The Win.Idiot Argument

Your basic fucked-up Windows user — that is, the kind who actually chooses to use Windows and then defends it, rather than the kind that has had Windows hoisted upon him in the workplace or by some brainwashed peer — rarely attempts to defend every aspect of his operating system choice, and instead carefully selects one specific feature — useful or not, well implemented or poorly so — notable only for its absence on the competing platform be it due to superior design or philosophy (e.g. simpler is better), and then uses all of his energy ranting and raving about how this one feature makes all the difference in the world and is alone worth the price of admission. He will argue this point to the death, or at least until it is proven wrong by his opponent, at which point he will change the subject. He will continue to rapidly adapt his argument in this way as each of his points is systematically shot down for however long it takes before his opponent tires of proving him wrong.

This zealous, almost religious fervor is not one sided — Mac users are well known for their fanaticism in the face of irrational, incessant, ultimately invalid criticism — but the underlying psychology is very different.

Windows users are fanatical because they know they’re wrong. Mac users are fanatical because they know they’re right.