Here at Macworld we love our readers, and not just because the site couldn’t exist without them. Personally I enjoy moderating user comments since (as well as being perceptive and knowledgeable) at least 50 percent of the contributors are commendably polite from the get-go and another 45 percent instantly become polite as soon as a human responds to them.
This article is inspired by the remaining 5 percent.
Rest assured that Macworld gets its fair share of troll comments. These are the ones that are unreasonable, or make no sense, or are filled with misspelt rage, or are just written to get a rise out of other commenters. And, while the vast majority of our Android-based visitors are lovely and intelligent people, it has to be said that quite a lot of our troll comments come from Android fanboys. For some reason they seem to take exception to our frequently positive coverage of iOS devices. [Read our comparison review of iOS 8 and Android Lollipop]
We thought we’d collect the 20 best (worst) comments, to give the rest of you an insight into the daily life of an Apple-focused journalist. Contains a small amount of mild swearing.
Technically this is a patent troll, but you get the idea.
20. “Oh my God this review was so subjective and horribly written I nearly died.” deeeev, iPhone 6 vs Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone comparison
19. “Disgusting literature from a disgusting and terribly biased (appropriately titled “Macworld”) website.” A Disgusted User, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
18. “You should be embarrassed, well you would be if you had any shame.” Mart L, iPhone 5s versus HTC One M8 video review
17. “Your stupid. Look it up. Everybody thinks the One is way better. And it is.” Scott, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
16. “This post has a great idea, but you was too lazy to get some time and make this post rich as it deserves. Don’t get me wrong, i like your posts, but this time I think you was lazy and this post is poor.” douglas secco, Can an iPhone user learn to love Android?
15. “What a load of complete twaddle and nonsense ! I do hope you have day jobs” TheTetleymac, iPhone 5s versus HTC One M8 video review
14. “is this some messed-up revers psychology website?” Traiden6, iPhone 6 vs Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone comparison
13. “What a sad review. Surely Macworld would gave a bias in favour of Apple products, but this piece could have been written by Vladimir Putin himself, if he would have been part of the editorial team.” Ruben Smit, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
12. “This article has exceeded my already high expectations of technical ignorance and blatant impartiality. I am quite staggered at how bad it is and how much it lives up to to stereotype of mac users being I-sheep.” Alex Depper, iPad Air vs Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet comparison review
11. “Btw get Mr Cooks balls out of your mouth while you’re at it. A farce of a comparison you should be unemployed” mdotdotdot, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
10. “This is prejudicism” marlowe, iPhone 6 vs Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone comparison
9. “The woman on this video is AWFUL… Mind you the man is not much better.” Jonathon Cross, iPhone 5s versus HTC One M8 video review
8. “Stop deleting people’s comments. We are aloud to have opinions on your crappy reviews.” MacworldBiased, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
7. “YOUR COMPARISON IS FLAWED MUCH LIKE YOUR TYPING SKILLS.” Me, iPhone 5c vs OnePlus One comparison review [comment since deleted]
6. “Why don’t you just marry your iPhone. What a joke.” Oliver Coady, iPhone 5c vs OnePlus One comparison review
5. “this review is blasphemous and you should find new employees” gator9422, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
4. “You’re kidding right? This article made my eyes bleed.” User of Both, LG G2 vs iPhone 5s smartphone comparison review
3. “WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT FOR DOING SUCH REVIEW BUT PLEASE, NEXT TIME, DO NOT SHOW TOO MUCH ADMIRATION TO APPLE PRODUCTS.” poiabella, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
2. “This reviewer was obviously educated by Dr Stalin at the University of Diarrhoea.” Johnny Kowalski, New HTC One M8 versus iPhone 5s comparison review
1. “U biased bastards” Joel, iPad Air vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 comparison [comment since deleted]
Author: David Price, Editor
David has loved the iPhone since covering the original 2007 launch; later his obsession expanded to include iPad and Apple Watch. He offers advice to owners (and prospective owners) of these devices.