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The Feeding Frenzy Effect

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glemon

glemon

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Is it just me or does it seem like when a post is made about a car for sale, what I have come to call the "feeding frenzy occurs" There are a couple of comments sort made as if from a guy circling around the car making some observations, then someone points out a flaw or two and its blood in the water, and suddenly everybody is tearing apart every aspect of the car.

I have my thoughts on why this occurs, but I would be interested in what others think.
 
If it's put up, the assumption is the poster is interested, and with minimal photos available, local inhabitants use their combined expertise to see if it's a good car or a Kluge.
If the poster wants no comments, just say so, and folks won't waste their time.
 
Sometimes guys fall all over themselves trying to show they're "one of the gang".

Like you say, " ... someone points out a flaw or two and its blood in the water, and suddenly everybody is tearing apart every aspect of the car. " Sadly, the desire to criticize often outweighs the desire to praise.

(Remember the "she's a witch!" scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail?)

And the herd instinct rears its ugly head very often. Read "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds".

Onward through the fog.

 
Internet anonymity. Also called a dog pile.
 
So many "experts"; so little expertise.
 
Reading all the comments so far, TOC defending it, and the others lees so, is what I think is interesting about it.

On the one had the posted car for sale is often posted by someone interested in buying it, often someone who doesn't may have less experience with the car, that is why they are asking. So pointing out the flaws is merely helping out right? We don't want the new buyer to suffer the same thing we did when we bought a car that looked good but was rusty underneath, or that needed much more work than advertised.

The flip side of this is as mentioned is that to me anyway there does almost seem to be a certain glee taken by "the mob", or at least come members of it, in picking the car apart. Sometimes a feel it is probably merited, rusty cars that may not look rusty to the unpracticed eye, is some cases, just my opinion once again, it seems almost vicious, pointing out small details that may not be factory correct and how they are "wrong", even if it may be a car that someone could certainly use and enjoy (once again if seller is calling the car "100% original" the comments are probably merited).

I don't have a horse in the race, I am just an occasional buyer and an occasional seller of old cars as a hobbyist making some observations and wondering how others look at the same things.
 
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glemon said:
The flip side of this is as mentioned is that to me anyway there does almost seem to be a certain glee taken by "the mob", or at least come members of it, in picking the car apart. Sometimes a feel it is probably merited, rusty cars that may not look rusty to the practiced eye, is some cases, just my opinion once again, it seems almost vicious, pointing out small details that may not be factory correct and how they are "wrong", even if it may be a car that someone could certainly use and enjoy (once again if seller is calling the car "100% original" the comments are probably merited).

I don't have a horse in the race, I am just an occasional buyer and an occasional seller of old cars as a hobbyist making some observations and wondering how others look at the same things.
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~Right~, 'cause its never warranted.... https://neworleans.craigslist.org/cto/4684314891.html
 
I'll say this; pop TOC with a rock inna sock all you want but the guy has one heck of an eye. :wink:

Nothing makes me madder than dragging a trailer for 24 hrs for a misrepresented car.
 
That Bimmer looks like a winner to me, did you see the hood scoop on it? Seriously though I've been burned buying a car on the net before, so I appreciate anything (positive or negative) a different eye can spot.
 
waltesefalcon said:
That Bimmer looks like a winner to me, did you see the hood scoop on it? Seriously though I've been burned buying a car on the net before, so I appreciate anything (positive or negative) a different eye can spot.
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Exactly, if folks have a problem with critical thinking they should stick to current year-models.

(and I don't mean anything by that)
 
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