Watching the political commercials on TV makes you wonder just how stupid they think we are. Of course, with our electing record the answer is easy. That's why in a commercial they'll say anything knowing there is some fool out there that'll believe it.
A friend of mine, Jim Burnett, just sent me an e-mail that reminded me of one outlandish bender of the truth that made a living on his scams for a number of years. We'll call him Slicker Than Willie.
The email showed a small block of wood with this written on it. "Exercise block. Walk around the block twice and when folks ask you if you exercise tell them you've walked around the block twice."
This a variation on Slicker's "Foolproof Fly Killer." Slicker sold these my mail. The ad read "Guaranteed to kill flies. One dollar plus postage and shipping." What you received was two small blocks of wood, one marked "A", the other "B." Instructions: "When fly lands on block "A" strike sharply with block "B." He sold these until the news papers shut him down.
Slicker was not discouraged. It eventually happened in every town he moved to. So, before he'd move on he'd used his failsafe second plan. He placed ads that read, "This is absolutely your last chance to send one dollar to PO Box 123." And the money rolled in.
So when the soap company tells you, for the hundredth time, about their "new, improved" product and you wonder what kind of crap the original your mother used was--after all these years of improving it--you can see where they came from.
Some folks will buy anything. Just look at some of the scumbags we've elected of late.
Editor's Note: As so often happens, readers come up with incidents that compliment my yarns. This one is from Dave Dampier.
Reminded me of the one my stepdad fell for. The ad in the newspaper said "Guaranteed Roach Killer. 100% guaranteed if used as directed."
He received a small package in which were printed directions and a small, sharp, pointed wood stick. The directions read:"Place point of stick on head of roach and press firmly,"
Results: "Cucaracha es Muy Muerte"
Editor's Note: As so often happens, readers come up with incidents that compliment my yarns. This one is from Dave Dampier.
Reminded me of the one my stepdad fell for. The ad in the newspaper said "Guaranteed Roach Killer. 100% guaranteed if used as directed."
He received a small package in which were printed directions and a small, sharp, pointed wood stick. The directions read:"Place point of stick on head of roach and press firmly,"
Results: "Cucaracha es Muy Muerte"
No comments:
Post a Comment