Extraordinary Pop-Up Ads!

[Wannaplan?]

Who buys this crap?

 

[Cardinal]

Where can I get one of those? I really need to show my rabid patriotism by giving my money to some dumbass for a painted piece of tin.

I received this one in the e-mail today.

 

[el Guapo]

Beaner,
I smell Dixie Chick syndrome here. Go find a truck stop and ask a few people there “who buys that crap.” I dare ya.

The answer is; the people that pay your wages buy that crap. Here we have another case of “I’m superior to those people because my tastes are more elevated.” Beaner, you live in freedom because the great-unwashed (people that would buy that crap) gave up sons, daughters, husbands, and wives to secure your freedom. You in turn insult them in safe place like Cyburbia. Your question is sad and personally uncourageous.

BTW - Have you ever lifted a hand in the defense of your nation?

Let the games begin.

 

[Cardinal]

EG -

I'll step up for Beaner. That coin is crap. I collect coins. No collector would tell you it has any real value. I commend people who want to show their (hopefully thoughtful) patriotism, but sending their money to this company is not the best way to show it. Put up a flag, or if you really need to part with your money, give a donation to some veteran's organization. Several of ours have banded together to put up a permanent flag display in a city park. It is a far better tribute to our armed forces than a coin.

 

[jmf]

Who buys this crap?

Unfortunately, the same people who are taken in by get-rich-quick schemes; pyramids schemes etc. The people who can least afford it.

10% of the proceeds??? How much is that? How do they know it really goes to "our brave war veterans"? The vets would benefit more by a straight donation to a valid organization.

We have had several cases locally where groups have canvassed for donations for a cause. The name they use is very similiar to a registered organization (ie Parkinson Society Canada [real] vs Parkinson's Support and Research Society [not]) but very little or no money actually goes to research. Also, more well-known organizations spend a huge amount of money on administration and fundraising campaigns.

It is unfortunate that donating to a charity requires as much research as buying an appliance. I don't have a problem with buying the stuff (not that I would, but if a stamp was issued with a surcharge maybe I would buy that) but I don't think marketing the donation to the vets is quite right, at least without more details.

 

[Jeff]

Who buys this crap?

A mother, glued to CNN every night, crying her eyes out because she scared to death that little Johnny might not come home. But deep down she is so proud of what he is doing.

 

[el Guapo]

I do agree with Beaner and friends: It is Chintzy crap. That is not the crucial question. The question in my mind is why does he feel it necessary to feel superior to the people that do buy crap? What is the motivation behind the question?

BTW - Have you ever lifted a hand in the defense of your nation?

 

[Wannaplan?]

Has nothing to do with the fact that the armed forces are on that coin. If it were a black velvet painting of Elvis on a coin, I'd probably make the same post.

El Guapo, I insulted no one. Get off your high horse, already.

Beaner,
I smell Dixie Chick syndrome here. Go find a truck stop and ask a few people there “who buys that crap.” I dare ya.

The answer is; the people that pay your wages buy that crap. Here we have another case of “I’m superior to those people because my tastes are more elevated.” Beaner, you live in freedom because the great-unwashed (people that would by that crap) gave up sons, daughters, husbands, and wives to secure your freedom. You in turn insult them in safe place like Cyburbia. Your question is sad and personally uncourageous.

BTW - Have you ever lifted a hand in the defense of your nation?

Let the games begin.

 

[Wannaplan?]

These coin advertisements have typically shown up in the USA Week-End (USA Today) sunday newspaper insert. This morning, I get a pop-up showing an ad of similar crappy "collector" mementos - the first time I have ever seen such a pop-up. I always get the NetFlix and X-100 Camera pop-ups. I was surprised to find a painted collector coin pop-up.

My motivation for commenting on the pop-up is really none of your business. You might think that I am an anti-war bleeding heart liberal, so maybe that's the reason why I posted that pop-up ad, right? Yeah, that must be it!! Next, I'll be hearing that it is un-American to comment on goofy-looking painted coin internet pop-up ads. We can create threads on glurgey web-sites, but we cannot make threads on pop-up ads. Huh. That makes no sense to me.

If I feel like commenting and criticizing elements of our cultural environment, I will do so. I will not be scared off by El Guapo's hardball scare-mongering tactics.

I do agree with Beaner and friends: It is Chintzy crap. That is not the crucial question. The question in my mind is why does he feel it necessary to feel superior to the people that do buy crap? What is the motivation behind the question?

 

[el Guapo]

Scare-mongering? Whoo Hooo!

Beaner,
I am of the opinion that you believe yourself to be of a social order of magnitude above the common man. I have come to this conclusion from reading your many contemptuous posts when you discuss the public or American culture. Whenever the subject rolls around to average people, you always seem to have a smarmy shot to take at them. I would classify you as the David Spade of Cyburbia. I think people who despise the average American citizen, like I believe you do, are quite dangerous in positions of public trust. That is where I am coming from. That is why I react to your posts. I feel a fundamental sense of fairness requires someone to defend the masses. Now, what should I monger next?

Sincerely,
Hardball

BTW - Have you ever lifted a hand in the defense of your nation?

 

[Dan]

Who buys this crap?

Typically, the lower middle class.

It's called "display patriotism," and I learned about the phenomenon shortly after 9-11.

Those in the working class tend to have more ... uhh, obvious displays of patriotism than those in what are considered higher social classes. Drive through a working class area, and you would have seen trucks with rear window tint screens that show an eagle against a US flag backdrop, flags flying from most houses, residents wearing black t-shirts showing a crying eagle against the backdrop of the WTC, a few houses painted red white and blue, and so on.

You didn't see such displays in upper income neighborhoods. It's not that the middle and upper classes are less patriotic, but they tend to be a bit more subtle about it. Why? The lower classes don't have much, so when it comes to things such as patriotism, sports team or racecar fanaticism, religion, and so on, they tend to be a bit more enthusiastic about it. That's all they have, in their minds.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

I'm on Beaner's wavelength every time I see a roadside display of velvet paintings or unicorn rugs.

 

[Seabishop]

Not to speak for Beaner but there are plenty of things in our society that reflect a noble sentiment in a tacky way. Take the picture below for example. Any Christian believes in Jesus, but is a statue of Jesus playing hockey against kids tacky? Definitely. Any American should support their troops but the coin does looks like a cartoon drawn by a 10 year old and like others have said most of the money does not go to soldiers. Maybe I'm cynical but I think whoever is selling the coin is just taking advantage of a national trend to make quick money.

 

[Tranplanner]

No good christian home is complete without one of these!

 

[Queen B]

All you have to do is go shopping any time any where to see that people will buy anything. What is one persons crap is anothers treasure. It still amazes me though!

 

[Wannaplan?]

Re: Scare-mongering? Whoo Hooo!

Dear El Guapo,

Expect a PM from me later this afternoon.

Sincerely,

Beaner

Beaner,
I am of the opinion that you believe yourself to be of a social order of magnitude above the common man. I have come to this conclusion from reading your many contemptuous posts when you discuss the public or American culture. Whenever the subject rolls around to average people, you always seem to have a smarmy shot to take at them. I would classify you as the David Spade of Cyburbia. I think people who despise the average American citizen, like I believe you do, are quite dangerous in positions of public trust. That is where I am coming from. That is why I react to your posts. I feel a fundamental sense of fairness requires someone to defend the masses. Now, what should I monger next?

Sincerely,
Harball

BTW - Have you ever lifted a hand in the defense of your nation?

 

[biscuit]

I'm on Beaner's wavelength every time I see a roadside display of velvet paintings or unicorn rugs.

I agree, but I sometimes like house-tack (you can take the boy out from the hillbillys but you can't take the hillbilly from the boy). I saw the best ever at a roadside stand several years ago. It was a painting, air brush I think, of (fat jumpsuit)Elvis kneeling at the foot of the crusifix, on black velvet. I kick myself to this day for not buying it.

Just an observation:
Dan's correct about the socio-economic group that buys a majority of this stuff. Growing up we had some neighbors (and when I say neighbors, I mean that they lived within two or three miles of our house)who were fairly poor at the time yet somehow they managed to buy and fill their house with every collectors plate or painted "coin" ever advertised in Parade Magazine.

"We can't afford winter coats for the kids, but the Franklin Mint just raised our credit limit. WhoooHooo!"

 

[nerudite]

Michael Stumpf... OMG! Have you ever seen one of those stretch 4x4s in person? I never saw one of them until I went to Denver. They are all over the place there... quite scary. The stretch bright blue durango was the worst, followed closely by the stretch Humvee.

 

[Cardinal]

Michael Stumpf... OMG! Have you ever seen one of those stretch 4x4s in person? I never saw one of them until I went to Denver. They are all over the place there... quite scary. The stretch bright blue durango was the worst, followed closely by the stretch Humvee.

I've never seen one. Around here we have something similar. They are usually painted yellow and have flashing lights on them. Can somebody explain why you need a vehicle like this? Maybe one of the 73% of women who prefer them?

 

[donk]

As you where posting this question, I was posting some pictures over in the juvenile thread that will give you something to think about...

 

[Cardinal]

As you where posting this question, I was posting some pictures over in the juvenile thread that will give you something to think about...

Saw them. I can see why a woman might be attracted to something like that.

 

[Dan]

I saw the best ever at a roadside stand several years ago. It was a painting, air brush I think, of (fat jumpsuit)Elvis kneeling at the foot of the crusifix, on black velvet. I kick myself to this day for not buying it.

I know how you feel. I still kick myself for not buying a velvet painting I saw in Juarez about twn years ago ... it pictured the Virgin Mary, cradling the baby Elvis.

 

[Jeff]

I know how you feel. I still kick myself for not buying a velvet painting I saw in Juarez about twn years ago ... it pictured the Virgin Mary, cradling the baby Elvis.

That's kinda like the one I have over my bed! Only she's holding Dale Earnhardt.

 

[biscuit]

That's kinda like the one I have over my bed! Only she's holding Dale Earnhardt.

Sweeeeet!
So is the Virgin Mary holding a big Dale Earnhardt or a little baby Dale Earnhardt in a #3 ball-cap?

Thy will be done in Darlington as it is in Martinsville

 

[Wannaplan?]

How can you turn this one down? Click on the pop up, and you think you are getting a page that will give you a free screensaver.

Nope.

Instead, you get these five questions:

1) Would You Be Interested In A 0% Intro APR Credit Card?

2) Do You Have $5,000 in Credit Card Debt?

3) Would you like a FREE CD from BMG Music Service??

4) Are You A Home Owner Or Planning To Buy A Home In The Next 6 Months?

5) Interested in information about refinancing your student loans at the lowest rate in history?

Then, they want your name and e-mail address. I knew it was too good to be true!

 

[donk]

Like this?

EDIT - Minor change - the other image was not on black velvet.

 

[Wannaplan?]

Like this?

I saw a TV ad this week-end for a CD called "KINGtinued." It's a compilation of hits recorded after the death of Elvis. You can get "tears in Heaven," written by Eric Clapton, sung Elvis-style. Pure crap, if you ask me.

 

[donk]

In my search for the above image I also found ones of Monica Lewinski, Ronald Reagan and a combo of Princess Di, Elvis and Mother Theresa.

While it is funny to koke about this stuff, it makes me wonder.

 

[Repo Man]

BTW - Have you ever lifted a hand in the defense of your nation?

Look, Beaner made a comment about a piece of s--t junk coin that a company is producing for the sole purpose of exploiting the war and 9-11 for profit. Same with the company that sent me an e-mail selling the "Freedom" pocketknife. He made rhetorical question asking "Who buys this crap?" and El Guapo turned it into an attack on Beaner. It was ElGuapo who insinuated that the "unwashed" bought these things, not Beaner. Also, since when is whether someone served in the military a measure of what a person can say? Most people on here never served in the military, but for some reason ElGuapo is making it into a qualification for making any commentary on patriotism.

I appreciate those who volunteered to serve and defend this country, but just because someone chose not to serve doesn't mean that they are any less patriotic.

 

[el Guapo]

Look, Beaner made a comment about a piece of s--t junk coin that a company is producing for the ....

Yep, you're right. I let my knowledge of Beaner's history of bashing the unsophisticated, patriotic, and unwashed creep into my assumptions concerning this post. I won’t read past posts and characterize a new one based upon my prior observations. That would be wrong. Just as no one should judge me to be a cranky opinionated asshole kook based upon this post and prior posts. That would be judgmental. Society disproves of judgmental people. Even though it is true, we can’t say it out loud.

My apologies to all who where offended that I stuck up for those people with unrefined tastes. Sorry.

”I appreciate those who volunteered to serve and defend this country, but just because someone chose not to serve doesn't mean that they are any less patriotic.”

As to service being a requirement for real patriotism – yeah, that is a stretch. People who have never lifted a hand in defense of, or service to the nation are every bit as patriotic as those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. I agree. What was I thinking? It is all how one feels about something. One’s actions or personal investment in a thing means nothing. After all “I could have served my nation, but I had a career to think about.” I have seen that one here four or five times in various forms.

I do not think one’s self-esteem should be burdened by having people think just because one may have invested nothing in this country that one’s not as patriotic as a vet or a cop or anyone that has given back to society through some form of personal sacrifice.

My 2 cents. I’ll step away from the keyboard now.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

As to service being a requirement for real patriotism – yeah, that is a stretch. People who have never lifted a hand in defense of, or service to the nation are every bit as patriotic as those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. I agree. What was I thinking? It is all how one feels about something. One’s actions or personal investment in a thing means nothing. After all “I could have served my nation, but I had a career to think about.” I have seen that one here four or five times in various forms.

I do not think one’s self-esteem should be burdened by having people think just because one may have invested nothing in this country that one’s not as patriotic as a vet or a cop or anyone that has given back to society through some form of personal sacrifice.

There are lots of ways to serve your country that do not involve military service or law enforcement.

Anyway, I can't imagine that the military/law enforcement would have had room over the years for every American between, say, 22 and 50 (probably the ages of most Cyburbians). That's really an unrealistic way to define patriotism.

 

[Jeff]

Anyway, I can't imagine that the military/law enforcement would have had room over the years for every American between, say, 22 and 50 (probably the ages of most Cyburbians).

I'll guarantee you there's never been a physically fit, healthy, nonfelony committing, 18-28 y/o turned away because the military "wasn't accepting applications at this time." People are discharged every day, and they need to be replaced every day.

 

[Wannaplan?]

...Beaner's history of bashing the unsophisticated, patriotic, and unwashed creep..

I don't think this is an accurate assessment. I have made many posts on threads that reference city design, and I have advocated a design approach that accounts for the needs of all citizens, especially for those who are economically disadvantaged.

 

[The Irish One]

There are lots of ways to serve your country that do not involve military service or law enforcement.

agreed.

I serve my compatriots and country. There is a protect and serve element to the job and the health and safety element is very real. edit countless ways

 

[giff57]

I'll guarantee you there's never been a physically fit, healthy, nonfelony committing, 18-28 y/o turned away because the military "wasn't accepting applications at this time." People are discharged every day, and they need to be replaced every day.

I was turned away in 1975 for having a quarter sized patch of dry skin on my ankle. The army sent me to a couple of dermatoligists and they said it was exema....... I guess I couldn't work on tanks with that problem.

 

[Jeff]

I was turned away in 1975 for having a quarter sized patch of dry skin on my ankle. The army sent me to a couple of dermatoligists and they said it was exema....... I guess I couldn't work on tanks with that problem.

Yes you could work on tanks with that problem, but its a condition that could require cream? medications? etc that may not be immediately available in such places as Vietnam, Iraq, Somalia, etc.

 

[giff57]

Yes you could work on tanks with that problem, but its a condition that could require cream? medications? etc that may not be immediately available in such places as Vietnam, Iraq, Somalia, etc.

I never used anything for it, but I suppose an infection could have developed if I were to have been located in one of those locals.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

Doesn't all this military as patriotism jag seem just as judgmental and holier than thou as Beaner's supposed assessment of the great unwashed?

 

[BKM]

Snobbery is fun.

Hey, sneering at the "Great Unwashed" comes with being a "professional"and a college education.

Because you can be sure "they" are sneering at "us" pointy-headed, overeducated, often pompous bureaucrats. I know my "blue collar" neighbors certainly make fun of me and my foolishness.

Sorry, bureaucrats.

 

[Dan]

I'd like to know who falls for this.

 

[Wannaplan?]

I recall a thread from about a year ago in which a fellow Cyburbanite admitted to a puchase of an X-100 surveillance camera.

I'd like to know who falls for this.

 

[Chet]

I recall a thread from about a year ago in which a fellow Cyburbanite admitted to a puchase of an X-100 surveillance camera.

ROTFLMAO!

 

[Zoning Goddess]

I'll guarantee you there's never been a physically fit, healthy, nonfelony committing, 18-28 y/o turned away because the military "wasn't accepting applications at this time." People are discharged every day, and they need to be replaced every day.

When I turned 18, I was less than 5 feet tall and weighed 98 lbs. Seriously doubt I would have qualified for the military, since I didn't even weigh enough to give blood. I still think that anyone can be patriotic in other ways.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

Re: Snobbery is fun.

Hey, sneering at the "Great Unwashed" comes with being a "professional"and a college education.

Because you can be sure "they" are sneering at "us" pointy-headed, overeducated, often pompous bureaucrats. I know my "blue collar" neighbors certainly make fun of me and my foolishness.

Sorry, bureaucrats.

Actually, I learned that concept way before college.

 

[Cardinal]

I still think that anyone can be patriotic in other ways.

Absolutely true. There is always the Peace Corps.

By the way, wouldn't the soldiers over in Iraq technically qualify as "the Great Unwashed?" It has been weeks since some of them have showered.

 

[el Guapo]

I recall a thread from about a year ago in which a fellow Cyburbanite admitted to a puchase of an X-100 surveillance camera.

Yes-Beaner that was me as you knew. I bought it so we could tape my son's sceince fair project for submission to national competition. I didn't have $600 for a VHS camcorder at the time. So I spent $79 for the wireless camera, hooked it up to our VCR and we used it to produce the videotape submission. I think I received value for my money. We now use it to keep an eye on the front door of the house. It works great. Do you feel you have somehow proven yourself superior once again because I bought "this crap?"

 

[The Irish One]

We now use it to keep an eye on the front door of the house. It works great.

I thought about getting the camera to keep an eye on the drive way. I had a few suspicious flat tires and my neighbor (a roofer -plenty of nails) and his wife are first class a**holes.

Americorps, baby.

 

[Jen]

You got that right Beaner!


Ugh, what chintzy ticky tacky beetle dung, I cringe at the tactics of those sly purveyors of cheap ass figurines making a mint off the desperate feelings of the parents of the great unwashed defenders of our freedom.

Or do i need to have been honorably discharged from the armed forces to say that?

 

[Dan]

We now use it to keep an eye on the front door of the house. It works great. Do you feel you have somehow proven yourself superior once again because I bought "this crap?"

Just so long as you didn't buy the "Great American Patriot" X-10 cam model ... painted red, white and blue, with 10% of all proceeds benefitting the "Stars and Stripes Gentleman's Club" outside Camp Lejune.

An aside ... I wonder when we'll see a Kennedy half dollar coin painted with the face of instant celebrity-phenomenon Fifty Cent?

 

[Mastiff]

Absolutely true. There is always the Peace Corps.

By the way, wouldn't the soldiers over in Iraq technically qualify as "the Great Unwashed?" It has been weeks since some of them have showered.

I hear some of them are showering in palaces now...