Macrumor's recent trend to link bait, unhelpful posts

[canyonblue737]

Several weeks ago MacRumors ran a news article entitled "This Apple Watch Ultra Ripoff Will Cost Less Than $50". The article was thin and about a typical illegal knockoff of an Apple product, among the thousands of other similar knockoffs of all Apple products. Nothing redeeming, interesting or useful was part of it.

I wrote:

"Why in the world does an Indian copycat brand, almost certainly illegal, Apple Watch Ultra knockoff warrant a news story on MacRumors? Do you think a $40 junk watch from a company that even stole their name (Pebble) is something the average MacRumors reader is interested in? I've been a member here for nearly two decades but this is getting out of hand."

MacRumor's remains the best site for Apple information and rumors by far, but either because of new writers, a need for more clicks to generate ad revenue, or even through partnerships made to look like news and reviews the site's overall quality is declining. I've been here nearly 20 years. God I'm old. I've never complained before but here it is... please do better.

 

[bruinsrme]

I found the article and website rather interesting. One of the most interesting points I found was the site brazenly used Apple's own product photos.

 

[iStorm]

I found the article interesting as well, more as a reminder that there are copy cats out there that look almost like the real thing. I agree that the article could have had a less click-baity title or written differently though, especially now that I just realized they only ship to/in India. The article makes it sound as if anyone could easily buy it for less than $50.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Is it really considered link bait?

The headline was accurate. "This ripoff costs $50" is exactly what the article was about.

Usually when you hear "link bait" or "click bait" you think of headlines that trick you into reading an article that is actually about something else. They're fooling you.

But this? It does what it says on the tin.

You can disagree about whether articles about cheap knockoff should be on the site in the first place. That's certainly a discussion we can have.

But I don't think this was link bait. It was actually pretty funny.

And remember... it was posted two days after Christmas... not a lot of news happens during the holidays. At least we had something to read.

 

[I7guy]

That article though, can certainly be classified as something that is of interest to Apple fans.

 

[icanhazmac]

Several weeks ago MacRumors ran a news article entitled "This Apple Watch Ultra Ripoff Will Cost Less Than $50". The article was thin and about a typical illegal knockoff of an Apple product, among the thousands of other similar knockoffs of all Apple products. Nothing redeeming, interesting or useful was part of it.

I wrote:

"Why in the world does an Indian copycat brand, almost certainly illegal, Apple Watch Ultra knockoff warrant a news story on MacRumors? Do you think a $40 junk watch from a company that even stole their name (Pebble) is something the average MacRumors reader is interested in? I've been a member here for nearly two decades but this is getting out of hand."

MacRumor's remains the best site for Apple information and rumors by far, but either because of new writers, a need for more clicks to generate ad revenue, or even through partnerships made to look like news and reviews the site's overall quality is declining. I've been here nearly 20 years. God I'm old. I've never complained before but here it is... please do better.

I disagree, the article in question brought to light the serious topic of IP theft as Apple moves manufacturing out of China and into India. Unfortunately these things happen and as Apple fans it can be regarded as a topic of interest.

I certainly found it interesting if not funny.