# PC vs Mac Simply Explained **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 24, 2001, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284 "2001-03-24T05:03:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/101 "2001-03-28T00:09:20Z")
> [@](#): > > **The majority of Mac-bashing trolls tend to be young teenage males. I suspect this is because they prefer to use Windows because it has many more games available (never mind where they get those games from), and young teens often get a kick out of belittling others for being different.** I believe this is rather incorrect. From my personal interaction with people my age, the majority of teens do not care either way. They just care if a computer works, if it can go online, and if you can use AOL or AIM to chat. That’s it. Most teens I know are not heavily involved in computer games. Those who are get game consoles. My friends who use Macs don’t complain very much about Windows and PCs, and are far more sensitive to people criticizing their machine than a PC user. So, unless you have a rock-solid cite for your claim, I’d like you to retract it, because my personal upbringing experience has shown me otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/102 "2001-03-28T00:11:43Z")
OK, so now that we’ve determined that everybody’s biased, did **markxxx** get an answer to his OP? Seems this thread quicked devolved into complicated explanations when what he specifically asked for was simplicity. (In a way, I suppose it says a lot that the only way people found to differentiate the two was by getting into specifics.) Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/103 "2001-03-28T00:51:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > \*\*[ I find it interesting that you ask this “why” question only of PC users. As if passion for Macs is acceptable and understandable, but how could anybody actually speak vehemently about PCs? Do you see the irony here? Are you really interested in why some people hate other people’s platforms? If so, perhaps you can inquire with **Mssr. E** or other venomous creatures about their disdain for civility in the name the all-Godly Apple. \*\* [/QUOTE] I have, I thought, made it exceedingly clear why I ask why, as well as why I hate Microsoft. I ask why, because PC people have NOTHING WHATSOEVER AT STAKE in this argument, except their egos. Mac people have their (beloved) platform at stake. Every person that is convinced by PC haters that Mac is a bad idea (for no real reason except ego, I reiterate) is another Mac that is not sold, another possible Mac supporter that is lost, and possibly another nail in the coffin of the platform. Why do you want to do that!!! PLEASE STOP. YOU are HURTING us…we are doing NOTHING to you. Is that clear enough for you? And see above for why I hate Microsoft. By the way, I wasn’t contending anything about numbers of bigots on either side. I was claiming that we have a legitimate, logical investment in winning this one. We care for a reason. You don’t. Getting pissed off because Mac people are smug is waste of your emotional energy. Why bother? Who cares? If you think PC’s are so great, just chuckle at our pathetic passion for our silly little platform and please, just because you consider yourself a nice person who is better than getting bent out of shape over other people’s smugness…keep your opinions to yourself. Once more: your opinions can be harmful, and expressing them does nothing except make YOU feel superior. Consider this me begging. Begging you and everyone like you. Just go away. Be quiet. There is nothing to be gained but definitely something to be lost. We are just playing defense. stoid ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/104 "2001-03-28T00:55:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monster104 \* > **…Do I think all Mac users are like that? Nope. I get along well with Mac users…** Did anybody else think this sounds similar to “I’m no racist! Some of my best friends are black!” “I like Jews, they’re cool!” “I have no problem with Orientals, I get along with them!” HAHAHAHA I’m really sorry I got to this fight late. I still have 2 pages to read, but I had to comment on this…back in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/105 "2001-03-28T02:03:53Z")
**Stoid** wrote > [@](#): > > Your opinions can be harmful, and expressing them does nothing except make YOU feel superior. Consider this me begging. Begging you and everyone like you. Just go away. Be quiet. Sorry, **Stoid** , I can’t do that and I’m not real stoked that you’ve asked me to. My opinion is not evil, and I don’t express it for the sole purpose of feeling superior. If you really want to do the Mac side a favor, try asking goons like **Chas.E** to shut up, not rational people like me. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/106 "2001-03-28T02:07:33Z")
**Joe\_Cool** wrote > [@](#): > > Did anybody else think (Monster104’s posting) sounds similar to “I’m no racist! Some of my best friends are black!” “I like Jews, they’re cool!” “I have no problem with Orientals, I get along with them!” > > HAHAHAHA Ha ha yourself. Your first post on this thread and you’re calling a rational poster a racist. Good start, punk. Next you can call me Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/107 "2001-03-28T02:08:22Z")
> [@](#): > > …because PC people have NOTHING WHATSOEVER AT STAKE in this argument… Says who? You? I can assure you that a person who prefers PC’s has just as much at stake in this argument as you do… that is, nothing tangible. Nothing but ego is being argued here. So stop with this self-righteous “our way of life is at stake!” crap. > [@](#): > > Did anybody else think this sounds similar to “I’m no racist! Some of my best friends are black!” No. The accusation was “you can’t stand Mac users”. The response was “yes I can.” ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/108 "2001-03-28T02:31:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE Bo Diddly \* > \*\* Says who? You? I can assure you that a person who prefers PC’s has just as much at stake in this argument as you do… that is, nothing tangible. > \*\* How do you figure? Given that one of the main marks aginst the mac given by those who speak against it is the fact that there isn’t as much software for it, what do you think that says? The Mac has been under assault for years. The imac pulled Apples ass out of the fire, but for how long? If people don’t believe in it, if someone thinking of buying on hears nothing but how much it sucks, how passe it is, how you can’t get software for it, don’t you think that affects their decision? Don’t you think there are people logging on here from work who are considering purchases for their home that might be influenced against buying a Mac by what they read here? I sure do. And I don’t want to lose that buyer. But PC people have absolutely nothing whatsoever to lose by losing that person. Or a million people. Or several million people…in fact, it would take many, many, many millions of people abandoning the Wintel world for it’s survival to be threatened in any way, including missing out on any cool software. What you say DOES have an impact, and nothing good can come of saying it. Oh, and \*\* Bill, \*\* you certainly CAN stop saying it. You choose not to. That’s fine, and it’s pretty much what I expected. But as one who believes in the Mac (I think…as I said earlier, this whole OSX thing has got me spooked a little) I consider it my job to ask. stoid ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/109 "2001-03-28T02:39:16Z")
Can someone be a platform Unitarian Universalist? At home, I’ve got two PCs – one boots into Windows 2000, the other into Windows 98, SuSE Linux and BeOS 5.0. An elderly NeXT TurboColor Workstation is in the mail. The next computer will bee a Mac – I haven’t owned one for three years, but I really miss the platform, the ease of the UI. I like tinkering with PCs, tweaking Windows 2000, learning Linux, but of all the OSes out there, OSX is my favorite to date, and best reflects my beliefs about what computing should be like. REAL geeks partake from a variety of operating systems and GUIs. (Okay, so I’m an urban planner, but peel back a few layers, and you’ll find someone who’s just as geeky as that guy who lives in the 24 hour computer lab at your local university, subsisting on cold pizza and Jolt. It’s more fun that way! ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/110 "2001-03-28T02:52:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Did anybody else think this sounds similar to “I’m no racist! Some of my best friends are black!” “I like Jews, they’re cool!” “I have no problem with Orientals, I get along with them!” > > HAHAHAHA\*\* You have exactly one post to clarify what you mean by this. If you are indeed indicating I am a racist, I am taking this to the pit. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/111 "2001-03-28T05:46:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > Just for fun, I made up a few URLs, and (imagine that) there were extensive hate sites behind them. Check these out: > > [http://www.ihatemicrosoft.com](http://www.ihatemicrosoft.com) > [http://www.ihatebillgates.com](http://www.ihatebillgates.com) > [http://www.microsoftsucks.com](http://www.microsoftsucks.com) > [http://www.fuckmicrosoft.com](http://www.fuckmicrosoft.com) > > I’m sure there are plenty more out there. > > **yosemitebabe** , **Stoid** , and others, you are claiming that PC Bigots are far more obnoxious than Mac Bigots, but I claim the reverse is true. I haven’t checked, but I bet if you went back and checked all of the the Mac vs. PC threads here, the bulk of them have been started by Mac Bigots. Please check. I’d like some stats here. As for the sites you posted, I checked them out. They are _anti-Microsoft_. That does _not_ equal “Mac bigot”. I did not take forever looking at each site, but they seemed to basically hate MS, and wanted to promote “alternatives”, such as (I copied this list from the [fuckmicrosoft.com](http://fuckmicrosoft.com) site): **BestLinux BlueCat Linux Conectiva Linux Corel Linux Darwin Debian GNU/Linux DragonLinux easyLinux Elfstone Linux FreeBSD FreeDOS Gentus Linux Hard Hat Linux Jurix Linux KRUD L13Plus LibraNet Linux Linux Antarctica Linux From Scratch Linux-Mandrake LinuxOne Linux-PPC LinuxPro LinuxWare LuteLinux MaxOS MkLinux NetBSD OpenBSD Platinum Linux QNX Red Hat Linux Redmond Linux RockLinux RxDOS Slackware Linux Spinix Stampede Linux S.u.S.E. Linux TurboLinux Yellow Dog Linux Yggdrasil Linux** Gee - Mac OS is just _one_ in a long list of the OS’s that they are promoting, isn’t it? My take on these sites is that they are against the vast monopoly MS has on the world. They are sick of it, right or wrong, and they hate MS, right or wrong. And they are promoting _many_ different operating systems. They feel like they are promoting the Underdog. Or rather, a whole long _list_ of underdogs. And Mac OS is only one on the list. On the other hand, the “I Hate Apple” site, and simular sites, are basically kicking the little guy. Mac OS is just _one_ platform, a platform that is the _minority_, (an “underdog”) and yet they still feel the need to _go out of their way_ to bash it. The anti-MS sites are bashing what they see as the big, bloated monopoly that they fear is taking over everything. Do you see a different mindset here? Because I sure do. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/112 "2001-03-28T06:54:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Given that one of the main marks aginst the mac given by those who speak against it is the fact that there isn’t as much software for it, what do you think that says? I think that says that people show common sense in not deliberately limiting the amount of products they can use for an advantage that they may or may not need. > [@](#): > > The Mac has been under assault for years. By whiny bastards who seek conflict. Tell me, how many industry heads are attacking the Mac? How often has Bill Gates led a “Down with Macs” riot? Your fears are based on a handful of loudmouths. > [@](#): > > The imac pulled Apples ass out of the fire, but for how long? If Apple can’t keep itself ahead with continually better and better products, well, then, tough breaks. It has nothing to do with a PC vs Mac debate or two, it has everything to do with Apple making good products. > [@](#): > > If people don’t believe in it, if someone thinking of buying on hears nothing but how much it sucks, how passe it is, how you can’t get software for it, don’t you think that affects their decision? If someone’s that impressionable, we don’t want to be using them as an example of the average person. > [@](#): > > Don’t you think there are people logging on here from work who are considering purchases for their home that might be influenced against buying a Mac by what they read here? And they’re seeing Chas.E’s posts, and your posts supporting him, and thinking, “I don’t want to be like one of those nutcase Mac users!” > [@](#): > > But PC people have absolutely nothing whatsoever to lose by losing that person. Or a million people. Or several million people… Oh, this is rich… you actually think there’s some sort of conspiracy, some sort of PC Illuminati, seeking the active destruction of anything and everything Apple? > [@](#): > > in fact, it would take many, many, many millions of people abandoning the Wintel world for it’s survival to be threatened in any way, including missing out on any cool software. You seem hung up on this notion that the only reason PC’s are so popular is because they’re already so popular. They’re not. I would imagine that the primary factor in purchasing a new computer for your average consumer is price. PRICE. And Apple computers are costlier. Period. It’s NOT because of what they hear on message boards, it’s NOT because of some shitty websites they see, it’s NOT because they understand the logistics in computing algorithms, it’s NOT because they know what the heck you mean when you mention “Unix-based” or “Closed-source” or any of that jazz… it’s the ALMIGHTY BUCK that makes up their minds. > [@](#): > > What you say DOES have an impact, and nothing good can come of saying it. You’re making a circular argument… you assume that a Mac is better, for anything, period, and therefore any talk that suggests otherwise is destructive. I wonder when the day will come when you wake up one morning, go brush your teeth, and as you’re cleaning your molars, you have the sudden realization, “I’m not right just because I say I am!” Such an epiphany should truly be interesting. If the Mac dies, it will be simply because Apple can’t keep up with the rest of the market. Which will suck, of course, but such is the way of capitalism. I think you’re using this whole “I don’t want Mac gone” simply as an excuse and cover to respond harshly to people who dispute your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/113 "2001-03-28T07:31:12Z")
Sigh. I think there is a certain amount of disinformation and ignorance being spread by anti-Mac folk that _is_ having an impact. I remember before I got my first computer, I talked to my sister (the “computer professional” in the family) about Macs vs. PCs. She bashed Macs, in a more genteel way, but she bashed them. I ended getting a PC, partly because of what she said. Turns out I later found out that a lot of the things she told me are no longer true, or are very narrow in scope. Sure, Macs aren’t good for _all_ things, but they would have been well-suited for me, as an artsy person. Not that I regret getting into PCs, knowing how to work them can’t hurt, and I never have _hated_ PCs. But I like Macs, a lot. And I know I _would_ have gotten into them sooner if it hadn’t been for my sister’s biased misinformation. I have witnessed and heard about other simular situations. Someone asks their “computer whiz” relative or neighbor about Macs, and they get the “They’re all CRAP!” line. And that’s not right - Macs are great for the Internet, great to troubleshoot, and especially great if you are interested in graphics. (I have been casually been looking at the help wanted ads for graphics jobs, and more than a few require Mac experience.) But the newcomer to computers may not look any further, and that’s a shame. Sure, maybe they _should_ do more legwork, and _should_ look into the options themselves. But how easy is it to get an unbiased “second opinion”, when so many people are PC-leaning, and either know nothing about Macs, or downright hate them? I know first-hand how this goes. And I believe it happens not infrequently elsewhere. I think most people who are totally new to the computer world will feel overwhelmed, and just “go with the flow”. And sometimes, especially when budgets are a big consideration, maybe that’s the best thing for them. But there _are_ potential buyers out there who really would be much happier with Macs. (Like me.) And they are not getting the information they need, to make a balanced and well-informed decision. And it’s partly because of all the Mac bigots out there. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/114 "2001-03-28T07:49:05Z")
And I have a reason: every Mac I’ve used has been a disaster. My mom’s Performa would crash or kill apps at random, often 5-10 times in an hour. While Netscape was running, every other app would become unusable due to the MacOS’s sorry multitasking. We also owned a PowerMac, which took literally one minute to start SimpleText. Also, of course, I had to deal with plenty of Macs in school. On many of them, we couldn’t even reinstall the OS once they decided to stop working. Other than that, I mainly stick to Wintel because of price (1 GHz system for under $1000) and applications (as a programmer, I can’t bear to part with Delphi). ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/115 "2001-03-28T11:02:56Z")
What with people ridiculing Monster104 because of his age? (OK, it’s only a couple of people, but still.) Clearly he knows what he’s talking about and can express himself without resorting to personal attacks, unlike certain people named Chas.E. I suppose Shawn Fanning should not be taken seriously because he was a teenager when he started Napster. Alexis Clairaut learned calculus at 10 and published the very first book on 3 dimensional analytic geometry at 18. Mozart wrote his first opera when he was 12. Hell, Jobs and Wozniak were 21 and 26 when they started Apple, which isn’t that much older than 18. I suppose if these people timewarped and posted here that they would catch flak despite being geniuses (but of course Chas.E wouldn’t dare critizice the Apple gods), because they were just punk kids. I’m not saying that Monster104 is a genius, because I don’t know, but I do say that he is worth listening to regardless of his age. Getting back to the main thread, I prefer PCs, but I have no special hatred for Macs. PCs are cheaper, have a wider variety of hardware and software, are easier to upgrade with new components (memory, video cards, hard drive, etc.), and have more available games. This is the most important aspect mind you. On the downside, most PCs use Windows as the operating system. Windows is cluttered at best. My home PC actually doesn’t crash very often (I use Win98 2nd Ed), but only because I’ve tinkered with it a lot. In my view, the crappiest thing about Windows is the Registry. This supposedly helps Windows keep track of programs better, but it gets corrupted all the time, especially when programs have a badly written uninstaller that leaves junk behind in the Registry. I’ve taken to manually inspecting the Registry every so often, but it’s tedious and somewhat dangerous, as you don’t want to edit the wrong thing or you will have gigantic problems. Despite all this, I still prefer Windows to Linux\Unix, because I’m used to it and stuff runs on it. Also, Unix syntax can get a little screwy. So basically PCs give more control to the user, but at the cost of ease of use. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/116 "2001-03-28T13:08:18Z")
Monster, Chas – Dudes, get a grip! Do you think Joe\_Cool’s statement was out of malice? Do I really have to explain it to you? I did not read any racism into that. It’s a silly analogy. I commonly use it with my friends in instances like this because it’s mostly commonly heard in the form of a racist defending himself by saying “No, no, I’m not racist, some of my friends are black.” Thus the analogy is transferred to any other applicable situation “No, no, I’m not [a biased proponent of an -ism] some of my friends are [the object of the bias.]” Get it??? Where has the sense of humor gone to in this thread? Oh, yeah, there wasn’t any to begin with. Oh, and to the Great Debate, my untechnical 2 pence: Macs- much better DTP, more stable (in my experience), faster. PCs - cheaper, easier to maintain, easier to upgrade, easier to fix, hell of a lot more software. I personally have a Mac, since I use Photoshop and all sorts of DTP programs. I think the Mac is a much better computer, but, given the choice, for general use, I’d buy a PC, since it’s easier to fix, easier to find software, and easier on the pocket book. ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/117 "2001-03-28T14:54:18Z")
> [@](#): > > **Do you think Joe\_Cool’s statement was out of malice? Do I really have to explain it to you? I did not read any racism into that. It’s a silly analogy** Thank you, that’s what I was wondering. I read it as both ways, which is why I asked **Joe\_Cool** to clarify it. Sorry if I seem a little on the edge and defensive here, but I’ve already been attacked once. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/118 "2001-03-28T15:06:15Z")
WHOOPS! My post should be to Monster and Bill, not Chas. No idea where the heck that came from. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/119 "2001-03-28T19:05:42Z")
OMG, you people need to lighten the F\*#% up. Monster104: > [@](#): > > You have exactly one post to clarify what you mean by this. If you are indeed indicating I am a racist, I am taking this to the pit Spoofe: > [@](#): > > ## quote: > > ## Did anybody else think this sounds similar to “I’m no racist! Some of my best friends are black!” > > No. The accusation was “you can’t stand Mac users”. The response was "yes I can. BillH: > [@](#): > > Ha ha yourself. Your first post on this thread and you’re calling a rational poster a racist. Good start, punk. Next you can call me Hitler. Give me a break, guys. Was pulykamell really the only one who got the joke? Are Mac users a race? My one chance to clarify: Accusation: “Monster104, you have a problem with Mac users.” Response: “No I don’t, I usually get along really well with Mac users.” Possible better response: “No I’m not, I neither like, nor dislike people based on choice of computer platform. I judge people based on individual qualities, and have no special preference nor dislike for Mac users as compared to any other user.” Analogous accusation: “Mr. X, you are prejudiced against [race Q].” Analogous response: “No I’m not, I like [race Q]-ians. They’re nice.” Analogous better response: "No I’m not, I neither like, nor dislike people based on race. I judge people on their individual qualities, and have no special preference nor dislike for [race Q] as compared to any other race. The point? **NONE**. It’s a freakin’ joke. Could we imagine a serious point out of this? Sure, let’s try and make one up: Overgeneralization and stereotyping. Attributing a good trait to an entire group is equally as prejudicial as attributing a bad trait to an entire group. Ex: “Most white people are domineering assholes.” vs “Most white people are smart.” “Most oriental people are untrustworthy.” vs “Most oriental people are hard workers and good at math.” “Most black people are stupid.” vs “Most black people are good at sports.” “Most Mac users blindly cling to an outdated, failing platform without knowing why.” vs “Most Mac users are highly intelligent and nice people.” All 8 statements are false generalizations. 4 are positive, 4 are negative. But all 8 are equally unfair. The lesson? Read the post and pay attention before you get your panties all in a bunch. Getting upset about a stupid joke is ridiculous. Oh, and BillH, you have a lot of nerve talking about rationality when you start crying about Hitler and calling names in the very next sentence. Piss off, asshole, I wasn’t talking to you. I will henceforth refrain from any utilization of, or attempt at, humor in order not to offend the delicate sensibilities of the present company. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284/120 "2001-03-28T19:22:57Z")
On further reflection, I see it was a bad idea to write “Piss off, asshole” in my last post. I’d like to preemptively apologize to the moderator . Can we pretend it isn’t there? maybe edit that to say “xxxx xxx, xxxxxxx” instead? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-vs-mac-simply-explained/59284.md?page=7)