5 ms·

A random number generator with US flag on it. Yes, it is kind of silly, it is just a sticker, but it subconsciously evokes negative associations, at least for m

by danbruc 11y ago

A random number generator with US flag on it. Yes, it is kind of silly, it is just a sticker, but it subconsciously evokes negative associations, at least for me.

JonFish85 11y ago
What sticker would make you feel better? China? Hungary? Designed in USA, made in China?
- smcl 11y ago
  No flag whatsoever, really. Though exploring that tangent a little, I wonder if there is a any sort of study on flags\countries and their association with quality (specifically engineering\tech). Off the top of my head I'd guess people associate places like Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Austria - I'm not sure why.
  - blkhawk 11y ago
    As a german i can tell you having the german flag on anything is a bit weird.
    - tormeh 11y ago
      Yeah, but "Made in Germany" is usually printed with extra-large letters.
    - smcl 11y ago
      Yeah I recall reading that there's some uneasiness around flag flying and national pride in Germany - I think it came to my attention ahead of the World Cup in 2006.
  - Lawtonfogle 11y ago
    I wouldn't go with Sweden. A pirate flag might work.
  - xrstf 11y ago
    Do not confuse Germany's prior superiority with made goods with their IT skills. As a German, I can tell you: We're becoming a 3rd world IT country real quick. Plus the USA is our best friend, including the NSA.
    - smcl 11y ago
      While that may be true (I do not know) it's still a connection I subconsciously make
    - juliangoldsmith 11y ago
      >We're becoming a 3rd world IT country real quick. How so? I usually think of Germany as being pretty good technologically.
- danbruc 11y ago
  A country is way to broad, you would have to put stickers of people or organizations with good reputation with regard to security on it, say Bruce Schneier or the EFF. But actually you should not do this either because you may evoke a false sense of security.
  - ChrisArgyle 11y ago
    Or something that represents entropy. Maybe Ludwig Boltzmann or the entropy formula?
- jisaw 11y ago
  A truly random flag
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- DanBC 11y ago
  The flag is definitely a bit weird. Any flag is a bit weird. This company is going to lose sales for something as trivial as a flag on an easily removable sticker. I'm sometimes surprised to see HN - which freaking loves AB testing the colour of signup buttons - is resistant to people saying "I dislike this minor detail". There should be a way for HN users to point out things they dislike about a product - politely, constructively, without undue negativity, and without derailing the thread with off-topic noodling about the website (unless the website is the product).
  - sixothree 11y ago
    This is why I wish root level comments were collapsed by default. It might make it easier to completely ignore one that starts with "minor gripe, but...".
  - JonFish85 11y ago
    "This company is going to lose sales for something as trivial as a flag on an easily removable sticker." Really? I can't imagine it'll HURT them. If they're proud of having it made in the US, who does that bother enough to say "man such a great product, but nope, not gonna buy it". I'd say it might have a marginal effect the other way, for people who like to buy US-made products, and almost no effect the other way.
- elcct 11y ago
  ganja leaf sticker
sago 11y ago
And an italian web address. I thought the juxtaposition was rather amusing.
bliti 11y ago
The flag is part of the marketing. Every other product they sell (boards) has a "Designed in the USA" text printed somewhere. Seems that they believe that having a product "Designed in the USA" gives it more credibility. One interesting point is that they do not mention where the products are actually made. With Tindie (and %99 of other) vendors, you are safe to assume that they are made in china. If not sourced in china and re-sold (which I have no issues with). Now, a RNG with an American flag that was assembled in China does remind me of those USA flags that have the little gold "Made in China" sticker. Would I buy this? Only to play with it on an old air gapped machine.
- ljk 11y ago
  totally personal opinion here, but a lot of the stuff that say "made in the USA" are aimed toward a different crowd(older generation) than this product..
  - bliti 11y ago
    That's a good point. Another reason is to differentiate themselves from re-sellers. Like the Ebay stores that put "Ships from USA" in the listing titles.

by danbruc 11y ago

A random number generator with US flag on it. Yes, it is kind of silly, it is just a sticker, but it subconsciously evokes negative associations, at least for me.

JonFish85 11y ago

What sticker would make you feel better? China? Hungary? Designed in USA, made in China?

smcl 11y ago
No flag whatsoever, really. Though exploring that tangent a little, I wonder if there is a any sort of study on flags\countries and their association with quality (specifically engineering\tech). Off the top of my head I'd guess people associate places like Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Austria - I'm not sure why.
- blkhawk 11y ago
  As a german i can tell you having the german flag on anything is a bit weird.
  - tormeh 11y ago
    Yeah, but "Made in Germany" is usually printed with extra-large letters.
  - smcl 11y ago
    Yeah I recall reading that there's some uneasiness around flag flying and national pride in Germany - I think it came to my attention ahead of the World Cup in 2006.
- Lawtonfogle 11y ago
  I wouldn't go with Sweden. A pirate flag might work.
- xrstf 11y ago
  Do not confuse Germany's prior superiority with made goods with their IT skills. As a German, I can tell you: We're becoming a 3rd world IT country real quick. Plus the USA is our best friend, including the NSA.
  - smcl 11y ago
    While that may be true (I do not know) it's still a connection I subconsciously make
  - juliangoldsmith 11y ago
    >We're becoming a 3rd world IT country real quick. How so? I usually think of Germany as being pretty good technologically.
danbruc 11y ago
A country is way to broad, you would have to put stickers of people or organizations with good reputation with regard to security on it, say Bruce Schneier or the EFF. But actually you should not do this either because you may evoke a false sense of security.
- ChrisArgyle 11y ago
  Or something that represents entropy. Maybe Ludwig Boltzmann or the entropy formula?
jisaw 11y ago
A truly random flag
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
DanBC 11y ago
The flag is definitely a bit weird. Any flag is a bit weird. This company is going to lose sales for something as trivial as a flag on an easily removable sticker. I'm sometimes surprised to see HN - which freaking loves AB testing the colour of signup buttons - is resistant to people saying "I dislike this minor detail". There should be a way for HN users to point out things they dislike about a product - politely, constructively, without undue negativity, and without derailing the thread with off-topic noodling about the website (unless the website is the product).
- sixothree 11y ago
  This is why I wish root level comments were collapsed by default. It might make it easier to completely ignore one that starts with "minor gripe, but...".
- JonFish85 11y ago
  "This company is going to lose sales for something as trivial as a flag on an easily removable sticker." Really? I can't imagine it'll HURT them. If they're proud of having it made in the US, who does that bother enough to say "man such a great product, but nope, not gonna buy it". I'd say it might have a marginal effect the other way, for people who like to buy US-made products, and almost no effect the other way.
elcct 11y ago
ganja leaf sticker

sago 11y ago

And an italian web address. I thought the juxtaposition was rather amusing.

bliti 11y ago

The flag is part of the marketing. Every other product they sell (boards) has a "Designed in the USA" text printed somewhere. Seems that they believe that having a product "Designed in the USA" gives it more credibility. One interesting point is that they do not mention where the products are actually made. With Tindie (and %99 of other) vendors, you are safe to assume that they are made in china. If not sourced in china and re-sold (which I have no issues with). Now, a RNG with an American flag that was assembled in China does remind me of those USA flags that have the little gold "Made in China" sticker. Would I buy this? Only to play with it on an old air gapped machine.

ljk 11y ago
totally personal opinion here, but a lot of the stuff that say "made in the USA" are aimed toward a different crowd(older generation) than this product..
- bliti 11y ago
  That's a good point. Another reason is to differentiate themselves from re-sellers. Like the Ebay stores that put "Ships from USA" in the listing titles.