Those famous words were uttered by U.S. democratic backroom guru James Caravel during one of the Clinton White house runs in the 90's. Whenever someone on the election team would start to divert from the message, the campaign whip would quickly remind them that people care only so much about anything past their own wallet. When it comes to humanity, we are a pathetic bunch of self serving. short sighted idiots. I wish that were not the case, but time and time again when all levels of society are faced with a decision to make, we continually choose the easiest, we choose the quickest, we want the most profit and the least responsibility. If for some reason you choose to try to be a little better, a little kinder, give a little more you are rejected, abused, and made to be the scapegoat. Long after the profit takers and Captains of Industry have left the building, you and yours are left with broken backs, broken dreams and the loss of the one commodity that should never be taken away - hope.
I am no communist - but sometimes I wonder.
Kevin's Barber Shop
Come in and sit down
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Garbage in - garbage out
Having worked in Market Research for a number of years, one thing has become painfully clear - it's all bullshit.
Until all citizens are forced to participate - and everyone is dosed with sodium pentathol (truth syrum) all market research must be taken with a silo of salt.
An incredible amount of goods and services, government policies...EVERYTHING we get shoved down our throats comes from what can only be called a "best guess" The difference between a guess and a "best guess" is about $27k spent asking people their opinions. Problem is, people lie. All the time. Women are far more willing to answwer surveys and hence - most advertising is directed towards them. Recently, advances in personal people meters (the devices used by market researchers to determine viewing and listening habits) have been extended to all sorts of consumer goods. The end result is that men aged 18-34 are being counted for the first time in ...well forever. Men are lazy, and the passive nature of these new devices goes a long way to take their preferences in account. Good old rock radio has returned to the New York and Philadelphia markets because the conventional thinking that everyone wanted more salsa. latin urban and dance music was proved false - just the type of people (women) who like this music answer surveys at a higher rate. Surveys suck - but you need to be heard.
Until all citizens are forced to participate - and everyone is dosed with sodium pentathol (truth syrum) all market research must be taken with a silo of salt.
An incredible amount of goods and services, government policies...EVERYTHING we get shoved down our throats comes from what can only be called a "best guess" The difference between a guess and a "best guess" is about $27k spent asking people their opinions. Problem is, people lie. All the time. Women are far more willing to answwer surveys and hence - most advertising is directed towards them. Recently, advances in personal people meters (the devices used by market researchers to determine viewing and listening habits) have been extended to all sorts of consumer goods. The end result is that men aged 18-34 are being counted for the first time in ...well forever. Men are lazy, and the passive nature of these new devices goes a long way to take their preferences in account. Good old rock radio has returned to the New York and Philadelphia markets because the conventional thinking that everyone wanted more salsa. latin urban and dance music was proved false - just the type of people (women) who like this music answer surveys at a higher rate. Surveys suck - but you need to be heard.
A safe place for debate and discourse
In a world where political correctness and opinion by proxy have silenced discussion, Kevin's Barber Shop is a place that welcomes the forgotten arts of debate and discourse.
As the owner of this place, I welcome everyone who wishes to peel the onion and learn a little something. Smugness, arrogance and dismissive name calling will NOT be tolerated - either you have the goods to express your opinion in an insightful, informative manner - or I will put you squarely in your place.
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