> I find it interesting how Apple is defended when they make security blunders, while Microsoft was heavily slammed back in the day.
Given that we have a plurality of OS X users on HN (according to the last poll), it's not surprising that post-purchase rationalization is a common response to such articles.
Since its effect is directly proportional to the cost of the purchase in question, it would make sense that relatively expensive objects, such as smartphones and computers, would trigger a correspondingly stronger negative reaction to criticism of said product.
I'm not doubting that there is post-purchase rationalization. It's just weird to read it from my comment. You think the functioning of OS X's home directory encryption makes me feel threatened because I'm a Mac person?
No, it wasn't. It was directly in response to another comment someone else made, not you. They asked a general question, and this person answered that general question. Your comment might have sparked that general question, but it was not the focus of it.
Seriously, not everything need revolve around your one comment. FFS.
Dissonance model has been shown to not be proportional to price. Which is intuitive as you see fervent defending of brands for products such as beer, wine, websites etc which are relatively low cost or have no cost to the user.
It's a well known behavior, once people have made a commitment they move from analyzing objectively to defending their choice. Not saying it is in play here, but it isn't really unheard of.
>Given that we have a plurality of OS X users on HN (according to the last poll), it's not surprising that post-purchase rationalization is a common response to such articles.
"Post-purchase rationalization", even if we are to take the sketchy "studies have shown route", goes for major stuff, not for each and every fault or bug in a bought product.
People ARE able to talk ill about their products, and in fact Mac and Windows and Linux users speak ill of their systems each and every bloody day. We even have mottos, like "FTFF".
Given that we have a plurality of OS X users on HN (according to the last poll), it's not surprising that post-purchase rationalization is a common response to such articles.