iPhone 3G queue not idiots but environmental campaigners

The news that people have already started queuing for Apple's 3G iPhone is likely to prompt thoughts about how much more stupid even Apple fanboys can get. But the people already queuing in New York have ulterior motives. According to a Fortune report, they're TheWhoFarm: "a newly minted publicity-seeking environmental collective with an agrico-political mission: to persuade the 44th President of the US ... to transform the White House's 17-acre lawn into an organic farm."

They also want to set a new Guinness World Record for "longest time waiting in line to buy something".

While "Waiting for Apples in the Big Apple," they'll be eating apples and composting their food scraps. "And most importantly, we will talk to whoever happens to stop by about local organic farming as a critical element to sustainable healthy living, food security, youth education, and climate change mitigation."

Engadget has photos and a video.

Still, it's great that Americans can turn buying a locked-down proprietary product -- coming soon at a new higher price, with enforced in-store activation -- into a form of protest. That's the Steve Jobs strategy in a nutshell.