High-def Emotional Investment

[sphdle1]

I think a lot of the FUD slinging, Sony hating, denial on the war's outcome, scorched earth policy attitudes, etc., that we are seeing from the hddvd camp right now, is because they are grieving the loss.

They have been emotionally invested in hddvd for over a year in some cases, and this loss is much worse than just your favorite team losing in sudden death overtime of the 7th game.

They held hope out until the bitter end, so many are now scorching the earth hoping downloads or something will bring down Blu-ray. Others are still in denial thinking there still may be a chance and are holding onto this hope with all their might.

We all here are somewhat emotionally invested in high-def Blu-ray & have gotten in heated discussions with each other on occasion, and on many occasion got in heated discussions on other forums to dispell fud.

Any thoughts?

[Coach81]

Yeah, what is FUD?

[BStecke]

Originally Posted by Coach81

Yeah, what is FUD?

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Common tools used by the HD DVD (and Blu-ray, to be fair) extreme fanboys.

LOL, who still thinks there's a chance? I would love to have a conversation with such people. Obviously they have insight into different threads of reality.

[jsteinhauer]

I've never been emotionally invested in entertainment venues, consumer electronics, and even when my favorite team loses in overtime, the disappointment goes away after 15-20 seconds.

I'm almost sorry for those for whom these things are such roller coaster rides. Unless you livelihood depends on it, it's supposed to be fun, and that's all it has been to me. Having had both BD and HDDVD players from my outset, it has been clear to me the BD was a superior format; it is what sparked my interest in home theater to begin with. However, if I were stuck with an obsolete BD player and dual HDDVD/DVD disks for the next ten years, the only thing my life would have been lacking is a little bit of lossless audio.

When I can no longer afford my mortgage, if I or a family member gets ill, if my house burns down, if I lose my job, then I will get emotional.

I think many viewed this format war through either very distorted or very privileged glasses.

[esteban2]

Originally Posted by sphdle1

I think a lot of the FUD slinging, Sony hating, denial on the war's outcome, scorched earth policy attitudes, etc., that we are seeing from the hddvd camp right now, is because they are grieving the loss.

Sure, and we'd be seeing the same thing from BD fanboys had HD-DVD won. For some reason, people get attached to these formats, almost like rooting for their favorite football team.

Unless you had $1 million invested in HD-DVD, those feelings are irrational, but they exist nonetheless ...

Me? I've been purple since last august, so couldn't lose either way.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Common tools used by the HD DVD (and Blu-ray, to be fair) extreme fanboys.

I disagree.

Blu-Ray people didn't use it.

Telling people that their format is dead when it's painfully obvious that their format is dead and has been dead before it got released is not FUD.

FUN perhaps, but not FUD.

Enlightening the stupid that this whole Blu-Ray winning thing was a foregone conclusion is not spreading FUD, it's calling things like you see them when you don't look at things with red goggles on.

Logan

[BStecke]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

I disagree.

Blu-Ray people didn't use it.

Telling people that their format is dead when it's painfully obvious that their format is dead and has been dead before it got released is not FUD.

FUN perhaps, but not FUD.

Enlightening the stupid that this whole Blu-Ray winning thing was a foregone conclusion is not spreading FUD, it's calling things like you see them when you don't look at things with red goggles on.

Logan

There were/are *******s on both sides.

[Sonny]

This stuff goes both ways for sure. I know I would of felt pretty bad if BD had lost, but they didn't thank god

[mightypen]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

I've never been emotionally invested in entertainment venues, consumer electronics, and even when my favorite team loses in overtime, the disappointment goes away after 15-20 seconds.

I'm almost sorry for those for whom these things are such roller coaster rides. Unless you livelihood depends on it, it's supposed to be fun, and that's all it has been to me. Having had both BD and HDDVD players from my outset, it has been clear to me the BD was a superior format; it is what sparked my interest in home theater to begin with. However, if I were stuck with an obsolete BD player and dual HDDVD/DVD disks for the next ten years, the only thing my life would have been lacking is a little bit of lossless audio.

When I can no longer afford my mortgage, if I or a family member gets ill, if my house burns down, if I lose my job, then I will get emotional.

I think many viewed this format war through either very distorted or very privileged glasses.

Great post. Far more important things in life than this. I'm grateful that I am in a position where I can purchase both players and a fair number of movies in each and not get upset when one or the other fails. Its strange to me to get so wrapped up in something you don't really have any control over.

[tru2blu707]

id be pretty pissed if i invested a ton of money on a dead format also. if blu ray would have lost...my ps3 would of been out the window.

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by esteban2

Me? I've been purple since last august, so couldn't lose either way.

Unless because you were purple both formats lost... I had HD DVD first (got it the first day it came out whenever that was )as I was waiting for Sony to release their Blu-Ray player (got mine the end of November). But I quit purchasing films on HD DVD (with the exception of Transformers) earlier last year. Probably coming close to a year ago now... Which is why I have 200 Blu-Rays compared to 78 HD DVD's... or maybe it's less... either way you get the picture.

But I do agree there are a lot of sore people out there because of this stupid format war. A lot of them bought into the FUD that was spread by both sides and some people sat on the sidelines. And because the people sat on the sidelines for so long, I don't think they'll have much a problem sitting out for even longer.

But you're right, because HD DVD lost, a lot of the fanboys are wanting Blu-Ray to fail. I wouldn't be surprised if Toshiba and Microsoft still try to get Blu-Ray to go under in some ways.

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by BStecke

There were/are *******s on both sides.

And I think Logan's post (no offense) proved that. People are more obsessed with the formats than they are with the movies which is the exact opposite of why these 2 formats were created (well... sort of). It shouldn't be fun to tell someone that their choices in the way they watch movies is wrong...

[sphdle1]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

I've never been emotionally invested in entertainment venues, consumer electronics, and even when my favorite team loses in overtime, the disappointment goes away after 15-20 seconds.

I'm almost sorry for those for whom these things are such roller coaster rides. Unless you livelihood depends on it, it's supposed to be fun, and that's all it has been to me. Having had both BD and HDDVD players from my outset, it has been clear to me the BD was a superior format; it is what sparked my interest in home theater to begin with. However, if I were stuck with an obsolete BD player and dual HDDVD/DVD disks for the next ten years, the only thing my life would have been lacking is a little bit of lossless audio.

When I can no longer afford my mortgage, if I or a family member gets ill, if my house burns down, if I lose my job, then I will get emotional.

I think many viewed this format war through either very distorted or very privileged glasses.

Good for you. I agree, we really shouldn't sweat the small stuff. But many of us do, human nature to worry..? Anyway, since you were purple you didn't likely dig in like the die hards on either side (not that you would have anyway), but many of the ones who were not purple (red or blu), and became wrapped up in the small stuff, invested themselves emotionally (irrational, but did none-the-less). I think my personality is kinda that way. I really shouldn't get so caught up, but when Paramount pulled that buyout stunt, it really pi$$ed me off. I know, life's too short, but I and many others have varying degrees of emotional investment in Blu-ray/high-def itself, just like hddvd fanboys. I'll admit I am a Blu-ray fanboy and proud of it, but I really shouldn't get so caught up emotionally in this as I have, but I really don't have much of a life...lol But seriously, I can see that I would have been let down and disappointed in the emotional and financial investment if it had of gone the opposite way, even though it's all small stuff. My OCD coming out in me a bit...
.
I am Canadian, and I remember when the mens hockey team was going for gold in Japan a few years back, I got caught up too much in it because it had been nearly 50 years since we took home the gold in hockey...national pride on the line. I was disappointed for a few days when they lost. Then 4 years later, when the games were in the US, I had no nails left on my fingers when they played the gold metal game against the US team. I got emotionally caught up in it and probably too much so, though I am Canadian & we're talking hockey, eh, so what can I say...lol Many of us don't say, eh, by the way...that's just something Bob and Doug MacKenzie (hosers) said in their skit which they became popular in North America for identifying us Canucks, for a while anyway.
Anyway, my goal in life is to try and not become so emotionally charged in technology, sports, and the small stuff in general, or at least not to the point that I invest too much emotionally. Home theater technology is something that interests me a lot, but I should be able to get excited about it, without too much emotional investment. Something I shall work on...my motto shall be "life is too short to sweat the small stuff!" ... I'll find the right glasses for it.

[hc666]

They are worse than Toronto Maple Leaf fans.

They think they are awesome but haven't won anything since the 60;s

[Blu_Ray_UK2007]

When my team loses in extra time... the pain doesnt go away until the next win!

But as with them and Blu.. I'm commited 100%

I knew deep down blu would always win.. and if it had not I would have been very pissed off..

Not only for the wasted cash, but it would have been a waste of an amazing format.

But here we are on the winning side, so Party!

[mlanie10]

No, if it turned out that Blu Ray had lost then I would still be able to use my PS3 for games and I would still be able to watch the 30+ Blu Ray movies I already own. I would still be able to up-convert the 100s of dvds I own. I would still be very happy with my investment. I am very happy Blu won the war but if it had lost I would not cry over it.
I do feel sorry for the hd-dud early adapters that bought a stand alone hd-dud player for a $1000. I do not understand why people are still buying hd-dud players when there will be no more hd content for them after June? Talk about a waste of money!

[sphdle1]

Originally Posted by hc666

They are worse than Toronto Maple Leaf fans.

They think they are awesome but haven't won anything since the 60;s

lol...I just happen to be a long time leafs fan. Oh well as we say in our motto: "There's always next year"...unfortunately for hddvders there is no next year.

[Scripture]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

I disagree.

Blu-Ray people didn't use it.

Telling people that their format is dead when it's painfully obvious that their format is dead and has been dead before it got released is not FUD.

FUN perhaps, but not FUD.

Enlightening the stupid that this whole Blu-Ray winning thing was a foregone conclusion is not spreading FUD, it's calling things like you see them when you don't look at things with red goggles on.

Logan

You certainly have a way with words, Logan.