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Genetic Reason for Your Gadget Habit

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the well-lookie-there dept.

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.

12 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.

  2. The culture of victimhood by DerekLyons · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So now geeks join the culture of victimhood - "it's not my fault, its my [genes|society|enviroment]!". Congratulations on finally joining the mainstream!

    1. 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.

    2. Re:The culture of victimhood by wwest4 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Maybe there's a name to describe predictable knee-jerk reactions.

      Tell me, does your concept of free will allow for constraints? If not, I challenge you to breathe water. And I don't want to hear any crap about how your genetics predispose you to breathing air.

  3. 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?

  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.

  5. Implications go beyond gadgets by rtobyr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder if people with elevated levels of monoamine oxidase A are more inclined to engage in infidelity, citing the need for a variety of partners.

  6. 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); }
  7. Re:ADD of the new millennium by rtobyr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Perhaps it works the other way around. Children who are spoiled and greedy DEVELOP elevated levels of monoamine oxidase A as a result.

  8. Grow out of it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When I was younger I would have fit the neophilia profile. I had to have the latest video game system and all of the games, the latest stereo, latest everything. I've noticed that over the past 10 years or so I've become less interested in technology in general. Mind you I'm still heavily engrossed in technology every day (I'm a programmer), but I'm finding that I just don't care anymore. Maybe its just the stress of it all, I don't know. Has anyone else experienced this?

  9. 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.

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

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