Apple Incorporated has you just where they want you. Innovative, cool products keep pouring out of the California-based consumer electronics and software giant—and you want them. The iPhone, iPod, MacBook, and iTunes have all become part of the nation’s vernacular. And Apple continues to grow, leaving other tech companies envying their devoted customer base and hip factor. Every year, more college freshmen migrate to Best Buy with proud parents in toe and buy a shiny, white rectangle—gladly sacrificing mom and dad’s extra cash for a virus-free fun factory. Afterall, PCs are lame.

Generation Y’s obsessive loyalty to the Apple brand admittedly annoys me. It’s not an issue of performance or specifications that leaves me irked. I understand all of the PC vs. Mac arguments very well and have used both with success. But I get worried when people let their devotion to products control their speech and the way they make financial decisions. Today it seems twentysomethings are more apt to defend their favorite brand than their friend who becomes the subject of water-cooler gossip. I doubt Steve Jobs will lose much sleep if you don’t stick up for the iMac. People seem more likely to stand silent when someone badmouths their boss than when someone mocks their mainframe.

We waste our breath defending our foreign-made vehicle or our favorite cola. Sharing a verse or encouraging a friend is a better use of time. Let Consumer Reports do their job and you do yours: loving people. Just this week I’ve heard at least three different lectures as to why Apple’s products are so awesome. Guess what? I don’t care. Jesus is awesome and Apple doesn’t leave me in awe. Neither does Microsoft. The solar system? Awesome. A waterfall? Awesome. A touch screen phone? Meh.