LizzieMaine
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No one knows the day or hour. To coin a phrase.
We've come a very long way since Major Cyril James Hastings Tolley MC sued Fry & Sons Chocolates for implying in an advertisement that he had taken money to promote their product. He sued them in libel - and won. (1931) Tolley was a champion golfer; Frys had taken a photo of him with a bar of their chocolate sticking out of his pocket, and used it in an advertisement. The court found that this had the 'natural and ordinary meaning' that he had taken money in exchange for endorsing the product - something which the average, upstanding 'man on the Clapham omnibus' in 1931 woul have found to be distasteful, and would have lowered Tolley in his opinion.
Fast-forward to 2005, and Formuls One driver Eddie Irvine successfully sued Talksport Radio in similar circumstances - this time, however, not for libel, but for 'false endorsement' - i.e. using his image to imply endorsement, but without paying him for the privilege....
Queues. I want to scream when folks can't queue like civilised people.
In ancient Rome, everyone belonged to one of the chariot racing factions: the Reds, Whites, Blues or Greens, identified by the colors of the charioteer's tunics. One philosopher noted that in the middle of a race, if all the drivers swapped tunics, the crowd's loyalties would go with the tunics, not with the men or horses. Some things never change.
As a long-time NASCAR fan I would mostly agree, but there is a sub-group that does have particular driver loyalty - such as for Dale Earnhart, Jr., but a lot do care about the car more than the driver.While living in North Carolina, I learned quite a bit about NASCAR fans. One of the biggest was that true fans root for the car, not the driver. Sure, there are those who talk about being fans of particular drivers, but when talking serious about the race, they talk about the "48 car" or the "20 car". It's about the car, man.
As a long-time NASCAR fan I would mostly agree, but there is a sub-group that does have particular driver loyalty - such as for Dale Earnhart, Jr., but a lot do care about the car more than the driver.
There is also a contingent (me included) who are brand loyalists - any Chevy is better than any Ford, regardless of who is driving. (this was more prevalent back when NASCAR had half a dozen brands competing - even more-so when they were actually "stock" cars)
^^^^
Interesting, and contrary to received wisdom on the matter.
I recall Chip Hanauer, the last "name" unlimited hydroplane driver, saying many years ago that among the factors contributing to declining fan interest in the sport was that the team owners and the circuit's governing body were promoting the machines (and their commercial sponsors) over the real live humans in the cockpits. Hanauer contrasted that with NASCAR, which had celebrity drivers, and featured their likenesses on all order of stuff.
But that was well over a couple of decades ago. Things change.
The Hanauer, Steve Reynolds rivalry helped a lot back then. I was a Chip fan, but later, after Steve's tragic accident, I found out he was actually a nice guy. None of them rivaled Mr. Hydroplane, Bill Muncey! What really did in hydroplane racing was the change from Thunder Boats, to Whoosh Boats! Fortunately, we may hear thunder again, the Chinook CH-47 engines are becoming just as hard to find as the old Allison and Merlin V12s, so there is a hunt on for an alternative in the form of piston power.^^^^
Interesting, and contrary to received wisdom on the matter.
I recall Chip Hanauer, the last "name" unlimited hydroplane driver, saying many years ago that among the factors contributing to declining fan interest in the sport was that the team owners and the circuit's governing body were promoting the machines (and their commercial sponsors) over the real live humans in the cockpits. Hanauer contrasted that with NASCAR, which had celebrity drivers, and featured their likenesses on all order of stuff.
But that was well over a couple of decades ago. Things change.
In the UK, standing in line is the national pastime, isn't it?
You want the new Apple I-Phone? Get to the back of the queue.Pastime? It's the prevailing culture.
You want the new Apple I-Phone? Get to the back of the queue.
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The Hanauer, Steve Reynolds rivalry helped a lot back then. I was a Chip fan, but later, after Steve's tragic accident, I found out he was actually a nice guy. None of them rivaled Mr. Hydroplane, Bill Muncey! What really did in hydroplane racing was the change from Thunder Boats, to Whoosh Boats! Fortunately, we may hear thunder again, the Chinook CH-47 engines are becoming just as hard to find as the old Allison and Merlin V12s, so there is a hunt on for an alternative in the form of piston power.
But, we all know, that these happenings are mainly "staged". Or not?
If only. Sadly, I think Apple is one of those brands with so many blindly loyal "fans" that they could put out any old rubbish with a logo on it and people would still queue up at midnight to buy it. Reminds me of George Lucas.... except I hear there are people who enjoy recent iPhones.
I don't know about Europe, but here in the U.S. there is a segment of the population who must have the newest device the very moment it becomes available, and these idiots will do whatever it takes to get one.But, we all know, that these happenings are mainly "staged". Or not?
In my lifetime I have seen the phenomena of credit cards and the acceptance of debt. There was a time when debt was seen as being something rather grubby. You might have to borrow, but you never admitted it. Along came credit cards and, slowly at first, they weren't seen as debt, more, with skillful marketing, an alternative to cash. A spin off for the credit card companies was the ability to track card holders spending, then with the internet and digital technology, tracking card holders purchases really took off. Now big business fuel these 'impulse' purchases. Creating the hype, adding to the hysteria and increasing card holders debt ceiling. You now have the perfect recipe for the: Lemming phenomenon, as seen by that queue in the above photo.there is a segment of the population who must have the newest device the very moment it becomes available, and these idiots will do whatever it takes to get one.