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What is your general opinion on "camping?"

  • I think it's a fun story, but would never do it myself

    Votes: 35 13.6%
  • I would like to camp someday for a launch if I have the time

    Votes: 30 11.6%
  • I have camped before

    Votes: 36 14.0%
  • It's a first world problem; these people need to find greater meaning in life

    Votes: 79 30.6%
  • To each his/her own

    Votes: 64 24.8%
  • Other (or: this poll is horrible)

    Votes: 14 5.4%

  • Total voters
    258
I voted to each his/her own.

As I've matured, I've learned life isn't as black and white as I used to think. What works for one person might not for another and each one of us value things differently.
 
I think it's horrible. No one should spends days on end infront of a store to hear what will be on youtube an hour after the even. I have way too much going on in my life at the moment to set aside numerous days to sit in front of a store for a new phone. That just sounds immature and very moronic.
 
I've camped for the last 4 years. It's a great time! I actually have a group of guys I met last year and we will be meeting up this year. I don't go crazy, but I go after work on the night before launch. This year (assuming it's released on the 19th) I will most likely be in line by 7pm on the 18th. Once you set up your spot, and get aquainted with the people right around you, you are pretty much good to go. You don't have to sit in your spot the entire time. I leave to go get food, coffee, etc. then when it gets real late at night, and things start to get quiet, I go nap in my car for a few hours. I've had 4 awesome outings. And I'm really looking forward to this year. It's gotten to the point that I love the camping as much as getting the new phone. The whole experience is great. If you've never done it, and you are a little more passionate about apple products then the average person, I suggest giving it a try. It's a really great time. And this coming from a guy who thinks people that camp out on black friday are crazy and ridiculous.
 
To each his own, though I think its rather silly to camp out on a side walk for a week (or more) for a cell phone - a phone that you can buy online.
 
I think it's horrible. No one should spends days on end infront of a store to hear what will be on youtube an hour after the even. I have way too much going on in my life at the moment to set aside numerous days to sit in front of a store for a new phone. That just sounds immature and very moronic.

Everyone has priorities in life. To me, I have trouble finding enough time to get everything done as it is!

This would be out of the question for me, no time to do so and more than that, no desire to do so!

But choice is always good.
 
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Lol, there is a big difference between sleeping outside of an Apple store, and "camping". Military, campers, backpackers, refugees, hikers will camp as the word defines a type of shelter with accommodations involved.

I'd say people that do that would be better referred to as temporary vagrants then "campers". Typically its a state owned public place paid for with tax dollars (sidewalk) not designed for extended stays. And generally the people sleeping there when there isn't an Apple event are actual vagrants. :D
 
What I find funny is that everyone that says camping is moronic is talking about people spending days outside the Apple store. But it seems like the average camper actually stays outside overnight if that. I see nothing wrong with spending one night outside, socializing with others and having a good time. I did it last year and had a blast and got plenty of work done. If you want to camp out, then do it (it is fun). If you don't want to camp out, then don't. There really is no reason to insult the people that do. To each their own. Then again, where I'm from people camp out for weeks to get tickets to a university basketball PRACTICE.
 
I've not really camped out. When I bought my iPhone 5 I went around 4am. There were probably 5-8 people ahead of me but I got what I wanted. I would imagine supplies will be more constrained this time, due in large part to demand (this is not an S upgrade and the larger screen). I may try to pre-order but I'll probably just go get in line around 4 am again.

But to answer the original question, anything less than 12 hours is ok, anything more is a little odd IMO. It is fun to spend some time out there though, everyone is excited and you're around people who "get" your obsession with the getting the new phone. :)
 
What I find funny is that everyone that says camping is moronic is talking about people spending days outside the Apple store. But it seems like the average camper actually stays outside overnight if that. I see nothing wrong with spending one night outside, socializing with others and having a good time. I did it last year and had a blast and got plenty of work done. If you want to camp out, then do it (it is fun). If you don't want to camp out, then don't. There really is no reason to insult the people that do. To each their own. Then again, where I'm from people camp out for weeks to get tickets to a university basketball PRACTICE.

I was just stating the difference between camping and spending the night outside of an Apple store. In what feels like a past life now I've stood in a picket line for over a week, I was not camping.

Like I originally wrote, if thats is your thing and you have the time and enjoy it then have at it, more power too you.
 
One time I showed up an hour early to a mall apple store (mall opened at like 9 and store at 10).

Does that count as camping?
 
To each his/her own. If you want to do it for the experience, go ahead. I don't think less of anyone who camps out. It's probably fun with a group of people. Again, it's for the experience; I'm sure the majority of campers know they can just pre-order.

EDIT: exactly what sulpfiction said in his #54 post
 
I don't really care one way or another about folks camping out. If that is what floats their boat, more power to them.
 
I've camped for the last 4 years. It's a great time! I actually have a group of guys I met last year and we will be meeting up this year. I don't go crazy, but I go after work on the night before launch. This year (assuming it's released on the 19th) I will most likely be in line by 7pm on the 18th. Once you set up your spot, and get aquainted with the people right around you, you are pretty much good to go. You don't have to sit in your spot the entire time. I leave to go get food, coffee, etc. then when it gets real late at night, and things start to get quiet, I go nap in my car for a few hours. I've had 4 awesome outings. And I'm really looking forward to this year. It's gotten to the point that I love the camping as much as getting the new phone. The whole experience is great. If you've never done it, and you are a little more passionate about apple products then the average person, I suggest giving it a try. It's a really great time. And this coming from a guy who thinks people that camp out on black friday are crazy and ridiculous.

See now that was nice :)
 
I camp around the mailroom at my condo waiting for the UPS guy to show up after I see "out for delivery" as the status of my shipped phone.

Some people have passion for electronics. Me included. How you project or display that passion is what makes people great. What makes people the opposite of great is dropping negative vibes on other people's passions.
 
Our two malls won't let you do it. If you get there by 6AM, you're pretty much out by 9AM. So there's not point in you being there at even 2AM. We had to leave to go get our AT&T account sorted, and there was literally no one at the AT&T store when we got there a hour before they opened.

I don't think I'd stand in line again to be honest. It was an experience I'll never forget, but I'll also never forget the guy who really got aggressive as we handed one of the security guys a note saying that it was okay for us to go back in after my dad paid off his late AT&T payment.
 
I camped out for the 3G at an AT&T store (read: got there early in the morning the day of release) and it was a pretty fun/cool experience. Didn't end up waiting that long, maybe a few hours. Waited in line again for the 4 at an Apple Store, and that was somewhat hectic. It took seven hours for me to get the phone.

Ever since they've opened pre-orders, I've been doing that. I may wait in line in the morning for a future release, but from now on I'll be doing all my ordering online. :D
 
Are most of the campers under the age of 25?

I'm 59 and I'll be camping out :)

I'm 46 and I'll be camping out like I've done since at least the iPhone 4 release.

I do it because I enjoy the experience of being with a bunch of other people that are also excited about the release. I can totally understand that a lot of people would not be so inclined; that's fine.

But for those of us that have the financial wherewithal, the flexibility of schedule, and/or just the desire to experience an overnight event, I see no difference between this and doing any other event that consumes your evening into the next morning. Who's to judge 'priorities' or 'maturity'? What's the point in judging? It's something some of us like and has zero impact on people that don't like it.
 
My version of camping is sitting at the computer waiting for the pre-order to go live.
 
my idea of camping is waiting on the Fedex truck to show up at my place with a box from apple :)
 
I think people should do whatever the hell they want to do as long as you're not hurting anyone else.

I understand lining up the night before for a launch, it could be fun if you did it with friends or something. But for me personally, it's valuable time I would have to take off work and I don't think any of my close friends would do it with me anyway.

I managed to get my girlfriend to come to the PS4 midnight launch - so maybe I'll queue for an iPhone with her some day. But would not do more than 8 hours or so.


However, its absolutely amazing that so many people are willing to wait in line for days/weeks (and in this case, before a product is even announced). It's the kind of dedication every company on the planet would kill for.
 
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