The alienation of the public
I hate posting a blog right after the podcast comes out because it knocks it off the top of the page but I have to let this out. I was at the auto parts store the other day picking up a new battery for my car (my wife was stranded and frantically calling me while Dina and I were taping our last podcast) when the guy asked me what I did. I told him and he said, “So you probably have the skinny on all this HDTV stuff huh? Is it worth it?” I gave him the “once you have it, you’ll never want to go back to standard definition TV” spiel and he balked. At first he said he didn’t believe me but then he admitted that he didn’t really understand what HDTV was.
I was disheartened by this exchange for a lot of reasons. I know that most people don’t understand home theater (or why else would they buy $2,500 cube speakers?) much less HD. I know that there are a finite number of things that any individual can care about at one time. Only a select few topics that they can devote their time and energy to. Some people memorize baseball stats, others can take apart and reassemble your car in a half a day… it just depends on what catches that person’s interest and how much free time they have. But what got to me was this sense of betrayal that the man was exhibiting. I didn’t have much time to talk to him but I got the impression that not only did he not understand HDTV, but he thought that it just might be something that we all just made up in order to force him to buy a new TV.
Well, that part is half true – he probably will need a new TV.
Perhaps he’s one of those that got the big screen, the digital cable, and had one of those brainless installers that connected everything via composite or s-video. Perhaps his friend or cousin or friend of a friend did. Whatever it was, he couldn’t help but be incredulous about the whole thing. And who can blame him? When RadioShack is mislabeling their TVs and we all know how “knowledgeable” the Circuit City and Best Buy staffs can be… Joe Consumer stumbles across the wrong person and that’s it. They’re a disbeliever. Just think of the guy that saved up his coins for years to buy a home theater… what would it be like for that guy if he had that sort of bad experience? How many friends would he tell that HD is BS? How compelling would his story be?
What we need is an army of Ranters. AVRanters. Running around spreading the gospel of Good Home Theater. We need people out there shouting from the rooftops, “I have HDTV and it’s the BOMB!” and “My sub IS my other car!” They could wear T-shirts and berets and hang out in big box stores like Guardian Angels in front of the Monster Cable display pointing toward the cheaper wire or in the listening rooms rearranging the furniture and calibrating all the speakers. We need them manning HT support hotlines for people that are about to rip that new TV and speakers out of their room and send them back to the store. They could make a real difference.
And no, I’m not saying all this just because I want my own personal army…
I will be the first to sign up for this army. I have become the go-to guy with my friends and at my company for anyone who is thinking about jumping into the HD game. There is just something about the way my brain works that I quickly and easily understand all this stuff and have the ability to explain it in a way that other less-inclined folks can understand. I have converted several people who absolutely love their experience and now want to replace more of their old sets (if HDTV still weren’t quite so expensive).
I was listening to your last AVRant while hanging some Auralex panels in my room tonight. My wife was there helping some and was listening, too. After it was over, she started reading this post. I guess she actually conjured up some image of me and other AV geeks in the berets and T-shirts and started laughing out loud. I guess you have another reader hooked, Tom. One more audioholic is about to be created… Well, she likes the new panels anyway, as long as they stay in the theater room in the basement. *sigh* But I’ll see if I can convince her the two channel setup in the main living room needs them now!!
I just wrote a really long post and it was HILARiOUS but when I tried to post it, it said I had to be logged in. So instead of rewriting everything I just want you to know that I am willing to join your army. I sure you will need a good man in the Chicago area to spread the word. I’ll be waiting for orders…
Over and out
Steve
Welcome to the army. I think we need a name…
I have found the best way to convert people, at least in my age group, is show them a big screen TV with some HD content. Most of the guys at least ask why it looks so clear and thats when I drop the HD bomb on them, suddenly they are hooked!
It can be like fight club, but instead of fighting we can just sit there and watch movies and listen to music :).
Ohh yeah, I am in the fight, where do I get my lightsaber?
Count me in… I’ll bring the jolt, Xbox 360 controllers and coffee for those late night gaming sessions and extended LOTR viewing sessions.
I’ll bring the lightsabers. And maybe some day Tom will be albe to bring his copy of Halo 3……..but then again.
By the time I get Halo 3, Halo 4 will be out.
More likely your 360 will be going through the Red Ring O’ Death before Halo 3 make a showing in your house. You’re always welcome to make that drive South for a game 😉
Halo 3 has arrived. Spent last night getting plastered by Gene, Clint, and Jim. Nothing like going up against a bunch of guys with over a month’s experience on you. It was fun though. My first impressions will be part of the next podcast.