Reality distortion field

Reality distortion field

Reality distortion field is a term coined by Bud Tribble at Apple Inc. in 1981, to describe company co-founder Steve Jobs' charisma and its effects on the developers working on the Mac project. [ Hertzfeld, Andy [http://folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Reality_Distortion_Field.txt Reality Distortion Field] . February 1981.] Later the term has also been used to refer to perceptions of his keynote (or Stevenote) by observers and devoted users of Apple computers and products. [Dudrow, Andrea [http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/9214.html Notes from the Epicenter: Exploring the Reality Distortion Field] "creativepro.com" October 16, 2000.]

Bud Tribble claimed that the term came from "Star Trek".

In essence, RDF is the idea that Steve Jobs is able to convince people to believe almost anything with a mix of charm, charisma, bluster, exaggeration, and marketing. RDF is said to distort an audience's sense of proportion or scale. Small advances are applauded as breakthroughs. Interesting developments become turning points, or huge leaps forward. Those who use the term RDF contend that it is not an example of outright deception but more a case warping the powers of judgment. The term "audience" may refer to an individual whose attitudes Steve is intending to affect.

Often the term is used as a derogatory remark to criticize Apple's products and its more enthusiastic fans.

The term has extended in industry to other managers and leaders, who try to convince their employees to become passionately committed to projects, sometimes without regard to the overall product or to competitive forces in the marketplace. It also has been used with regard to hype for products that are not necessarily connected with any one person [ [http://www.davidtemkin.com/mtarchive/000012.html The Ajax Reality Distortion Field] "davidtemkin.com" April 12, 2005] .

See also

* Apple Inc.
* Steve Jobs
* "Drinking the Kool-Aid"
* Propaganda
* Suggestibility
* Truthiness

References


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