Merriam-Webster Cites Apple Fans as Example of the Word “Sheeple”

[Maura]

Cult of Mac reports that Merriam-Webster is risking offending Apple customers by using them as an example of the word “Sheeple” that it has just entered officially into the dictionary.

Here’s Merriam-Webster’s definition in full:

“people who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced: people likened to sheep.”

And here’s the second of two examples given by Merriam-Webster to support this:

“‘Apple’s debuted a battery case for the juice-sucking iPhone - an ungainly lumpy case the sheeple will happily shell out $99 for’-Doug Criss.”

As you might expect, Merriam-Webster’s disparaging of Apple fans by singling out as an example has not gone down well, and the normally sedate and polite comments section of the Merriam-Webster online dictionary is certainly a lot more fiery than usual at the moment. Many commenters have taken the criticism to heart, including Garett Wolff, who wrote “I am highly offended you allow such hateful and anti-apple examples to be used,” and Dustin Ravizé, who said “This is disgusting, complete disrespect to people who use Apple’s technology to enrich their lives and the ones around them.”

Of course there were others who were highly delighted by Merriam-Webster’s comments, such as Rachel Alien Freilich, who simply said “Awesome!,” and Kevin Leon, who said, “I love a good laugh at Apple’s expense. If ever there was perfect usage example this was it.”

Will be interesting to see what Apple’s clever marketing and publicity people make of all this!

Sources: Merriam-Webster calls Apple fans 'sheeple' | Cult of Mac

Definition of SHEEPLE

 

[zstairlessone]

Shame on Merriam-Webster for trying to be funny and political at the same time - or do they think users of their web site are sheeple too?
[emoji848][emoji43][emoji23]

 

[brixtonboy]

I have never heard of this person, or that word.
They can think what they like about me, l will not lose any sleep.
Maybe they will have lots of hits on their website because of this, or is that the plan?
I for one will not be googling them.
So now the hackers of the world know they are not using an iPhone handy l wonder how long it will be before someone cracks it.

 

[Caesars]

Well to be fair- everyone knows exactly what they mean when they say that (whether the stereotype is true or not).

Now obviously they haven't used many battery cases before, after going through 1-3 mophies for every da*n iPhone I've had before the 6s. Apple finally did me a solid and made the most convenient and useful battery case ever created - i would literally buy this case 4 times a year if I had to.

 

[pwise1]

Not every holster on my belt has an iPhone in it...