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How did Airpods go from being weird looking to major fashion/status symbol?

Good Kid mAAd Poster

Banned
Nov 16, 2017
892
Apple done it again. Whenever I see people with AirPods out in public (and there are a lot) I immediately feel like I'm missing something by not having a pair. I have normal Bluetooth headphones but even those feel lame in comparison to AirPods.

AirPods are show stoppers. Everyone notices them. My buddy swears that when he has it he gets more attention from people (not just girls). He just notices people checking him out more.

In terms of status:

AirPods > Bluetooth headphones > wired earphones (unless they are nice expensive ones like sennheiser or audio technical)
 
-Pyromaniac-

-Pyromaniac-

Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,363
Pretty much everyone has them these days but I don't think they were ever "weird". This is what happens when people think the voice of forum goers and comment sections and tech bloggers = the voice of the general of the public.

The general public don't care. They want good shit, cool shit, etc... This is both.
 
Benzychenz

Benzychenz

One Winged Slayer
Member
Nov 1, 2017
15,382
Australia
Wasn't aware they did.

Maybe it's because I work in hospitality but I generally associate any bluetooth headphones with pretentious businessmen talking on them and rudely gesturing to the staff rather than actually interacting with them.
 
Anonymous Tipster

Anonymous Tipster

The Fallen
Nov 4, 2017
518
I think people get more attention when they wear them because they stand out. It's still a bit jarring when I see them. I don't think all of the attention you get from them is good necessarily.
 
Dommo

Dommo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,687
Australia
Apple has the resources to brute forces their technology into fashion/icon tier. I'm not saying the airpods are aesthetically hideous - brand power can only get you so far, but get enough celebrities donning them, shoot them in flattering enough commercials and once enough people are wearing them any kind of stigma associated with them disappears.

Apple are always seen as being "ahead of the curve" so when they make something goofy looking, the kneejerk reactions are put on the backburner, replaced by benefit of the doubt.
 
Okabe

Okabe

Is Sometimes A Good Bean
Member
Aug 24, 2018
19,895
I mean they've become a meme i know that much. There's a huge joke around them .
 
PeakPointMatrix

PeakPointMatrix

Member
Oct 25, 2017
19,047
Weirder to me were all the people frothing at the mouth trying to convince me they looked weird. Fashion is "weird". Let adults wear whatever the fuck they want. It aint any weirder or stupid looking than the hoverboard fad some years ago and looked legitimately dumb, as well as being dangerous. It helps that the actual product is actually damn good at what it does and one of the more innovative Apple releases recently.
 
TheMango55

TheMango55

Banned
Nov 1, 2017
5,788
Yeah I have a pair and love them but they still look pretty stupid.

No idea how they are considered a fashion status symbol.
 
ItIsOkBro

ItIsOkBro

Happy New Year!!
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
9,485
am i the only one that thinks of this when they see airpods

benstiller-619-386.png
 
Alwayscrazybacon

Alwayscrazybacon

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
5,159
China
There was a time when people thought walkmans were stupid looking, or even wearing massive expensive Headphones for example. People take time to come around to new things.
 
Brinbe

Brinbe

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
58,042
Terana
Apple sheep. That's why they made sure to necessitate the use of dongles. No one wants to deal with that!

Pretty glad I don't give a shit with my wired buds or if people think less of me. Though to be honest, the people I see walking around with them I assume are douchebags lol
 
ISWThunder

ISWThunder

Member
Oct 30, 2017
588
Still weird looking... but who cares? They're headphones. One of their major functions is to block out others anyway.
 

Zedelima

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,716
Apple.

Like, i dont have a better answer.
I even bought one too, a waste of money if you ask me
 

Deleted member 48897

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 22, 2018
13,623
I sometimes check out folks with earbuds to see if I can tell what's wrong with them from looking. Usually the answer is too much cash
 
Pein

Pein

Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,222
NYC
I want a pair but I know in my heart of hearts I'm too clumsy and I'll lose them. I'll just rock with my JBL and beats.
 

Deleted member 2802

Community Resetter
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
33,729
Drifter_InA_Cage said:
Didn't take 50 years.

https://www.wakingtimes.com/2019/03...tially-carcinogenic-effects-of-wireless-tech/

https://www./health/article-6796679/Are-AirPods-dangerous-250-scientists-warn-be.html
​
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Seems to be an article warning against the radioactivity that is directly exposed to your ears.

I guess all the cool kids are beta-testing ear cancer for everyone else

direct link to article
https://www.emfscientist.org/images/docs/International_EMF_Scientist-Appeal.pdf
 
MistaTwo

MistaTwo

SNK Gaming Division Studio 1
Verified
Oct 24, 2017
2,456
It's mostly because Apple products are priced at a premium and everyone knows it.

I still think they look kinda silly tbh
 
healbite-maritima

healbite-maritima

Member
Nov 26, 2018
818
Seeing the "I don't speak broke" meme came outta nowhere and they then became super popular, I believe it was a marketing scheme. However, I do like my airpods.
 
Ampersands

Ampersands

Member
Oct 25, 2017
495
only recently have I gotten some shit from my friends for wearing airpods. I've worn them consistently since last year but only the start of this year has had people go out of their way to mention them. The memes have maybe been enabling people to talk about them more?
 
MrMephistoX

MrMephistoX

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
2,754
I do too. It's doubly prominent though because we have a vending machine at work that bills your department and dispenses them.

Makes me think that once Apple or Occulus really get the form factor down to eyeglass size VR/AR people are just going to straight up disconnect from reality and walk head face into traffic.
 
Poimandres

Poimandres

Member
Oct 26, 2017
6,858
Beats are also a "fashionable" product. Old white Apple earbuds were also "fashionable". All they indicate to me is that the person wearing them doesn't care about audio quality.
 
BennyWhatever

BennyWhatever

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,781
US
Reminds me of when Blutooth first came out and everyone that wore the headsets in public were seen as douchebags. The perception will probably die soon and it'll be commonplace, particularly as they get more popular and there are cheaper options.
 
CopyOfACopy

CopyOfACopy

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,040
just wear $15 behind the neck headphones, dont mess up your hair, dont fall off while lifting, and cheap so you can have multiple pairs
 
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