Why does anyone argue over preference? Is a fight really a fight if only one side cares?
Growing up I was exposed to a lot of this-or-that arguments. Ford vs Holden, Nintendo vs PlayStation, Mac vs PC and the big one: Cat vs Dog.
But there’s something I have often observed about these arguments: One side* seems to care more about the argument. And it makes me wonder – is a fight still a fight if only one side cares?
How often in life have you heard someone respond to a cat story with “I’m really more of a dog person”, yet how often do hear it the other way around? As a child we owned a Ford and I would often hear about the Holden Vs Ford fight, yet only ever from Holden enthusiasts. The Ford owners I knew hadn’t selected Ford specifically, they just wanted a good car and the Ford model fit their needs (although I suspect this may be because Holden always won).
When an Android and iPhone argument gets out of hand, it seems to be the iPhone owners who withdraw first. And while Playstation was busy defending their amazing graphics and expansive games as a reason for their reigning superiority, it was the Nintendo players who said “But Nintendo has fun games!”
What is it that drives one side to care more than the other? I have often pondered this question. The obviously answer would be feelings of inadequacy but that doesn’t make sense – I don’t think dog people secretly consider cats to be superior. No one is arguing that Holden won more races, or that PlayStation had better graphics. Everyone knows that spec for spec the iPhone can always be beaten by an Android (just not one).
So what is it that makes one side fight ferociously and the other not really care? Am I wrong entirely and I just happen to have experienced this side?
I think I might have figured it out.
I suspect the driving force behind these arguments is the motivation for why the person has selected that particular item, and it comes down to this: They want the best.
The kind of people who engage in these arguments do so because they want to have the best car/ gaming console/ phone/ pet. They did their research, they analysed the specs and they chose what they believe to be the best. So when you swan in having picked something based entirely on statements like “I want to play MarioKart!” it’s probably a little frustrating.
The question then becomes: Why did you need to have the best?
What do you think? Do you ever argue over preference? Have you ever been argued with about your choice of purchase?
*Not all people who preference these things can be covered by this broad, sweeping generalisation. I have met many many people who like or own these things and don’t care about the argument… But that’s not an interesting observation, now, is it?
