarines.com - I believe they've been around for years.

Ron