You know, I keep looking around and one of the things that really bothers me about what I see around us is the damn amount of different choices I see. I mean, do we really need all that many choices: You not only have M&Ms and Peanut M&Ms and PeanutButter M&Ms but you have M&M minis. I just saw a commercial for Vanilla Pepsi to compete with Vanilla Coke, which was really nothing to write home about anyway. Hey, if I am really craving a shot of vanilla in my Coke or my Pepsi, I guess I need to get me one or the other, huh? Or I could just go get me a bottle of Vanilla and put a drop or two in my damn Coke or Pepsi.
Go down the toilet paper aisle at the local supermarket and count the number of different brands of toilet paper for sale, or the number of brands of paper towels, or go see how many varieties of Friskies canned catfood. I like variety, but not just brand name choices. Really, is there really all that much difference between one laundry detergent and another? Does Chlorox Bleach have more chlorine than the cheap stuff you get at the dollar store? Is Charmin really all that much softer than the stuff made out of recycled paper? I am telling you right now that anything is better than what we were left to use in my old great-grandmother's outhouse when I was a kid. That wasn't soft, but it worked.
OK, talk about too many choices, how about this: You encounter a psychotic movie killer. Would you rather be hacked to death with an ax, a chainsaw or a scythe?
Posted by notGeorge at September 24, 2003 08:22 PMNow who was it that was whinging the other day about not having enough choices? ;)
Posted by: Cherry at September 25, 2003 01:05 AMWhat are you, a commie? Choices are what built this country, mister. For example, how good would Baskin Robbins be if all they had was vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry? Might as well live in Roo-sha.
Posted by: James Joyner at September 25, 2003 11:27 AMI agree with you, Tig! I'm reminded of my last shopping trip, actually...
I was in the store just the other day, getting baby food for Zane. There was Gerber stuff and Heinz stuff, and the Gerber stuff was about another half more expensive. Curious, I looked at the ingredients. IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME! The same ingredients, the same amount...the only thing you were paying for was the name. I mean, good grief!
But Vanilla Coke tastes pretty good. Can't stand that Vanilla Pepsi, though. But if I really want something tasty, I do it the old-fashioned way and add vanilla to regular Coke. It's also good with a few drops of cinnamon oil in it.
--TwoDragons
Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at September 25, 2003 12:36 PMThe thing that really gets me is the number of people I see drinking bottled water and how many different brands are available. I mean, it is water people. OK, I admit, maybe the water coming out of your tap is not filtered all that much, but I am pretty sure there is nothing in there that is as bad for you as the amount of sugar you eat on a daily basis or all the fat you ingest with that bag of potato chips you bought when you got that bottle of water. Consumerism has gone overboard, and people have gone insane.
Posted by: Tiger at September 25, 2003 05:46 PM