“Tried to use the things you sold me, no matter what the cost,
Tried to go the way you told me, but each time I got lost.”
- 'Up To The Roof', Blue Man Group
Certainly no one would want to live a life of complete cynicism, nor do I think anyone could. After all, there are some people in the world who are honest and open about their intentions. At least 5 at last count.
Oscar Wilde wrote, “A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.” I’ve always seen that as a rather cynical viewpoint. After all, most cynics come by it honestly. As George Carlin observed, “Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist.”
It would be important to note that I certainly don’t consider myself a cynic about all aspects of life. Some things are just too important to be cynical about. Chocolate cake for instance. And toilet paper.
Perhaps more than any thing else what ignites the cynic in me is when I feel someone is trying to sell me on something, something I don't want. And the harder they push the more I'm not interested.
It may be an idea, such as a political or religious idea, or it may be some type of consumer goods.
It may be an idea, such as a political or religious idea, or it may be some type of consumer goods.
When it comes to the onslaught of sales pitches for goods and services a cynical view is perhaps the most justified. From an early age we’ve all been warned, “Buyer, beware!” And it’s not that American business is out to get you. Just your money.
Yes, there are honest people in business, both in small “mom & pop” stores and in multi-national conglomerates. There are even businesses that always try to do what's right for the environment, what's right for society, to make the moral choices, and be good citizens.
At last count at least 3 of them.
Yet everyone should keep one thing firmly in mind. No matter how honest a business is, no matter how good meaning it is, no matter how good of a "corporate citizen" it is, that business is there to make money. If it wasn't it would be a non-profit charity. Or a Yugo dealership.
Another important thing to always keep in mind is that the best lie is one that's based in truth. The law requires that businesses tell the truth in advertising. But, as the man once said, "What is truth?"
Just as an example, if you come over to visit me at my house I could give you
$100!!!!!!
Or not. Probably not. But I could. So, even though that statement is the literal truth, it is still designed to deceive you. It is a lie. Same thing when a store blasts your senses with ads proclaiming "You could save up to 90%. They are betting your brain will fixate on the "save" and the "90%", and won't think too much about the "could" and the "up to".
There are other ways advertisers, businesses, try their best to lie to you while telling you the truth. When I receive an envelope in the mail that is designed to look as if it came from a government agency it goes straight to the trash. I won't buy life insurance from a company that lies to me.
Unfortunately government does the same thing. The people we elect to office, the people who we trust to represent our interests, all too often also lie to manipulate us. Perhaps the best thing about government officials is that they are usually such bad liars that their deception is easier to see through.
Government officials stand in front of the press and declare with a straight face that there is no government facility at Groom Lake (a.k.a. Area 51). Mean while America sees satellite photos of the runways and buildings. Who looks stupid?
Not that there are any little green aliens there. They're in a secret lab in the empty gold vaults at Fort Knox. Guarded by Elvis and the Yeti.
What did happen at Groom Lake were crimes against the environment and the workers when extremely toxic chemicals were mishandled at the orders of un-elected government officials. There may be a need for governments to keep secrets in the name of national security. Destroying the environment and the health of workers is just a crime.
Recently the Ankeny, Iowa police raided a house, smashing in the door, over an alleged stolen credit card case.
What bothers me is when the chief of police says they knocked on the door and waited 15 seconds, when anyone with a stopwatch can view the video and tell it was 7 seconds. What troubles me is when officers rip the homeowners security cameras off the wall. What troubles me more is when the police chief tries to claim the officer was moving some insulation out of the way.
The internet, the marvel of modern technology, the tool of truth, also has more to do with deception then most people believe, or want to believe.
Of course, they can't put anything on the internet that isn't true. I read that on the internet, so it must be true.
So to all the businesses out there who think lying is the way to get my money, to all the government officials who think you can lay down any kind of stinking manure and expect the American public to just accept it no questions:
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
At last count at least 3 of them.
Yet everyone should keep one thing firmly in mind. No matter how honest a business is, no matter how good meaning it is, no matter how good of a "corporate citizen" it is, that business is there to make money. If it wasn't it would be a non-profit charity. Or a Yugo dealership.
Another important thing to always keep in mind is that the best lie is one that's based in truth. The law requires that businesses tell the truth in advertising. But, as the man once said, "What is truth?"
Just as an example, if you come over to visit me at my house I could give you
$100!!!!!!
Or not. Probably not. But I could. So, even though that statement is the literal truth, it is still designed to deceive you. It is a lie. Same thing when a store blasts your senses with ads proclaiming "You could save up to 90%. They are betting your brain will fixate on the "save" and the "90%", and won't think too much about the "could" and the "up to".
There are other ways advertisers, businesses, try their best to lie to you while telling you the truth. When I receive an envelope in the mail that is designed to look as if it came from a government agency it goes straight to the trash. I won't buy life insurance from a company that lies to me.
Unfortunately government does the same thing. The people we elect to office, the people who we trust to represent our interests, all too often also lie to manipulate us. Perhaps the best thing about government officials is that they are usually such bad liars that their deception is easier to see through.
Government officials stand in front of the press and declare with a straight face that there is no government facility at Groom Lake (a.k.a. Area 51). Mean while America sees satellite photos of the runways and buildings. Who looks stupid?
Not that there are any little green aliens there. They're in a secret lab in the empty gold vaults at Fort Knox. Guarded by Elvis and the Yeti.
What did happen at Groom Lake were crimes against the environment and the workers when extremely toxic chemicals were mishandled at the orders of un-elected government officials. There may be a need for governments to keep secrets in the name of national security. Destroying the environment and the health of workers is just a crime.
Recently the Ankeny, Iowa police raided a house, smashing in the door, over an alleged stolen credit card case.
What bothers me is when the chief of police says they knocked on the door and waited 15 seconds, when anyone with a stopwatch can view the video and tell it was 7 seconds. What troubles me is when officers rip the homeowners security cameras off the wall. What troubles me more is when the police chief tries to claim the officer was moving some insulation out of the way.
The internet, the marvel of modern technology, the tool of truth, also has more to do with deception then most people believe, or want to believe.
Of course, they can't put anything on the internet that isn't true. I read that on the internet, so it must be true.
So to all the businesses out there who think lying is the way to get my money, to all the government officials who think you can lay down any kind of stinking manure and expect the American public to just accept it no questions:
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
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