Do you buy into the hype?

I follow the hype only to find new things and things I am not aware of. Those that I have bought without handling, which have been very few, are heavily researched using many different sources of information. I work hard for my money and hate wasting it. So far I have not been unhappy with knives bought based just on research.
 
I bought a few rough rider knives because of the hype in the traditional forum and I bought an Izula because of all the praise they get. I probably would have never bought a fixed blade besides a machete before this site
 
I think ‘buying into the hype’ means that you defend your choice, after the sale, whether you are really impressed or not.

I have bought, and used, two of the most hyped brands on this forum, Busse and Chris Reeve, just to see for myself if they are really that much better than the completion, especially for the price.

IMO they are not, and I have stated such several times in BF.

I bought the knives, but I didn’t buy into the hype.

They are good knives, but they didn’t rock my world.
 
I have and usually end up selling whatever was hyped. Bought a Spyderco Para & the Military and sold both while they were NIB. Did not care for them. CR on the other hand are some of the best folders I own besides my customs. I do find myself look and a Scott Cook Lochsa. I spend alot of money on knives and guns. Keep most of the guns and sell most of the knives, looking for the "perfect" knife.
 
When I started here in 2006 I was sure that my Buck 110 was the best knife I owned. Since then I have read and read and listen to as well as bought into the hype of over a dozen different knives. After all that I am convinced that my Buck 110 is the best knife I own.



:D
 
Nope, no hype for me. But that's from experience. From what I've seen, hype is mostly regarded for folders (except Strider and Busse) I've had hundreds of knives pass through in the past 4 years I've been on here, from Busse to Strider (SMF SnG, AR, PT and GB), Sebenza small and large, the hard to gets like the 806D2, Lil Temp, Ares, Swamp Rat folder, to the 710, Skirmish, ETC.. All are gone. I just didn't see how they were better than other cheaper alternatives. It's a knife/tool for me, not a toy, or a piece of art. I am not a collector of knives, I just like them. After it all, I prefer a SAK for a folder, it has more tools, or a nice slipjoint in 1095. As for fixed, the knife makers here use the steels I prefer in the workhorse configurations.(1095-5160, etc) Busse didn't cut it for me, I seriously did not see the cost benefit of INFI, I don't see the point of fighters or choppers, and take care of my knives, so corrosion resistance isn't an issue. After all of it, if you buy knives cause of hype, no harm in that, have fun! It's just not for me.
 
I guess I make my own hype, but just for personal consumption. I tend to lose interest in things when they start getting too popular... that's when the product often passes its prime too.

Some people thrive on group approval and some don't.

It's interesting to think about how much things have changed since I got on here in '99 - with some of the brands and the Kool-aid, but also with the boards themselves.
 
I am uncomfortable with the word hype since I associate it with BS advertising.

I like the word feedback and I like it to come from people who have absolutely no interests in the company/companies that make their product/products other than that they have something to tell about them whether good or bad.

These people have been a very valuable guide to making me aware of the advantages and disadvantages of various products. In all of this I am able to glean the answers to most questions I may have in my mind about the products and whether I like them or not.
 
I am follow hype every time! This is just human nature to learn from others until you have you own first hand experience. Then when I have let say hype-object I did not worship it for long time and give it a try, a test.

Many people however afraid to find out that hype is well only hype. Many people prefer to stay with hype instead of facing reality. May be they afraid to loose justification that they spend so much money on hype? It is really hard to find that out. I make myself bithday present for $400 - super duper friction forged D2. I was very disappointed to find out that there is no magic in it. So I feel like I waste $400 and do not have good present for BD. But I face it, I am big boy, I can handle it...

This fear to find yourself fooled is a big deal - people got pretty angry when they try hard to convince themselfs in thing they did not really believe deep inside. Only anger can suppress this deep suspicions... Saw this many times in many areas.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
If a knife is constantly talked about positively then I'll take a look at it. I'll try to find a store that has one to handle it. However, for the most part I don't buy anything unless I see or handle it myself, then make my decision. I've learned my lessons the hard way.
 
I don't buy into hype anymore. I caused me to end up buying several knives that I didn't like but fortunately they had a great fanboy following and I got my money out of them. :o

I think the only thing that will change my initial impressions on a knife is if I handle it in person and it catches my attraction. Other than that I can normally tell by pictures and specs if I'm going to want it or not.
 
nozh2002 said:
I am follow hype every time! This is just human nature to learn from others until you have you own first hand experience. Then when I have let say hype-object I did not worship it for long time and give it a try, a test.

Many people however afraid to find out that hype is well only hype. Many people prefer to stay with hype instead of facing reality. May be they afraid to loose justification that they spend so much money on hype? It is really hard to find that out. I make myself bithday present for $400 - super duper friction forged D2. I was very disappointed to find out that there is no magic in it. So I feel like I waste $400 and do not have good present for BD. But I face it, I am big boy, I can handle it...

This fear to find yourself fooled is a big deal - people got pretty angry when they try hard to convince themselfs in thing they did not really believe deep inside. Only anger can suppress this deep suspicions... Saw this many times in many areas.

Thanks, Vassili.
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It seems we need a Hype (exaggerated claims, deceptive marketing) Buster Forum or sub forum to weed out what is true and untrue, what a knife can and cannot do. Someone unbiased without affiliations and or mental disorder denial delusions to test the knife’s capabilities as described.
 
J.Mattson said:
It doesn’t take long to see that there are a number of knives that are intensively discussed. 15 (I pulled the number out of thin air but it illustrates the concept) knives that get more discussion then the next 100 (again simply made that number up) knives combined. For lack of a better word I’m just gonna call it “hype”. Please don’t think I’m saying that those knives are all hype read on and you’ll see what I mean.
Click to expand...

Hype does not mean bullshit - it's slang for Hyper.

From Medterms.com

Definition of Hyper-

Hyper-: Prefix meaning "high, beyond, excessive, above normal" as in hypercalcemia (high calcium in the blood) and hypersensitivity. The opposite of hyper- is hypo-.

See also: Super-.

So when applied to the "intensely discussed" knives you refer, to the term 'hype' is appropriate since these superalative knives are "above normal".

And yes, I have bought knives based on 'hype' and I'm glad I did because they're all and more that the 'hype' promised. What's the point of asking for recommendations and opinions from BF members then opting for a hypo-knife?
 
actually, hype is not the correct term, that is generated by the seller, or with the media. in this case, buzz would be more appropriate, that is generated by end users
 
Hype?! What hype??

I tend to ignore the fanboy rants ("Get a Sebenza! Get a Sebenza!", etc), but I've found a world of non-hype information about my next purchase (and the next, and the next, and...) here on BF.
Usually, if there's a more-or-less consensus here that a knife is great, good, OK, poor, or don't-waste-your-time, I've found that to be the actual case.

My Vic SAK, Tenacious, Skyline...I wouldn't have bought any of these if I hadn't checked here 1st.

Rather than hype, I call it 'research'...
 
I read the reviews of knives that people write and try to evaluate the hype. Then I try to only purchase the ones that appeal to me. So far, I have been tempted by some Spyderco's but don't really like the look, but I might try a Delica after reading the reviews. I did buy a small Sebenza after reading all the reviews and so far I don't think that I was let down. It really is a great knife. Simplicity in the design but done to perfection.
 
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