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Comment by k-mcgrady | Hacker News Reader

Surprised Apple didn't discover this - or maybe they did and just didn't think it was a big issue. Could this be part of the reason behind the try-on appointments, so people with tattoos/scars/hairy arms can make sure all the features work correctly before purchase?

Edit: Also, why does the comment section here look like a reddit thread?

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I suspect -- but have no proof whatsoever -- that Apple is the target of a widespread astroturfing campaign. The quality of other subjects on HN seems to be close to the normal (high) quality. Threads involving Apple, on the other hand, see an immediate influx of stupidity. As the downvotes accumulate, the thread drops of the front page.

I realize that Apple has always been controversial, but this seems to have become especially egregious since the sometime around the beginning of the year.

I doubt it's astroturfing; it's merely that Apple being supremely evil is an important religious matter for many people (see r/technology on reddit for the ultimate example).

I also don't think that necessarily means astroturfing. Few things in my life has attracted as much attention and debate as apple products.

People either comment "aren't they glorious" or "they're not that good and you can get better stuff cheaper". My friends and acquaintances aren't astroturfers. Something about apple just seems to compel people to make strident comments.

Anecdotal at best, but I have noticed a slow decline in % of quality posts per comment thread over the last 3 or 4 months. This problem is also much more apparent when the article is about something that is easy to comment on (non-technical discussion) and one that has large groups of cult fans and detractors that will blindly support or badmouth any newly released information (apple products are probably #1).

sorry for the OT. apple sux!1

Anecdotal at best, but I have noticed a slow decline in % of quality posts per comment thread over the last 3 or 4 months

I've also been reading comments like this since I arrived here four years ago (just looked that up, wow is that depressing). Not that it means they're all wrong, of course, but I suspect this is nothing new. Or maybe I'm the problem.

Ya you're probably right. At least downvotes deal with the problem pretty succinctly. After 2 years, this place is still the best online community I visit so I'll stop complaining :)

Paul Graham wrote about this very phenomenon: http://www.paulgraham.com/identity.html

Try-On Appointments won't reveal this problem as the watch you get to try on is just running a demo loop.

Interesting - glad I didn't bother with one then and just preordered. I guess if it has to pair with a phone to function and they'd have to wipe the device after every appointment.

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