Ban this man from your Super Bowl party
by Richard Lawler 
posted Jan 22nd 2007 at 12:48PM
Now that we know who will be playing in this year's Super Bowl, we can plan the party and which friends are coming by to watch the big game. Here's a hint though: Don't invite this guy or anyone who reads his column. There's always going to be someone who claims they can't see the difference between SD and HDTV, no matter how many times you check the settings and use the proper connections to make sure every line of high def and channel of audio is present and accounted for. Why any one of your "friends" would take this columnists advice and deny the obvious truth that not only does HDTV make for a better viewing experience, but owning one also makes you an inherently better person than they, is unknown, but be on the lookout.[Via Fark]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Big Sam @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:22PM
If a friend did this, I'd have to kick that friend out of my house.
Wryker @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:33PM
That was actually a funny piece - it wouldn't be funny if someone did that to ME...but it's still a good read. Yup - I'm one of those "see this? that's SD - NOW see it in HD!" (going from non-HD HBO to HD HBO, etc)....
mroach @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:43PM
What a prick. Why would anyone even suggest doing that? I'm guessing Mr. Cowhead is jealous of his friends with HDTVs or just upset that his last name is undoubtedly the butt of all jokes. Enjoy the game on your crappy 4:3 SDTV CRT.
Loban @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:37PM
I don't think this dude is claiming he can't see the difference between HD and SD (that's just stupidity or plain old blindness), I think he's just saying how fun it would be to mess with someone's head like that.
Now, if he really is claiming that he can't see the difference, perhaps he needs to have his head examined or at least get his eyes checked. But then again, he looks pretty old so maybe he can't tell the difference. My Gpa can't really tell the difference, but he's 75, or perhaps he just doesn't care, which is more likely.
Derrick @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:46PM
My 65 plus parents marvel at the difference on a
HD Tom @ Jan 22nd 2007 1:56PM
He's obviously just being funny. And those theoretical reactions of the TV owner he writes about would be me!! It's like when my dad tells me he doesn't need YES Network in HD because it (SD YES) already looks better (stretched, etc.) than it did on his old CRT. The man bought a DLP and he still thinks this!! It gets me so mad!!! If someone did this to me (like the article), I'd probably never speak to them again after they left.
Kevin Murphy @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:01PM
He's a troll. Ignore him.
SuperChuck @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:05PM
Phht. What do I care if HE can tell the difference. I sure can! :)
Joe Davenport @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:05PM
Yeah, it would make more sense to go to a Best Buy and do this. Why would you be rude to a "friend" and also why would you assume that same "friend" will invite you back in a few days? The article wouldnt have been half as bad if he threw in a part about admitting there is a difference.
I guess that he just has a poor sense of humor and a false assumption that people only by HD to impress friends.
I am a designer residential A/V systems, I see plenty of poor quality HD TV's. Only an idiot would stand there and repeatedly try to make a friend feel bad about spending their hard-earned money.
Wryker @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:51PM
Doing that to your friend?...might cost you your friend
Doing that at a sports bar?....costs you that 'discounted' draft beer you always got
Going to Best Buy or Circuit City and doing that....priceless
That would be a HUGE hit on YouTube or something if someone was videotaped doing that at a store...any takers?
Naman @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:12PM
My REAL friends would not do this to me, even as a joke. I would tolerate a casual guest playing around like this, but I admit that I would make sure that same person(turd) would never be invited over again.
Sounds childish, but if you read Engadget regularly then you are most likely a techie of some stripe; and it's not a good idea to joke about a techie's toys.
Matt @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:40PM
Yeah, most of us aren't 9 anymore. I got the TV for me, not for everyone else. The last time somebody said "I can't tell the difference" my response was "really? huh." Then I went back to watching TV.
Dave @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:59PM
Heh - nowhere does he say that the HD set is viewing HD content! Even if there was HD content, perhaps he was viewing HDlite!
(still amazed at how many people think an HD tv is all you need for HD viewing pleasure....)
picaso @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:34PM
The sad truth is most people don't care. I've had HD for about 2 and half years and I could count on one hand the number of people who have said "wow". Most people aren't tech-savvy, don't read tech news and could care less how sharp their tv set was. To most a tv is just an appliance like their toaster. I don't even bring up the HD vs. SD conversation unless I'm asked.
egroman @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:20PM
It's not that most people don't care, it's that some do not. I and all of the others here have always had the "wow" and I'll spend $$ for that 'till the Cowherd comes home. Why everyone doesn't get a wow is beyond me (I think they're wired wrong!!), but Cowherd needs to acknolwedge that many do - and that if he can't see it, then that's his problem. He should STFU.
Rod @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:44PM
Most people don't HDTV's because of 720p or 1080i or 10180p. They buy them because they are "flat" and can hang on a wall.
DEEZNUTZ @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:53PM
What a douchebag...
Jake @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:54PM
Nerds: take a deep breath. Relax. Think of Babylon 5. Think of your blood pressure.
Dude is goofing. Did you read it? The theme of the article is "how to have some fun at someone else's expense." He is not purporting to comment on the actual virtues of HDTV. He is not making any claims at all.
Other than the fact that it is fun to screw with HDTV owners who are in deep, deep love with their TVs.
As the general reaction on this thread indicates, it's obviously easy. And it would obviously be fun... like calling a MacBook "clunky and inelegant" to an Apple fanboy.
siva @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:43PM
I got a personal reply from Kevin (the author of the article). It was just a parody. He said he will buy a HDTV once the price comes down (whatever that means).
L3 @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:59PM
This guy is not just an HD attacker, he acts this way in all of his interactions. He was rolling on the floor last weekend after he surprised his young children: "GUESS WHAT KIDS?!? I'M TAKING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO DISNEYLAND!!! Then as a funny, funny joke he took them to an old burned-out abandoned warehouse and said, "JUST KIDDING!!!"
supaneko @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:22PM
Nah, he's joking. He has to be. Not once does he go on to say that there is no difference between SD or HD or two channel sound and surround sound. I think he's just trying to get a few people to pick at their friends.
And you know... If someone had read this article and actually did what he says to me... WELL, I'll have to admit: I would be a little peeved. :)
Larry @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:34PM
Some of you guys are way too sensitive about this. It is just a joke. I think this guy would find a lot of plum victims in this comment section.
Bob @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:50PM
It's a joke.. I think people having problems with the guys articles are the 12 year old kids of parents who bought HD TVs.
People need to laugh more and quit being so sensitive.
steve @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:37PM
It's a joke.
The people having problems with this article are probably 13 year olds of parents who have HD sets.
I can't imagine any adults reading this and actually being offended.
Laugh more and quit being so sensitive.
Dro @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:08PM
Email this idiot and let him know your thoughts: Kevin.Cowherd@baltsun.com
ShadyLPete @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:53PM
i was laughing so hard while reading that, mainly because I AM the guy who says "WHAT!!, HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE THE DIFFERENCE!!" I intend to flip back and forth until they see the difference even though i know they're messing with me.
Rod @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:47PM
edit: 1080p.
h.solo @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:36PM
What an ass
Ken @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:43PM
He can sit in the kitchen and watch on the 13" Sanyo from Wal*Mart, while everyone else enjoys the 73" Mitsubishi in the family room.
However, I believe he is joking due to the fact he is giving you instructions on how to piss your friend off by denying the obvious differences - if not, he is a horrible person.
Mike D @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:50AM
I could care less whether people "see the difference" or not I can and if they can't they're blind.. thats their problems not mine. I'd just guide them around the house so they don't break anything. I'm pretty sure this is more about calling people who buy high definition tv's conceited then it is about high def not being real.
marvin @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:33AM
Those of you that were annoyed a) have no sense of humor
b) would make perfect "victim" material for this type of prank.
steve @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:34PM
No kidding. I thought it was a very funny article.
We take this stuff way too seriously.....
pimpdee976 @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:20PM
can i have this guys number SO I CAN SELL HIM SOME MORE OF THAT CRACK HE"S SMOKING.cant tell the diff is this guy nuts
Matt @ Jan 23rd 2007 2:37PM
Is this guy related to the ESPN radio host, Colin Cowherd? I could definitely imagine Colin saying this in his sarcastic tone, and it would be funny. And yes, I would be the guy switching back and forth too. I would get pretty annoyed by someone doing that, and I would probably, at least in my head, call them a moron for not seeing the difference. None of my friends would do it though.
Bradley @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:59PM
I am guessing he is probably attempting to be humorous... At least he sent me a reply to my email:
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Cowherd, Kevin"
To: ,
Subject: RE: Clearly, you must see the humor in high-def television
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 10:43:18 -0800
MIME-Version: 1.0
Thanks, you're probably right.
Kevin
-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:info@bradleyrobertson.com]
Sent: Mon 1/22/2007 9:01 PM
To: BaltSun-Feedback; Cowherd, Kevin
Subject: RE: Clearly, you must see the humor in high-def television
Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by (info@bradleyrobertson.com) on Monday, January 22, 2007 at 23:01:05
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
name: Bradley Robertson
email: info@bradleyrobertson.com
comment: Clearly you need your vision checked.
referer: http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/lifestyle/bal-to.cowherd18jan18,0,3263350.column?page=2&coll=bal-pe-today
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:49PM
I'm with this guy....what's the difference? *ducks*
Matt @ Jan 30th 2007 6:06PM
Came across this page yesterday too with recipes, ideas, drink calculator, online planning tools, etc.
http://hubpages.com/hub/super_bowl_party_guide
I'm definately making the Hooters-style buffalo wings on Sunday!