[kenshi]

Why be a "staunch <Company X> supporter" at all?

It's one thing to admire the work/output of a company, but once you identify as a "Company X" supporter you are just closing yourself off to being critical of "Company X".

I cringe at every WWDC session when people applaud for minor features (new themes in Xcode!) and long overdue bug fixes.

I am embarrassed whenever someone online talks about a problem they have with Apple hardware or software, and they are met with passive-aggressive replies along the lines of "I've never seen that problem, what are you doing wrong..."

I develop for and use Apple platforms. I really like some things they have done, but I'd never consider myself an "Apple supporter".

I'm the customer, they are the vendor. They are here to support me.

If they don't do a good job at that, I'll try to find another company to take their place.

Also companies change, as do their priorities. There was once a period in when MS were making the best internet browser (really)...

[saagarjha]

I generally consider "X supporter" as "X routinely does things that I agree with", not "I would support anything that X does".

[Razengan]

> Why be a "staunch <Company X> supporter" at all?

Because they consistently make what I want to see. For example SwiftUI, which I had been waiting for my entire life.

Call it the lesser evil, compared to my experience with other companies, if that's more acceptable for you.

Here's a funny observation: I have 20+ upvotes on my previous comment criticizing Apple, but a negative score for the supportive statements on this one.

So you see, some people will staunchly attempt to bury anything remotely positive about something they begrudge, so others feel they have to balance that out. :)

[kbenson]

Likely because you can like a company, or portions of their output, without being a "staunch supporter", depending on your interpretation of what that even means. I think most people are interpreting being a staunch supporter with ignoring their shortcomings. You may not mean it that way, and may correctly criticize them for their missteps (it sounds like you do, since you reference criticism), but if people interpret this comment as defense of defending Apple in all circumstances, then they're likely to down vote.

I think this is less a case of people being too for or against a company, and more people interpreting the same statement differently depending on their own context.

[Razengan]

> a "staunch supporter", depending on your interpretation of what that even means.

I just figured it was a nicer word to use than fanboy/fangirl.

[kbenson]

Yeah, I think it mostly is, but by the same token it might bring some of the baggage of those terms with it, such as support consideration of the facts, or refusal to accept any negative assertion, which is also sometimes associated with fanboy/fangirl. It's more to do with whether you use the term in a positive or negative context, as that will likely control what attributes it brings to mind. If you aren't careful to define that context, you're allowing others to define it themselves (even if it makes little sense in most cases for people to be using it in a way most would consider negative but applied to themselves. Exceptions do exist though...).

[HacklesRaised]

Perhaps broaden your horizons then, SwiftUI is a credible alternative to Flutter. Apple don't innovate, they build a better mousetrap. It has ever been thus.

[Razengan]

Yes and everybody else has also stolen or borrowed some idea from someone else going all the way back to the first caveman.

Should we hinder people from appreciating Flutter either then, because I'm sure it too, did not really ""innovate.""

Everything is a copy of BASIC anyway, just without the line numbers.

[sswaner]

Why be a staunch Apple supporter? Because the company and its products have a visceral and emotional impact. The company has made products that have been influential and meaningful for nearly 40 years. The brand, the leadership, and the customer experience are more favorable than that of any other company. The products are woven into the fabric of life, worn or carried nearly every waking moment, and depended on and trusted for many of life's most important experiences and relationships.

Not to mention that time in 1997 when Steve Jobs came on stage and I stood and cheered with everyone else at Moscone.

[whytaka]

> Why be a "staunch <Company X> supporter" at all?

The more people on the ecosystem I like and develop for, the more money I make.

[driverdan]

Marketers and society push the brand loyalty scam hard. Never be loyal or dedicated to a brand.