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When I was a young boy, growing up in Manchester (England), the summer holidays from school went on forever. Everyone knew everyone else around them by name, the streets were safe, there was no real crime, and people never used to lock their front doors.
Nowadays many of us don’t know their neighbours well, the streets are full of dangerous people (neighbours?), crime is rampant and our houses are fortified like small banks. Kind of.
Has the world become a more dangerous place than it used to be? I don’t think so. I think that most of the bad things that happen nowadays have always happened. The main thing that has changed is that the world is a more open place.
In every war there have been soldiers that commit crimes. Nowadays the evidence is plastered all over the world’s newspapers and websites within weeks, days or even hours.
Good news also has the possibility to spread like wildfire, but one of the more intriguing aspects of our species is that we seem to enjoy reading more bad news than good. Odd.
But the web is also used to spread good tidings too. We use the web to send and receive emails to and from friends, to share photos of our loved ones, click on links to amusing web sites that makes us laugh, keep up with our favourite sports, immerse ourselves in our hobbies and share good news.
There’s also a fair amount of evidence to suggest that there are an increasing number of interesting people with a growing amount of free time on their hands. These people also seem to have an amazing knack for focusing on the finer details in life.
MousePrint.org aims to expose the strings and catches in advertising fine print. And does so quite well.
The point they makes is a good one:
“Imagine spending $25,000 for a new car and then having buyer’s remorse. To give customers more peace of mind, Chrysler has begun offering a 30 day return program. TV commercials promise “if not satisfied, simply return it within 30 days.”
The truth is, it is not quite so painless a process, particularly to your pocketbook.
*MOUSE PRINT: “Customer responsible for 5% MSRP restocking fee, 50 cents per mile driven, and all financing, insurance and tax charges.” [TV commercial airing July 10, 2006.]”
Ouch.
Chrysler Satisfaction Program: Just Return it in 30 Days
Other scandals exposed include Scott Toilet Paper who are allegedly making each of their toilet paper sheets 0.3 inches shorter, making each roll 300 inches shorter. Shocking. The point is that they claim to be offering “improved long-lasting value”.
Scott Toilet Paper: Still 1000 Sheets
Downsizing is an irritation. Leave no stone unturned.
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