Oh, we Mac users are a sensitive lot.
Numerous Mac-oriented Web sites have been weighing in on a video report by Brittany Umar of TheStreet.com that had a little fun with some statistics on what sort of people use Macs.
Most of those sites had several pages of comments from less-than-amused Mac users pointing out how few, if any, of the characteristics described in the video - provocatively titled "Mac Users Are Snobs" - applied to them. Citing the original research by Mindset Media, Umar says Mac users are apt be "self-centered," "arrogant," "conceited" and "self-important."
Then Umar describes the lifestyle habits of the typical Mac user: more likely to eat organic food, drive a hybrid car, patronize Starbucks Coffee, care about the environment and be a social and political liberal.
A few of the characteristics ascribed to Mac users were downright odd: We supposedly buy five pairs of sneakers each year and favor teeth-whitening products.
The extent of the reaction from the Mac community inspired Umar to post a commentary cheerfully urging Mac users to see the positive side of the report.
Writes Umar: "Be proud, O Mac user! Do you not see the positives in some of these characteristics? Being green is the new black, after all."
Indeed, not all of the characteristics are bad, such as being "more intellectually curious," being a perfectionist and, as Umar points out, being green. Mac users are also much more likely to purchase music online than PC users (50 percent versus 16 percent).
And while no one likes to be pigeonholed, there's no need for any Mac user to consider the report an affront. Such research data merely reports generalities and tendencies; it doesn't mean every characteristic necessarily applies to every Mac user.
How do I stack up against the criteria? My ex-wife can tell you I'm self-centered, arrogant and conceited. I drive a Toyota Prius. "A strong need for recognition"? Well, I'm writing this blog, aren't I?
On the other hand, I never go to Starbucks, I buy one pair of sneakers every five years, I don't care about organic food and I hardly fit the description of a "liberal."
Anyway, what do we Mac users care what a reporter for TheStreet.com says about us? Obviously we're all way smarter than she is.
Read Dave Zeiler's blog on Apple-related issues at baltimoresun.com/apple