Help Control the Turtle Population...eat one
Posted by Ryan Woods
While I was working as a secretary at my old church last week, I received an email concerning the Da Vinci Code (as previously blogged about). What I would like to highlight today is that the email offered me a free video that I could play for my church concerning the evils of that movie. Naturally, I never refuse free things, and I also enjoy the opportunity to provide direction and correct doctrine for my church. So I clicked on the link and attempted to purchase the dvd..."oh, wait, did we forget to mention that there is a suggested donation of $15.00?" the web site spouted. My thought was, "huh, suggested donation? Na, I think I'll just take it for free." It was only then that I learned that the suggested donation was indeed a demanded donation, in other circles it is known as a price tag.
So we're walking through the tunnels of the New York subway system on our way to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Broadway. We had the opportunity to see the Yankees, but there was a light drizzle and we thought it best to see a gay musical instead. While walking we were stopped by the same people that stop everybody else: those darn scientologists! They give these hokey free stress tests where you hold on to some tin cans and they ask you questions. I think it's somewhat retarded because in the end they decided that I was nervous about the outcome of the Yankees game (which obviously was not true. In reality I was very nervous about not getting good seats at the show!). Their whole purpose in this test is to get you to read creepy man L. Ron Hubbards book that they are giving away for free. Again, I'm never against free stuff, so I accepted the book gladly. It was only then that they reminded me of the signs that spoke of the suggested donation of $5.00. I reminded them that it was suggested and they reminded me that they wouldn't give me a book if I didn't give them the suggested donation.
In closing I would like to say, what's up with suggested donations? Are they tricking some people? Are there tax breaks? Why don't they just say "Hey, were selling these creepy books by this creepy man for $5.00." or "Hey, give us some money so we can stop the evil Ron Howard and his evil new movie. In exchange we'll give you a DVD that will teach your friends about the evils of Hollywood."
Why can't we all be honest?
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