Neuroscientists say brains of Apple fanatics the same as religious fanatics

[jimmy olsen]

We need to get one of those cult deprogramers on Beeb, stat!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43126515/ns/business-consumer_news/

Don't call them fanboys now, call them acolytes
Why are they so loyal to brand? Scientists say it affects their brain same as religion

By Alyson Shontell
Business Insider
updated 1 hour 27 minutes ago 2011-05-22T20:14:21

The cult of Apple is real, according to neuroscientists.

They compared MRIs of Apple fans' brains to those of people who call themselves "very religious" and found that Apple and religion light up the same part of the brain. This means that Apple triggers the same feelings and reactions in people as religion.

The BBC highlights the finding in an upcoming documentary, "Secrets of Superbrands."

The documentary also likens Apple Stores to cathedrals. "Apple stores often feature stone or other types of austere, simple flooring like a church with products mounted on pedestals like individual altars," writes Inc's Renee Oricchio.

Apple store launches are like religious experiences too. "The scenes I witnessed at the opening of the new Apple store in London's Covent Garden were more like an evangelical prayer meeting than a chance to buy a phone or a laptop," writes Alex Riley and Adam Boome of the BBC.

"Inside the store, glassy-eyed staff were whipped up into a frenzy of excitement, jumping up and down, clapping and shouting. When the doors finally opened, they hysterically 'high-fived' and cheered hundreds of delirious customers flooding in through the doors for hours on end."

It seems Steve Jobs really is a God to some people.

[Pat]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-His-Emissary-Divided-Western/dp/030014878X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306130057&sr=8-1

[Martinus]

Must be a slow news day.

[Slargos]

Unsurprising. People need religion even if they won't admit it to themselves.

Cult of Diversity or Cult of Apple, it matters not.

[Eddie Teach]

Must be a slow news day.

Are you saying this is so obvious to be a "dog bites man" story? 

[Martinus]

Unsurprising. People need religion even if they won't admit it to themselves.

Cult of Diversity or Cult of Apple, it matters not.

Is there a Cult of Being a Hateful Asshole Loser? If so, you'd be the Pope.

[Martinus]

Must be a slow news day.

Are you saying this is so obvious to be a "dog bites man" story? 

Yes and no. I am not surprised that people who attending live store openings are crazy, in the same way as people who attend live game releases or royal weddings. But the article seems to draw conclusions about Apple users based on the actions of these fanatics, which is silly.

[Valdemar]

Unsurprising. People need religion even if they won't admit it to themselves.

Cult of Diversity or Cult of Apple, it matters not.

Is there a Cult of Being a Hateful Asshole Loser? If so, you'd be the Pope.

Tame.. you should be able to do better than that by now

V

[Pat]

Must be a slow news day.

Are you saying this is so obvious to be a "dog bites man" story? 

Yes and no. I am not surprised that people who attending live store openings are crazy, in the same way as people who attend live game releases or royal weddings. But the article seems to draw conclusions about Apple users based on the actions of these fanatics, which is silly.

Crazy? Those parts of the brain that it activates are there for a reason. What's crazy is not to use them, and what's really crazy is that stupid old religions and Apple is the best we can come up with to do so.

[grumbler]

Yes and no. I am not surprised that people who attending live store openings are crazy, in the same way as people who attend live game releases or royal weddings. But the article seems to draw conclusions about Apple users based on the actions of these fanatics, which is silly.

Actually, the conclusions about Apple users are based on brain studies.  Sorry that this hits so close to home, but it does explain your antipathy for other, non-Apple, religions.  The most devout are often the least tolerant.

[Warspite]

iFuehrer.

[The Minsky Moment]

Unsurprising. People need religion even if they won't admit it to themselves.

Cult of Diversity or Cult of Apple, it matters not.

Unsurpising.  Some people will uncritically accept virtually anything they read, regardless of how weak the proof.

[DGuller]

I only uncritically accept the facts that make people who disagree with me look bad. 

[Tamas]

I only uncritically accept the facts that make people who disagree with me look bad. 

this

[Josquius]

What a strange thing to research.