Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes?

#21

Post by rufo » Wed, Jun 10, 2009, 2:06 AM UTC

amichail wrote: post #14

chwahoo wrote: post #3

I've wondered the same thing! During Google's IO conference, the speakers expected and encouraged applause. Apple conferences are an even stronger example. It feels phoney, but perhaps it isn't. I don't think the thought process is complex enough to involve considerations of financial benefit from cheering. My theory is that there is a critical mass of "fans" of the company (Google, Apple, etc), and they are very ent…

Maybe this critical mass consists mostly of paid plants?

No. I've cheered for new features or things I thought were particularly cool, and if I'm a plant then I'm seriously underpaid.

Re: Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes?

#22

Post by aswanson » Wed, Jun 10, 2009, 2:58 AM UTC

Amichail, you at once come up with the most poignant and hilarious observation/questions on this board. This is probably unintentional, which adds to the level of entertainment. Please continue with these types of submissions.

Re: Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes?

#23

Post by aswanson » Wed, Jun 10, 2009, 3:00 AM UTC

ghshephard wrote: post #12

Some significant portion of the audience's life is just about to change significantly - and they can already sense the downstream bliss. I downright cried in joy the first time I saw OS X terminal.app's ability to dynamically resize linewraps (phoo on you secureCRT), and Terminal Tabs that detach, no preset max-column-width, or even line-buffer! I was ready to dance for Joy! Imagine being hit with a whole host of tho…

We must get you away from your terminal and into a bar in your nearest city post-haste. Latitude, longitude, please?

Re: Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes?

#24

Post by aswanson » Wed, Jun 10, 2009, 3:05 AM UTC

amichail wrote: post #14

chwahoo wrote: post #3

I've wondered the same thing! During Google's IO conference, the speakers expected and encouraged applause. Apple conferences are an even stronger example. It feels phoney, but perhaps it isn't. I don't think the thought process is complex enough to involve considerations of financial benefit from cheering. My theory is that there is a critical mass of "fans" of the company (Google, Apple, etc), and they are very ent…

Maybe this critical mass consists mostly of paid plants?

Why is this being disparaged? This has been a known technique of promoting every product from rock bands to web sites. Well within the realm of possibility.

Re: Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes?

#25

Post by drhowarddrfine » Wed, Jun 10, 2009, 4:27 AM UTC

It's today's TV generation used to seeing and hearing everything wildly applauded whether it deserves it or not. Every play ends with a standing ovation. Every homerun requires a 'curtain call'. Every song sung has throngs screaming to the point where you wonder if anyone is actually listening.

Serious students of the technology are listening, not applauding or "high fiving" themselves for doing so. It's childishness at best. Low-brow at worst and more appropriate at some hillbilly bar.

Re: Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes?

#26

Post by herval » Wed, Jun 10, 2009, 1:18 PM UTC

hello, Mr. Spock

Re: Ask HN: Why do audience members cheer wildly in technology keynotes?

#27

Post by holygoat » Thu, Jun 11, 2009, 4:22 AM UTC

ghshephard wrote: post #19

holygoat wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's me thinking you don't spend that much time in a terminal :)

Sounds like an HN Poll for OS X users How many hours a day do you use Terminal.app (as measured by the total time of day you are looking at the screen and the foreground application is Terminal.app) A) I'm usually in category D, but I've certainly seen a few E class days. Seriously, Terminal.app is probably about 50% of the reason I use OS X instead of Windows XP - I have two keyboards and two 30" monitors sitting in…

Heh, too true. I often have 10-20 tabs open, in 2-4 windows, and some days spend 50%+ of my day in Terminal (the rest in Vim/Mail/OmniWeb). I'd go crazy if I had to use Cygwin, PuTTY, or even XTerm/KTerm/GTerm.