Editorial Hype Trains and You: A PSA

[R-T-B]

Hype Trains are bad. They are not just bad because a random frog on the internet told you so either, they are bad because they build upon themselves to the point that you would believe a random frog on the internet if he said something beneficial about your chosen product.

It's not just technology either. It can happen in politics, religion, whatever. But they are bad, and not to be trusted. They aren't just bad for humanity and all that, they are bad for the products they represent. Yes, they actually hurt what they are hyping. Ryzen didn't benefit from the hypetrain anymore than Trump benefited from the "Trump Train." Allow me to explain (and please, put the foam back in your mouth for me uttering "Trump" in a tech article. That's the only time I promise).




Bottom line is, hype trains take everything good and compound it, true or not. This raises expectations into the stratosphere and make them impossible to satisfy. Once the product, candidate, or what have you is brought into general existence, it will never satisfy what it has been built up to be. This leads to disappointment. Disappointment will not help sales long-term, nor ensure a safe re-election for a politician. The higher the hype, the bigger the disappointment.

I remember a game I was really hyped for circa 2003 or so. GolemLabs premier geopolitical simulator "Superpower 2." It was a game that let you control any nation on earth in modern times. It also got hyped on its own forums into the stratosphere, and guess what? When I got it, I thought it sucked really hardcore… only it didn't. Most critics ranked it as somewhat novel and mediocre, but to me, it was utter and complete garbage because I couldn't do everything they promised me on the forums, things that likely were never even on the drawing board, let alone ever implemented.

I'm still stung from that hype train. The only way a hype train can work honestly is if it is sustained by an outside force. The political example of this would be Robert Mugabe (have some Wikipedia fun there), President-until-I-say-otherwise of Zimbabwe. The interesting thing about Mugabe by the way, is his hype train is still going in elements of his country, despite him mismanaging its economy to the point he literally added 0's to his bills to "control inflation."

So, don't be an idiot, don't vote for Mugabe, and for god sake man get off that hype train before it kills all our realistic expectations. You aren't helping anyone.

EDIT: Thanks to Kerbel Space Program for the Hype Train in space image.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[claes]

You don't know what you've done...

 

[Divide Overflow]

Fail to manage your expectations at your own peril.

 

[R-T-B]

You don't know what you've done...

If Mugabe supporters pour out of the woodwork, I'll genuinely cry.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Common man. Hype is good! Specially for business. Just look at Apple. Since iPhone 6 they basically release THE SAME phone for 2 years in a row now, and by creating fake hype, with so called "leaks" (LOL), they are manage to fool the idiots (sorry, iDiots) in to pre-ordering and stuff.

 

[Shihab]

Though I agree on the position, I find it difficult to do the sensationalism (as an article material, anyway). The political analogies might even make matters worse, if there's anything that could spawn more irrational fanaticism than consumer tech, it would be politics.
And religion...
And race...
And sports...
You know what, forget it. People will find always find something to quarrel over. This post is not a proof to that point.

P.S: You mentioned Trump three times, not just once. >_> And leave Mugabi alone! The guy's a legend to African dictatorships!

 

[oxidized]

Best frog on the internet

 

[Deleted member 50521]

Somehow I feel this is more like a forum rant. Doesn't really qualify as an editorial.




Or may be I am just so hyped up whenever I see RTB and expect some awesome news.




Also, you are supposed to cite the picture you used from interweb if this is considered an editorial piece. Give credit where it is due!

 

[alucasa]

I am immune to hype.

That's because I eat frog legs. (Aw, no).

It's because I don't care. Personally, I believe I have more important things to worry about than some silicon. (Mortgage anyone?)

 

[R-T-B]

P.S: You mentioned Trump three times, not just once. >_>

In one sentence. At least, one sentence excluding the promise not to mention him again.

And leave Mugabi alone! The guy's a legend to African dictatorships!

There, now I'm sure Obama is offended too.

Somehow I feel this is more like a forum rant. Doesn't really qualify as an editorial.

It is a forum rant. Editorials are just fancier forum rants with grammar checks.

Also, you are supposed to cite the picture you used from interweb if this is considered an editorial piece. Give credit where it is due!

A bit ashamed to admit, it was in a folder on my desktop and I have no idea where it came from. Tips welcome.

 

[drade]

Another useless post on TPU. Wooo

 

[OneCool]

If you have to explain "hype" now you're just babysitting.

 

[R-T-B]

If you have to explain "hype" now you're just babysitting.

I didn't ever explain hype. I assumed you know what that means, but I did explain why hype is even bad for the target of the hype. At least IMO.

Half of this was written during my bout with pnumonia and under a fever, so if it's cobbled together like a feverish rant, it may be because despite my best corrective efforts, that's how it was born.

Thanks all, feedback always appreciated.

Another useless post on TPU. Wooo

I can respect that opinion. If I were to do another editorial, what would you like to see more of? Or are you opposed to editorials in general? (That's fine of course too).

This is really just a way to get an editorial out and get some thoughts off my chest at the same time. If it is not well received however, maybe I'll back away from the podium for a while.

 

[OneCool]

Half of this was written during my bout with pnumonia and under a fever, so if it's cobbled together like a feverish rant, it may be because despite my best corrective efforts, that's how it was born.

You are not hardware!! Get you good first!!

 

[R-T-B]

You are not hardware!! Get you good first!!

Oh, I'm better now. This was "born" during Ryzen launch. Post-fever/pnumonia corrections were made. I'm just wondering if it still crept through.

And to my employers credit, I was told to stop working but just did not listen.

 

[Evo85]

If you need an Internet article to tell you this, you may want to re-examine your life.

 

[R-T-B]

If you need an Internet article to tell you this, you may want to re-examine your life.

The sad fact is, a lot of people do need to be told this, judging from the hype surrounding every frickin' product launch.

Oh well. You shouldn't listen to internet frogs, anyways.

 

[cdawall]

LOL this my favorite news story to date.

 

[R-T-B]

LOL this my favorite news story to date.

I figured it was worth a try, most things I write in a feverish context border on the genius or the insane. Not sure which one this is yet.

 

[drade]

I like reading articles that contain pure facts (more objectivity), less opinion. I respect your opinion, however, the political reference did catch me off guard. Can't discredit a man who won the election (Russian influence set aside that is). I am not pro trump nor am I pro Clinton. I like to read pure tech.

On another note, I think its important to acknowledge how far AMD has come and their influence in the market right now. Intel is worried, hence their odd investments outside of their own company. Yes, Ryzen was hyped, yes Vega is quite hyped, but moral of my story is that AMD truly is doing very well and has a foundation to build upon now. Competition is good for consumers and I am ecstatic to see the R5 come out.

You are one of my favorite editors here. I have been a long time member and enjoy reading the news on this thread. I check my app everyday to read updated news and reviews.

 

[R-T-B]

I like reading articles that contain pure facts (more objectivity), less opinion. I respect your opinion, however, the political reference did catch me off guard. Can't discredit a man who won the election (Russian influence set aside that is). I am not pro trump nor am I pro Clinton. I like to read pure tech.

On another note, I think its important to acknowledge how far AMD has come and their influence in the market right now. Intel is worried, hence their odd investments outside of their own company. Yes, Ryzen was hyped, yes Vega is quite hyped, but moral of my story is that AMD truly is doing very well and has a foundation to build upon now. Competition is good for consumers and I am ecstatic to see the R5 come out.

You are one of my favorite editors here. I have been a long time member and enjoy reading the news on this thread. I check my app everyday to read updated news and reviews.

Thanks for the honest feedback. I take editorials a different way than most of my posts, but yeah, facts were not really present here, just opinion, maybe I'll sprinkle them in next time I'm asked to do one.

I wasn't discrediting Trump so much as making a veiled prediction at future disappointment in him, but only time will tell if that is true. I do think due to the way he "hyped" his audience, it will be, but again, strictly my opinion.

I agree about AMD for the record, I just think if people had kept their expectations realistic, they may be in an even better position than they are now. Regardless, Ryzen is a huge step forward from bulldozer, no doubt.

 

[OneCool]

Giving the readers you are presented with..It may be fine...

I mean getting a unicorn to shit rainbows..Is real life

 

[R-T-B]

Giving the readers you are presented with..It may be fine...

I mean getting a unicorn to shit rainbows..Is real life

I don't know, my unicorn just shits shit. Son, I am disappoint.

 

[Hood]

The other side of this coin is, the better companies, that make great products, don't start "hype trains". They may use a bit of showmanship when releasing a new flagship, but they don't generally try to raise expectations to unreal levels with inflated claims or outright BS. Intel, nVidia, Seasonic, Corsair, g.skill, Samsung, EVGA, and many others - they all make top products, and have no need to over-hype their products. Sure, they all use "marketing tactics", sometimes near the edge of credibility, but their excellent products speak for themselves. So, the point is, if a company has a history of creating "hype trains", you should probably avoid their products altogether, and I do.

 

[R-T-B]

The other side of this coin is, the better companies, that make great products, don't start "hype trains". They may use a bit of showmanship when releasing a new flagship, but they don't generally try to raise expectations to unreal levels with inflated claims or outright BS. Intel, nVidia, Seasonic, Corsair, g.skill, Samsung, EVGA, and many others - they all make top products, and have no need to over-hype their products. Sure, they all use "marketing tactics", sometimes near the edge of credibility, but their excellent products speak for themselves. So, the point is, if a company has a history of creating "hype trains", you should probably avoid their products altogether, and I do.

I'm not sure I agree with the list in completeness (EVGA made a few mistakes lately, etc), but I do agree with the sentiment.