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Genetic Reason for Your Gadget Habit

You can't help it if you need to get the latest gadgets. Well... perhaps it's not quite such a serious medical affliction, but scientists have found a genetic basis for some folks' burning desire to have the latest and greatest. There's even a name for it - neophilia. Apparently, some of us have elevated levels of a cellular enzyme, monoamine oxidase A, and are more in need of stimulation from new things.

29 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. neophilia huh? by habedak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Neophilia is wanting new things...
    as opposed to Necrophilia, which is wanting things that aren't really 'fresh' anymore.

    1. Re:neophilia huh? by clickclickdrone · · Score: 4, Funny

      "ham roll" = ???

      A roll with ham in it? A round bready thing containing sliced processed pig? Or are you just querying the lack of chutney, pickle, mayo etc. in his luncheon choice?

      --
      I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
    2. Re:neophilia huh? by schon · · Score: 2, Funny

      Attempts by fundamentalist members of the Screen Actors Guild to "cure" it by exposing Neophiles to good-looking and expressive actors have so far been unsuccessful.

      Well duh - they should be making them watch the last two Matrix movies instead.

  2. Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The scientific details are unimportant. The real question is, as it's not my fault, who can I sue over this?

  3. Is there a cure? by e1618978 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is there a way to cut the levels of this enzyme? I need to get my wife to stop
    filling my house with crap from wal-mart and sams club. It isn't gadgets, but
    I imagine that the need for new stuff would be filled via other means for
    people that don't like electronics.

    1. Re:Is there a cure? by Golias · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, see... That's called "decorating", and it's a normal behavior for human females. Those plants, wall hangings, and curios are supposed to serve the purpose of making your house look like somebody other than a Spartan warrior is living there.

      The alternative to having all that "crap" in your house is a divorce, after which you will probably never have to worry about a home cluttered by possessions again.

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    2. Re:Is there a cure? by bitt3n · · Score: 4, Funny
      Is there a way to cut the levels of this enzyme?

      yes! I have developed a brand new, never seen before cure for this affliction. I bet you want some now, don't you?

    3. Re:Is there a cure? by dave1212 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Different EULA?

  4. Life would be great if... by BluePariah · · Score: 5, Funny

    you had neophilia and amnesia at the same time. Imagine the pleasure of discovering your new right hand every 20 seconds.

    1. Re:Life would be great if... by Mayhem178 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hi, my name is Leonard. Have I told you about my condition?

      --

      "You will pay for your lack of vision..." - Emperor Palpatine to Ray Charles

    2. Re:Life would be great if... by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 2, Funny

      I suppose the other hand would feel left out.

      --
      http://www.rootstrikers.org/
  5. Hmmmm, been there, done that. by tgd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apparently, some of us have elevated levels of a cellular enzyme, monoamine oxidase A, and are more in need of stimulation from new things.

    I keep telling my girlfriend that, but she just won't go for it.

  6. Hmmm by MrSquirrel · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have a strange urge to possess a gadget that can measure the level of this "gadget disease" in people.

    --
    A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
    1. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Oh, a sarcasm detector. That's real useful.

    2. Re:Hmmm by MrSquirrel · · Score: 4, Funny

      *sarcasm detector explodes*

      --
      A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
    3. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      > a gadget that can measure the level of this "gadget disease" in people.

      Lemme guess, you're in marketing?

  7. Opposite by ch-chuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess the opposite would be retrophilia - the love of buying other people's junk off eBay, while dreaming of hitting the jackpot on Antiques Roadshow, or browsing antique shops while dreaming of making a fortune on eBay.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  8. Yea yea yea.. by respyre · · Score: 2, Funny

    Great, great. Now c'mon... make with a new article, already!

  9. Re:Grow out of it by eln · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes, I found that once I grew up and actually had to pay for my own gadgets, my desire for said gadgets declined steeply.

  10. Re:The culture of victimhood by bwcarty · · Score: 5, Funny

    Forget non-profit organizations...I'm going for a government grant to study this disorder.

    Of course, if I'm doing important research like this, I'm going to have to have access to the latest technology. I'll need a hefty grant.

  11. Need a new thread by dbdweeb · · Score: 5, Funny

    This thread is old and boring now... I need a new, more interesting topic.

  12. So they finally did it... by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    They gave a new name to the "OOOH SHINEY!" syndrome that every geek has.

    I'm all for it as long as they come up with a disability program that helps us. You know, add's an additional $50,000.00 a year to your income for supporting the shiney habit or offering an insurance card that allows us to buy the items with a $20.00 co-pay to offset the costs of collecting new shiney objects with blinking lights.

    Although I can see it now... "Im sorry sir but you have already bought a HD-DVD player this month on your plan, you will have to wait until next month. you can buy a new CD changer or GPS though with your monthly allowance."

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  13. Re:Extent by LittleBigLui · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, that's communioimagognarusturmaphilia, or "JPEG collector's disease", as it is commonly called.

    --
    Free as in mason.
  14. Re:The culture of victimhood by revlayle · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's a GREAT IDEA!

    Then... I could afford MORE gadgets! :D

  15. Re:The culture of victimhood by swillden · · Score: 2, Funny

    We get special disability handouts from the government at the expense of your fellow tax payers?

    Handouts we can use to buy new gadgets? Awesome!

    --
    Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  16. Re:The culture of victimhood by i_should_be_working · · Score: 2, Funny

    Shhh! How else am I to afford those bacterial DVDs when they come out?

  17. Re:This would also explain... by geeper · · Score: 1, Funny

    apparently the grass is ALWAYS greener

    And the bushes are cut differently.

    --
    Error reading device 'Signature'. (A)bort, (R)etry, (F)ail?
  18. Re:Grow out of it by P3NIS_CLEAVER · · Score: 2, Funny

    Me too. I am totally burned out on technology. Maybe one of these days I will get a cell phone. My buddy taking a picture and sending it to his GF was pretty cool.

    --
    Please sign petition to restore sanity to our banking system!!!

    http://financialpetition.org/
  19. Re:The Lab test is simple! by Tackhead · · Score: 2, Funny
    > Mouse labs that wanted the "New Cheese - Extra Holes" or chose the new "Super mouse Wheel" over the plain one, presents this gene, thus humans who present this specific gene suffer from Neophilia!

    Build a better moustrap, and only the Neophilic mice will beat a path to your door.