A Hypothesis On Segway Hate

theodp writes "Admit it, IT is ingenious. Also, IT is surprisingly effective for certain uses, including real cops and mall cops. And if you tried IT, you probably smiled to yourself. So why all the Segway hate? Paul Graham looks into The Trouble with the Segway and offers a hypothesis about what prompts people to shout abuse at Segway riders: 'You look smug. You don't seem to be working hard enough.' Not that someone riding a motorcycle is working any harder, adds Graham, but because he's sitting astride it, he appears to be making an effort. When you're riding a Segway you're just standing there. Make a version that doesn't look so easy for the rider — perhaps resembling skateboards or bicycles — and Segway just might capture more of the market they hoped to reach."

Comments

Wiki Link

[Zedrick]

For those of us who has never heard of Segway before:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway

I don't get why people would do that to themselves, I'd rather walk around with nothing but underwear and a trashbin over my head. But anyway.