Smart People Will Always Make Money Off Stupid Morons
The tactical advantage of being smart and devoid of scruples is a wonderful thing if you want to make a truckload of money off people who are incredibly stupid. Alas, I am not devoid of scruples. So, I am unwilling to concoct a widget, wave my authentic Hogwarts wand over each, imparting claimed magical and mystical powers to it, and then sell it for $29.95 (US) around the globe.
The firm Power Balance LLC is in the news because the Aussies - not the Americans - forced the US based firm to admit their miracle cure pendants and wristbands have no powers to cure anything - including and especially consumer stupidity.
Apparently some famous people have been hoodwinked by this latest medical 'cure' device - actors and sports people. Well, famous or not, they don't pay actors or sportspeople for their brains. Actors are paid to pretend. Some are pretty good at it, and it's a fabulous payday if you can get the work. Sportspeople are paid mostly for their brawn, not their brains. That some people give enough credibility to actors and sportspeople to buy the products they "swear by" or otherwise endorse (paid or unpaid) is maybe not stupid, but is pretty silly nonetheless. Particularly when the product these people are hawking has nothing to do with their profession/craft. Would YOU sign up for a reverse mortgage because Robert Wagner says it's the best thing since sliced bread? A new car because Tiger Woods says he can't sleep around without it? A Sleep Number bed because it's endorsed by the Bionic Woman (keep your mind out of the gutter people!)? If you would, then aren't you a silly person! The examples are endless.
There have been many tens of thousands of words written about the placebo effect, but there is an inherent problem of ethics when you are knowingly selling a placebo while claiming it's 'safe and effective' for the ailments that pain you. Many miracle 'cure' gadgets have come before, and all of them ultimately wound up in the scrap bins, but not before some enterprizing smarter person took unscrupulous advantage of the gullible fools out there and made lots of money. PT Barnum said it best: "There is a sucker born every minute".
The thing that continuously worries me is that.....suckers vote.
The firm Power Balance LLC is in the news because the Aussies - not the Americans - forced the US based firm to admit their miracle cure pendants and wristbands have no powers to cure anything - including and especially consumer stupidity.
Apparently some famous people have been hoodwinked by this latest medical 'cure' device - actors and sports people. Well, famous or not, they don't pay actors or sportspeople for their brains. Actors are paid to pretend. Some are pretty good at it, and it's a fabulous payday if you can get the work. Sportspeople are paid mostly for their brawn, not their brains. That some people give enough credibility to actors and sportspeople to buy the products they "swear by" or otherwise endorse (paid or unpaid) is maybe not stupid, but is pretty silly nonetheless. Particularly when the product these people are hawking has nothing to do with their profession/craft. Would YOU sign up for a reverse mortgage because Robert Wagner says it's the best thing since sliced bread? A new car because Tiger Woods says he can't sleep around without it? A Sleep Number bed because it's endorsed by the Bionic Woman (keep your mind out of the gutter people!)? If you would, then aren't you a silly person! The examples are endless.
There have been many tens of thousands of words written about the placebo effect, but there is an inherent problem of ethics when you are knowingly selling a placebo while claiming it's 'safe and effective' for the ailments that pain you. Many miracle 'cure' gadgets have come before, and all of them ultimately wound up in the scrap bins, but not before some enterprizing smarter person took unscrupulous advantage of the gullible fools out there and made lots of money. PT Barnum said it best: "There is a sucker born every minute".
The thing that continuously worries me is that.....suckers vote.
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