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Super Bowl Come-Up

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vc2 producer Carlos Aguilar is having all his friends and family over for the annual Super Bowl party but he knows that his old projection TV is not going to cut it. Like many Americans Carlos buys a new HD LCD TV he can't afford with every intention of returning the TV he next day.

Producer: Bookworm Brown
Camera: Alex Villegas and Donald Quintana
Editor: Donald Quintana
BooksBrown

20 responses // Super Bowl Come-Up

  • I like how Wormwood Brown adds the footnote that this type of dishonest activity costs our nations retailers $10,000,000,000.00 each year. If Brown was smart instead of clever, he'd realize that those costs are passed directly on to consumers, the just and the unjust. Hey Brown... don't ever scratch your head and wonder why Latino's get stereotyped. You exemplify and propagate that strereotype with your actions (look it up worm).
    kmac1959
  • Kmac1959,

    You raise two seperate points, the first concerning my behavior as it relates to my Come-Up and the second, regarding an apparent disservice to the Raza.

    I'll take the last first and the first last (I like saying that)!

    Part of the reason Latinos get stereotyped is because people mistake the particular for the general. It's a logical fallacy at least as old as, say, people born in 1959. In the case of my Come-Uppance, you'd be only weakly justified in drawing a much more modest conclusion:
    VC2 Producers interested in throwing a Super Bowl party but unintersted in buying a TV might buy one and take it back for the sake of a pod. I kow that this doesn't get you to your conclusion that 'Latinos are lying and thieving dogs,' but hey, it's a start.

    Btw, share with my your TIVO selections bc I'm gonna want to steer clear of whatever claptrap you're watching.

    With regards to the effect wardrobing has on the consumer, it might be worth noting that several big box stores don't charge a re-stocking fee. Presumably, this is because the costs related to wardrobing is ALREADY factored into the (over)price of the TV.

    You seem to be assuming a Kantian (were you guys classmates, 1959?) ethic, wherein one should:
    "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."

    For purposes of this exercise, I assumed a different ethic more attuned to economies-of-scale that permit 'free riders.'

    In a lot of ways, my behavior emodied that same capitalistic spirit that pushes big-box companies to minimize cost and maximize gain by 'exploting' existing loopholes. Matter of fact, maybe I should win some kind of Businees Award. Any offers?



    BooksBrown
  • Blah blah blah. Don't try to justify your dishonest behavior to anyone except your own conscience. If someone did the same thing to you, you'd be furious and you know it. And do you teach these ethics to your children? If so then they'll further the stereotype and you'll all scratch your heads and call people racist for thinking all latino's are illegal, or doing something illegal. Shame on you.
    kmac1959
  • Kmac,
    What is this 'shame' thing you speak of?

    If somebody did the same thing to 'me' (and 'me' was a multibillion dollar corporation who made money by minimizing cost, maximizing gain and exploiting loopholes in existing tax and labor laws) then I might adopt more restrictive return policies...unless, the more liberal policies allowed me to continue to maximize gain, minimize cost and exploit loopholes in tax and labor laws.

    It's lamentable (if not entirely predictable) that some would interpret my behavior as somehow demonstrative of the 'Latino Ethic.' As spokesperson for all brown people everywhere, I must say, 'such an interpretation would be utter bulzshat.'




    BooksBrown
  • blah-blah-blah = "...you're the worst, i'm the best.."

    i applaud Brown's thoughtful response particularly because it highlights the apparent tensions between personal ethics (i.e., coming up) and unfettered corporate greed (i.e., capitalism). while some would say we ought to maintain our personal ethic in the face of even the most egregious instances of evil, others would say "F-YOU!" Apparently, Brown has selected the latter. And while I simply do not have the gall to purchase a TV, watch a game, and return it for a full refund - I do find Brown's willingness to sacrifice his associate's job admirable. BTW - Is Circuit City hiring?

    **in the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I was indeed in attendance at said SuperBowl party. I did consume two bowls of nachos, 3 cups of Sprite, and watch only mildly entertaining commercials on the appliance in question.**
    mykneegrow
  • Oh. I see. In your opinion, big business is probably screwing you on the prices so that exhonerates you and removes any responsibility you might have to do the right thing. Hmmm. No question in my mind where you stand.

    But let me reiterate... if you sold me a car and I used it for a road trip to go see the Super Bowl and then stopped payment on the check and brought the car back to you... I'm sure that each of you would be pissed about it and think only a dirty dog would do such a thing. How are the actions of Mister Brown any different? Because it's a mega bucks corporation it makes it okay? With that in mind you might rationalize that stealing from someone else is okay if they're better off than you because they can afford the loss.
    kmac1959
  • PS. I heard that Walmart has product theft factored into the overall cost of their merchandise, so if you're free this weekend maybe you can swing into Walmart and do some shoplifting. I mean, they expect it right? It's almost like they want you to do it, like maybe it's even your duty as a savvy consumer to stick it to the man.
    kmac1959
  • Can't we all just get along?

    Seriously though, I'm happy this pod has created such spirited dialogue.
    bstein
  • Kmac,
    Thanks for engaging the pod. But I think you fail to recognize an important difference btw your examples and my behavior.

    In the first case you provide too little information to determine whether the act of buying a car with a check, stopping payment and returning the car was illegal. If said behavior is in fact illegal, then the example is dissimilar for obvious reasons (i.e., What I did is perfectly legal).

    If the behavior is legal, then the saavy seller must establish a policy that prevents exploitation of any existing loopholes (e.g., deal wity cash only, re-stocking fee,etc/). The fact that the seller (of TV's or Cars) does not impose restrictive policies leads me to believe that they stand more to gain ($$$$$) by having loose policies, as costumers are more likely to spend their hard earned money on other overpriced materials in the store.

    In so far as price setting is a 'game' between producers, vendors and consumers, all participants recognize the rationality of maximizing gain and minimizing costs.

    With regards to shoplifting, your example fails because the behavior is dissimilar. In fact, what keeps some people from shoplifting is the same capitalistic spirit that seeks to maximize gain and minimize costs...the value gained by stealing a TV is not greater than the potential cost of going to jail.

    I think the problem you're having with my behavior is that you assume I want everybody to behave in similar fashion. The opposite is true. I want most people to continue to go along and purchase their TVs as I take advantage of existing loopholes. If everybody does it the opportunity will disappear.




    BooksBrown
  • Ok. You win, I see your point now. If you can get over on someone and you've broken no man made law, put ethics and morality aside cause it's all good. We just follow a different moral compass that's all.

    For example, I taught my children if you see an old lady drop her purse, you'd say, 'excuse me maam, you've dropped your purse' and you'd return it to its rightful owner. Whereas following your attitude of licentiousness, the youngsters would see her drop it and say 'damn! look what I scored from that old lady.'

    No laws are broken so the old lady's rent money is fair game. Best of luck to you and your family with that fine line between heaven and hell.

    kmac1959
  • Kmac,

    First things first...nice use of 'licentiousness.' The word ranks high along with lasciviousness and shibbeloth as favorite Biblical words.

    Surely, though, you've also noted the Good Book's 'admonition' (another bible fave) to avoid hypercritical and hypocritical judgment LEST(!) you be measured by the same standard.

    In other words, watch your rolling stops and highway cruising speed LEST the wrath of God fall on your balding head. Also, rewind your movie rentals (cuz surely you're still rocking VHS) before you return them as the cost of rewinding COCOON is passed onto the innocents.


    BooksBrown
  • The word was chosen purposely, and regardless of its origin, it was used appropriately to describe my position in relation to what you've described as yours.

    Licentiousness:

    For your readers without access to a dictionary...

    li·cen·tious – adjective... Unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.

    kmac1959
  • Lmao. That is great. My only question did he do the same thing with the camera? Riddle me that.
    deevilgnius
  • Kmac what scum. Tossing big words here and there but still refusing to see the point. We/you/humans are not stealing or jacking old ladies purses. Now I would never take an old ladies purse but for sure I'd love to return "something" anything for that matter. Big freaking deal returning something to a store, ooh ouch!
    But taking an old ladies purse c'mon, a little out there don't you think? Also who are you? You mention that you where there? You came, you watched, if you are so opposed to this behavior than you could have bought the TV off of Bookworm and prevented the entire return to the store. Than maybe someone can issue you (Kmac) some whack little cape for saving the consumers from NOTHING, except maybe bookworm $22 in over priced gas and having to drive to and from the store.
    Kmac, let's meet FIST to FACE and continue this conversation. Stereo type me as an ass kicking Chicana, cause that's just how I do it!
    Oh P.S. did you bring anything to the party? You noted that you came, ate, yada yada. I hope that you teach your children that number one if your going to an event at someone's home to bring something and two if you disagree with something entirely than don't have anything to do with it. The last is be sure you have a backbone children and don't talk shit after the fact, if you have a problem with something speak up from the gate or shake the spot. Don't just sit there and say I can't believe this and watch the TV,eat, drink, laugh, leave and talk shit! Broke ass had to come watch super bowl at a latinos crib because you don't have any shit of your own you freaking racist bastard!
    I'll teach my kids to kick your kids ass. I'll teach them to emotionaly scar them for the rest of their lives. I look forward to watching them crying on Dr. Phil in 2017, I was bullied as a child, whaaa whaa!
    How's that for morals, BIATCH!
    TheMaster86
  • ass kicking chicanas are dangerous.
    BooksBrown
  • I think that is a really smart idea. Good job!
    rachelemae
  • http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080320/ap_on_fe_st/odd_tac...
    Image...
    I best count my blessings.
    BooksBrown
  • Although everything about the pob falls within legal parameters, I will soon learn about another more personal issue, which is representation. I hope to learn more about this... Rules are rules.
    DonQ
  • It was determined that the representation in the video was indeed legitimized and disconnected. Insofar as my role, they felt my performance was good enough to support my non-related "counter-productive" current merchandise-return results in the store, which I might add is far less than others (???). Non-related as it might be, it was reason enough for them to label me as a thorn... Misrepresentation is their game, not mine. You'll see it more as the company continues to Hindenburg to certain doom... "It's just a little turbulence."
    DonQ
  • I thought it was funny.
    palomitas

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