Brand Relationships vs. Life Relationships

I made an offhand comment today that really seemed more "on hand" after I thought about it. I saw a guy with a VitaminWater and I jokingly said, "My future husband..." but maybe that's not such a humorous comment..

How do brand relationships impact real life relationships?

If you eat, sleep and breathe (probably bleed) Mac and Apple products, would you ever even consider dating the PC guy? Hmm, no. If you've been driving a Chevy your entire life and your wife says, "Hey honey, time to get a Ford Windstar," are you really going to succumb to suburban soccer moms? We didn't think so either.

Brand relationships are often referred to as just a common preference. I like Coke and you like Pepsi. But if you stop and think how many Ford vs. Chevy, Mac vs. PC, Domino's vs. Pizza Hut arguments you've heard, even ridiculous things like Tide vs. Gain and Roundy's vs. Market Pantry, brand preferences aren't just opinions. Brands that embody human characteristics and attitudes are easier to form attachments and relationships with. It's kind of like backing up your best friend, or defending your boyfriend's strange quirks - you stand by the brands that you have an emotional connection with. After all, the latest AdAge even quotes a professor as saying, "Brands are almost human in representation in people's minds." If a Bud Light weirdo is making cracks at your Miller Lite, you take it personally. You will take time out of your life to defend a brand. A beer brand! But it's true. We like our friends, we like our brands, but more importantly, we like friends that like our brands.

Brand relationships aren't always apparent at first sight, but then again, neither is love.