4 ms·

How is this a dark pattern? The people buying the goods are happy with the exchange, and it's not like they don't know they're posers buying into the culture.

cactus2093 7y ago
Even that is a little harsh. Board shorts work just fine in the pool or hot tub or anywhere else you might go swimming. They're comfortable and fast drying and come in all kinds of colors and designs. Just because they were initially created for one purpose and people have realized they have a wider use, I don't see why that makes you a poser if you wear them. It just seems like a perfectly normal way that clothing trends evolve. Are you a poser if you wear Northface or Patagonia gear in the city, since it's made for roughing it in the outdoors?
- jchallis 7y ago
  I tend to take these brands at face value. If North Face tells me their gear is for adventurers climbing K2, I'm certainly not going to wear that to the office. For many years Apple presented it as the purview of the cool and creative - as I'm neither, I assumed their products were for someone else.
  - musicale 7y ago
    Advertising may not tell the complete story about how a product can be used effectively in practice. Once I worked in an office that was absurdly cold but North Face gear kept me warm and comfortable. Many people, cool or otherwise, find Apple devices to be usable and reliable for very ordinary activities like sending email, writing documents, or making phone calls.
- that_jojo 7y ago
  > Are you a poser if you wear Northface or Patagonia gear in the city Yes?
  - rumanator 7y ago
    > Yes? I don't like to be cold or wet, I go to a store to buy a jacket, I find one that I like and looks good. Why do you believe your personal opinion and feelings towards brands and need to gatekeep should influence my choice?
  - jshevek 7y ago
    No. I only hike and camp intermittently, but I wear north face clothing in a wide range of circumstances because I find it to be effective, durable, energy efficient when washed and dried, and packable.
- rasz 7y ago
  >Are you a poser if you wear Northface or Patagonia gear in the city no, you are a banker or tech bro
goatinaboat 7y ago
How is this a dark pattern? It’s OK if there is no overlap but in practice that doesn’t really happen. When North Face switched to being a fashion brand it dragged other, previously genuine, manufacturers with it, because they couldn’t leave the money on the table. Basically, hipsters ruin everything.
- that_jojo 7y ago
  That sounds a lot more like yuppies than hipsters
LeifCarrotson 7y ago
The people buying the goods may be happy with the exchange, but it's inauthentic/dishonest. I don't think they'd be as happy buying "Lookalike cheap boardshorts from husk of surf company", as evidenced by the fact that they stop buying that brand and Hurley gets sold by Nike to a brand management company and cuts all their sponsored athletes. Furthermore, it makes it difficult for genuine participants to cut through the marketing BS. Want to buy a lightweight backpack for some day hikes? Go to Walmart and you'll see rows on rows of "rugged" bags with 'biner accessory clips, "super-strong" zippers and "comfort straps". But don't try to take those up a mountain, you'll end up with gear on the ground. Informed consumers make capitalism work efficiently. This pattern abuses consumer trust for a temporarily profitable scheme. That's what I'd call a dark pattern.

cactus2093 7y ago

Even that is a little harsh. Board shorts work just fine in the pool or hot tub or anywhere else you might go swimming. They're comfortable and fast drying and come in all kinds of colors and designs. Just because they were initially created for one purpose and people have realized they have a wider use, I don't see why that makes you a poser if you wear them. It just seems like a perfectly normal way that clothing trends evolve. Are you a poser if you wear Northface or Patagonia gear in the city, since it's made for roughing it in the outdoors?

jchallis 7y ago
I tend to take these brands at face value. If North Face tells me their gear is for adventurers climbing K2, I'm certainly not going to wear that to the office. For many years Apple presented it as the purview of the cool and creative - as I'm neither, I assumed their products were for someone else.
- musicale 7y ago
  Advertising may not tell the complete story about how a product can be used effectively in practice. Once I worked in an office that was absurdly cold but North Face gear kept me warm and comfortable. Many people, cool or otherwise, find Apple devices to be usable and reliable for very ordinary activities like sending email, writing documents, or making phone calls.
that_jojo 7y ago
> Are you a poser if you wear Northface or Patagonia gear in the city Yes?
- rumanator 7y ago
  > Yes? I don't like to be cold or wet, I go to a store to buy a jacket, I find one that I like and looks good. Why do you believe your personal opinion and feelings towards brands and need to gatekeep should influence my choice?
- jshevek 7y ago
  No. I only hike and camp intermittently, but I wear north face clothing in a wide range of circumstances because I find it to be effective, durable, energy efficient when washed and dried, and packable.
rasz 7y ago
>Are you a poser if you wear Northface or Patagonia gear in the city no, you are a banker or tech bro

goatinaboat 7y ago

How is this a dark pattern? It’s OK if there is no overlap but in practice that doesn’t really happen. When North Face switched to being a fashion brand it dragged other, previously genuine, manufacturers with it, because they couldn’t leave the money on the table. Basically, hipsters ruin everything.

that_jojo 7y ago
That sounds a lot more like yuppies than hipsters

LeifCarrotson 7y ago

The people buying the goods may be happy with the exchange, but it's inauthentic/dishonest. I don't think they'd be as happy buying "Lookalike cheap boardshorts from husk of surf company", as evidenced by the fact that they stop buying that brand and Hurley gets sold by Nike to a brand management company and cuts all their sponsored athletes. Furthermore, it makes it difficult for genuine participants to cut through the marketing BS. Want to buy a lightweight backpack for some day hikes? Go to Walmart and you'll see rows on rows of "rugged" bags with 'biner accessory clips, "super-strong" zippers and "comfort straps". But don't try to take those up a mountain, you'll end up with gear on the ground. Informed consumers make capitalism work efficiently. This pattern abuses consumer trust for a temporarily profitable scheme. That's what I'd call a dark pattern.