frank kayser wrote on Wed, 05 January 2011 07:30 |
Don't we have a Federal Trade Commission or something that is supposed to protect the public (oh God, listen to me! And I consider myself a libertarian!) But come ON! Why do we allow this drivel to be marketed (yeah, I know... fair trade)
Well, I guess I can't have it both ways - so let the charlatans sell the snake oil. Maybe the folks that buy the stuff deserve it.
(sigh) frank
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It is worth noting that "caveat emptor" (buyer beware) is written in a dead language, so it not exactly a recent concept.
Life is an IQ test, but many people keep getting the same test questions wrong over and over. Just like I ponder, who in world buys that crap they push with spam... somebody must be.
It seems new years brings out a new flurry of snake oil merchants, but one that has been around for a while that still makes me say "wha?" is the power bracelets.
The government can't protect us from our own stupidity (and theirs), but it can try to cut back on outrageous lies when obvious. That is simple fraud, selling a benefit that isn't delivered. An informed consumer would be the far better solution, and I am continually amazed when I hear that some merchant sold millions of plastic bracelets with nothing more than a good story. The TV ad copy was well crafted by a lawyer, but still disingenuous. While perhaps not literally a lie, the impression promoted is dishonest. I though most would have figured this out by the time they reached adulthood, when that GI Joe action figure, didn't really climb the hill by himself like he did on TV.
Not only are the people ignorant, but many don't want to be informed. If you spend some time around audiophools they will reject most constructive advice. I fear it is the human condition, that some people are destined to be the perpetual patsy, while most of us learn from our earlier foolishness and pursue new mistakes in our quest for knowledge.
JR
PS: Wait for it... Isn't it about time for them to trot out those magical gas mileage extenders again, "just add water". Must be a new crop of fools to pluck.