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'Web Rage' Is Latest Meaningless Internet Hype

Studies

from the don't-throw-the-laptop dept

Thu, Jul 6th 2006 12:34pm — Joseph Weisenthal
It seems that for research firms, coming out with studies about how people use the internet is a pretty easy way to generate publicity. Most of them tend to make entirely obvious points, and only seem notable because they're about the internet. Others are plain hype, such as a new one warning about an increase in "web rage", a dramatic phrase to describe frustration with web services. According to one group, this "web rage" is prompting up to 78% of internet shoppers in the UK to go back to shopping at retail locations. Though they don't explain what this very unlikely number means, they add that this threatens to devastate the British online economy. Still the study does have some useful bits, such as the fact that a high number of people are frustrated by complex registration and the inability to speak to someone live. Too bad the group had to obscure this information by having to hype up a new term.
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17 Comments

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  • identicon
    garrett, 6 Jul 2006 @ 12:39pm

    'web rage'? - Really, c'mon! Does any one here actaully become enraged when trying to buy something online?
    Maybe a little frustrated sometimes. And I do believe that some websites need a very basic course in how to perform a usability study. Whoever comes up with the new buzz phrases really should look up the words first before deciding to use them.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 6 Jul 2006 @ 1:53pm

      Re:

      Web Rage? What are you talking about??? I'm sick of people coming up with crazy studies about known facts!!!

      I'm so sick of it, I could punch them in the face!!!

      GOD I WISH THEY WERE HERE RIGHT NOW...DO YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO TO THEM???

      Web rage...they have no idea

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Aaron deOliveira (profile), 6 Jul 2006 @ 12:45pm

    Headline typo

    delete this comment afterwards if you want

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    A-non-o-mouse, 6 Jul 2006 @ 1:38pm

    Umm... you wish to speak to someone... then go or do something that actually might have a person on the other side... Like maybe (insert bright idea) go to a store or call a store.

    Umm your computer talks to other computers. I just wonder how a person could Talk to someone who isn't in the equasion.

    You + your computer + internet + website = ANOTHER COMPUTER

    Where is another person on in that?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    freefood, 6 Jul 2006 @ 1:42pm

    Still the study does have some useful bits

    If by "useful" you mean "obvious", then i agree.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Drama2Sell, 6 Jul 2006 @ 1:48pm

    Web Rage?

    Been shopping online for years and never experienced "web rage"--however, I do experience "Phone Rage" quite often.

    Seriously, if I call one more company and have to go through those freaking automated systems I will lose it.

    If you want to respond, please be aware that some of my options have changed :)

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 6 Jul 2006 @ 3:28pm

      Re: Web Rage?

      Press 1 to press another button
      Press 2 to press twenty more buttons
      Press 0 to NOT speak with an operator

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    counter strike fan, 6 Jul 2006 @ 1:56pm

    pissed off

    denoting web rage as a frustration with online shopping services is laughable... anyone who believe web rage doesn't exist, however, needs to play more counter-strike... when you're at public gaming lan playing counter-strike and someone else in the same facility gets one too many head shots on you and you later follow them outside and gun them down for real... THAT'S web rage (or net rage maybe?)... either way... until someone kills themself or someone else due to an uncooperative web page, this online shopping web rage thing is exactly as you said: just plain hype.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Fenwick, 6 Jul 2006 @ 2:05pm

    LOL, web rage

    Okay, this is just ridiculous. My mother can use Ebay just fine, but she's not at all technologically savvy. She can't turn her Cell-phone off of vibrate. Internet shopping sites are really simple; they are made for everyday people. On public bidding style sites, you can almost always ask the seller questions easily. I don't see how people are getting this upset about internet shopping. Honestly...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Pmac, 6 Jul 2006 @ 2:19pm

    WEB RAGE

    Nice. Watch them try and trademark the term now...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Fen1x, 6 Jul 2006 @ 2:21pm

    Bored

    I think this person was just bored, and she goes hey, I'm gonna make up some lame story about some non-existent phrase and see how many dumb*** people will believe it, oh and she/he probly got $1000 for this stupid report.... Anyone else want their job?

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Search Engines WE, 6 Jul 2006 @ 2:37pm

    Shopping Online vrs Human Contact

    eCommerce is great if you know EXACTLY what you want


    Human Contact is great if you are fortunate enough to come in contact with a KNOWLEGEABLE, PATIENT SalesPerson...

    Browsing is less pressured online - but with a pushy Salesperson working on commission ....well..... :-(


    So perhaps, people will do BOTH, ...Pre Shop online to get an idea of where to go - perhaps Call - then visit locally to see if the staff is accommodating

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      John Bailey, 24 Jul 2006 @ 6:28am

      Re: Shopping Online vrs Human Contact

      Couldn't agree more. I tend to buy books, DVDs etc and computer and home electronic stuff. Online its easy. I know exactly what I want, find it on the site and put it in the cart. Dealing with a human who usually wouldn't know a video card from a disk drive is a different matter. The only times its a bit inconvinent is if the item runs out of stick, and I only find out a week later when the company decides to phone me or call me to find out if I wish to wait.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Just Me, 6 Jul 2006 @ 4:29pm

    What?

    This is just another example of filtered research. Oohh oohh...let's try and come up with a new word so our research is relevant. We have done what others have (i.e. copy and paste) and our research would be seen as relevant if we add new words here and there.

    Here is a new phrase for you....Research Rage.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Frink, 6 Jul 2006 @ 8:49pm

    They must be right because I get raging mad every time someone tells me I might fly into a rage when I hear a story about things that cause rage. Just the other day I heard a story on my car radio about rage..............

    .............I'm so damned mad right now I just kicked my dog.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    counter-strike fan, 7 Jul 2006 @ 12:54pm

    New Word?

    Web rage isn't a new word by any means... as I said... look up counter-strike murder... when you go and kill someone over playing a video game... well... you get my point. I will say referring to web rage as being pissed off at online shopping is new and completely unfounded.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    eBayman, 14 Jul 2006 @ 5:03am

    how about Paypal rage?

    Having bought on eBay, I just tried to add another credit card to my paypal account. Cut a long story short, decided to use my original card and not register the 2nd one.
    Does Paypal give me a chance to cancel?

    Nope, scratching around for a route to go back to my ebay payment. No way Jose.

    The only choice is to Logout and go back to ebay and loop round again.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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