Is "camping" looked down upon?

[Gathomblipoob]

I think its pretty silly and crazy people have time to dedicate to that. However if thats what someone feels like doing with their time then more power to them.

I would actually rather be working (which I don't enjoy btw) then sitting outside forced to make conversation with those people.

Some of us enjoy getting to know people we've never met. Of course, I think we tend to be older and more accustomed to socializing in person.

 

[eoblaed]

I would guess so, except that Woz (definitely over 25) is usually at the front of the line at the Valley Fair Apple Store on launch day. Of course, he just shows up and no one objects when he cuts in front.

My office is within walking distance of an Apple Store. I could actually camp out overnight and still show up for work, but I'm also at an age where camping in front of a retail store holds zero appeal for me.

I'd much rather sit at home and wait for Apple's website to go live at midnight, like I did last year. A few clicks and I was done. Ordered it on Friday. Arrived on Wednesday. Instant gratification can wait.

(emphasis mine)

What age is that?

I'm 46 and I camp out, front of the line and have for most of the phone releases. I have the type of job that I can do my work from the line without worries. I enjoy the environment of the line, being with other people that are excited and just doing something unusual. For me, it's fun.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

I think its as valid as any other social outlet. Thats pretty much what it is, a social experience.

But when I see a camera pan of these people or even when I see it in real life, I instinctually ask myself what is their motivation.

One of the uglier elements I read about their general psychology is the in your face nature of it, like its not just socializing, it tends to be a passive aggressive form of socializing; challenging us almost to fall into the trap of not respecting their geekdom.

Theres definitely something unnecessarily over the top about the swag of it all and that makes it relatively awkward. Its like a persistent self-aware vibe of "we don't care what anyone thinks! We're freaks!"

But thats a lot more innocent than most things out there so I forgive them.

 

[alphaod]

It's looked down on only by Samsung. They wished their fans would camp out their stores for the next Galaxy S or Note.

 

[lordofthereef]

(emphasis mine)

What age is that?

I'm 46 and I camp out, front of the line and have for most of the phone releases. I have the type of job that I can do my work from the line without worries. I enjoy the environment of the line, being with other people that are excited and just doing something unusual. For me, it's fun.

I assume you weren't the guy who got arrested at the front of the line in Salem, NH on the 5S release? He spent most of the day there, and I assume didn't get a phone because, you know, jail. LOL


On a side note, I do find it funny that people that spend time on an Apple enthusiast forum think they have any grounds to judge people that sit in a line for a product. Part of the reason the product is so successful is because of the hype and hype means lines. Seems a simple concept to me.

 

[eoblaed]

I assume you weren't the guy who got arrested at the front of the line in Salem, NH on the 5S release? He spent most of the day there, and I assume didn't get a phone because, you know, jail. LOL


On a side note, I do find it funny that people that spend time on an Apple enthusiast forum think they have any grounds to judge people that sit in a line for a product. Part of the reason the product is so successful is because of the hype and hype means lines. Seems a simple concept to me.

You assume correctly. I was thousands of miles from Salem, NH.

And, I agree. I'm not sure why anyone gives even a pebble turd if others like to camp/sit/wait in line.

"STOP LIKING THAT THING YOU LIKE" who cares if other people (myself included) enjoy doing it. It doesn't hurt them.

 

[IFRIT]

I think it's a bit sad myself.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I'm not camping or waiting in line for any device, but I will be one of the first to order a 4.7" iPhone via T-Mobile online or in store. Don't need the instant gratification. I can wait a week or two... Or 3 depending on when I get my order in.

But every time I see people camping out for an iPhone I think of this gif:

 

[Azzin]

I queued at the Apple Store in Regent St (London) for the iPhone 4.

It was a cool experience, weather was fantastic. I left home at about 6am, took my motorbike as there was a motorbike parking bay just round the corner, costing just £1.

Queued up with some 'interesting' people! Got out the store at about 9am, so it wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't do it again.

Online order for me every time now.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I wouldn't say its looked down upon because its each to their own. If someone wants to camp outside an Apple store to get the iPhone then it is their business.

Its not something I would do however and I don't see any point seeing as its possible to pre order the phone and have it on launch day if you are bothered by that. I'm in no rush to get the iPhone on day 1 and would never put myself through the boredom and discomfort of camping inside a shopping centre just for a mobile phone.

 

[LadyX]

I love Apple. They make great products. But I have never and would never camp out. That said, people have already started camping out for the iPhone 6, now that's crazy

 

[I7guy]

I say to each their own, however it's not something I would do for something that has zero affect on my life.

Now I would be the first to camp out to a medical facility who offers a magical drug to inject you with to eliminate heat disease, cancer and other diseases. Seems to me a good use of my time.

 

[cynics]

Some of us enjoy getting to know people we've never met. Of course, I think we tend to be older and more accustomed to socializing in person.

I should have put more emphasis on "THOSE PEOPLE". Lol.

I love getting to know people I've never met, its basically byproduct of my career.

 

[nfl46]

To each its own! Everyone in the world is not the same, and have different priorities.

 

[pooleman]

You see on your local news that people are camping out for a new iPhone device a week before release. You

1) roll your eyes
2) get jealous that you don't have the time to do it yourself
3) lose all respect for them
3) other

I get angry that there are people who aren't working but can still wait a week for a phone.

 

[617aircav]

I don't care what people think. I camped on black Friday and it was worth it making $1000 profit for a days work.

 

[apolloa]

The only thing I've done was get to the games shop around 10PM for the midnight launch of the Playstation 4. That's my extent, would I camp for what could be 2 weeks or MORE? Erm no, I have a life. I wouldn't camp full stop, queue for a couple of hours yes, camp no, where do you go for the toilet for one thing?

 

[satchow]

I don't think it's sad, I just think there's better things to do in life. At the end of the day you're standing in line for hours/days/weeks to hand over $600+ to several billion dollar corporations and smiling.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I camped out overnight for the iPhone 4. I had a great time, but I would never do it again. That said, if people want to spend their time doing it that is their business.

 

[bassett700]

I'm actually concerned about the campers: How will the bright sunshine effect their skin and eyes after living in the darkness of Mom's basement and playing video games for so long.

 

[Kealohilani]

I'm actually concerned about the campers: How will the bright sunshine effect their skin and eyes after living in the darkness of Mom's basement and playing video games for so long.

I'm more concerned for those that don't camp. If people stopped camping who would they pass judgement on without knowing anything about the person or their lives.

 

[cyks]

Considering that camping has as much (if not more) to do with the social aspect than it does with the actual product, how can any of you look down upon it?

If it was simply a matter of getting the product before anyone else, it's much easier to wake up in the middle of the night to place the order online and wait for it to be delivered on launch day (sometimes even earlier). Instead, it's about meeting and being with like minded people and sharing an experience.

I've camped for electronic devices, countless movies, a few books (Harry Potter launches were especially fun), and even a burger joint in NY and it was always for the experience of being around other fans and celebrating... not because I needed the item a few hours earlier.

 

[nburwell]

To eaches own. I would never do it myself. I do poke fun at the people who are currently camped out at the Apple Store in NYC waiting for the iPhone 6 though.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

I don't care what people think.

Yet you care enough about what I think to want me to know that you don't care about what I think?

Thats what those people don't get. They try so hard to act like they don't care to the point that it betrays their hidden insecurities and reveal that in fact they do care, so deeply that they spend time expressing that they don't care --which is not something that someone who doesn't care would do.

The secret to life is that everyone wants people to hear what they have to say. So when you go around trying to deny that reality it comes off as misguided and reveals your inner pain and struggles with insecurity.

You show up, you feel a kind of social pressure and even deal with people watching and judging you, and it may be tense, but at least you feel alive expressing your identity and people are acknowledging you exist.

And to many people that can be quite fulfilling as an experience. So the awkwardness is in a way part of what makes it fun

 

[Small White Car]

On a side note, I do find it funny that people that spend time on an Apple enthusiast forum think they have any grounds to judge people that sit in a line for a product.

You're redefining the question. That's not what the poll says.

Sure, I've gotten up at 4 AM and waited in line for 5 hours to get an iPhone before.

But why on earth would I decide, instead of waiting 5 hours, to come earlier and wait for 20 hours?

The question is not "is waiting in a long line dumb?"

The question is whether or not "camping" is dumb. Absolutely.