Steve Irwin and the Money-Machine
December 16th 2006 00:57
An older Steve Irwin book, rushed back out onto shelves within days of his death
There are now no less than three seperate newly released books about Steve Irwin. Sure enough, when the market calls for something it is delivered. Call me cynical, but is it really necessary? Obviously it is, as they're selling like crazy... but let's pretend, just for a moment, that the market was susceptible to things like good taste, ethics and morals.
Is it cool to make a profit in such a fashion? When the masses are at their weakest, baying for something to fill the empty chasm in their hearts left by Steve's death, is it right for everyone in the industry to rush out and quickly create something that can fill this void? And to still collect their 50-80% mark up on it? And then for the bookstores who sell it to collect their 50% mark-up on that?
It kind of makes me sick. You'd think I'd be desensitized to it by now, but nope - it goes on and on and I just feel more and more disgusted by the whole thing. I don't blame the people who buy the books, if you're interested in reading something then you're gonna read it, right? It's just this capitalist machine that kicks in to exploit anything and everything it possibly can. And then there's the media, almost working in tandem with the consumerist industry, manipulating the masses any which way it wants to... feeding off public reaction and amplifying it back at us.
A bit much for a book-reviewing blog? I'll stop now. I'm by no means an absolute leftist, I'm not really even anti-capitalism... I just hate the extremes, I just wish we weren't at the mercy of all this greed and that things like integrity weren't completely foreign to the business world. I think what I'm getting at is - I wish we all had a little restraint sometimes, just because something is exploitable it doesn't mean we have to exploit it.
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Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Homer Joyce
You write... (wait for it ... These are your words. Not mine.
Is it cool to make a profit in such a fashion?
Your only claim to fame is talking about people who have achieved fame and profit.
You are a private-school tosser Luke. I am a tosser but I'll let everyone know I am. Plus I attended the school of life ... I do not pretend I'm not a tosser, like you do. You want people to think you are 'really cool' That's why you use the word 'cool' ... Cool is everything to you ... ... I want people to know I am a tosser ... that's the difference between you and me. II toss off all day long ... but not over your posts ... they turn me limp.
Don't take this the wrong way private-school-boy ... but ... well you can probably imagine what i would write ... with your supreme, superior intelligence ... and perception of life that outweighs God's view of the universe ... You omnipotent being you ... You are virtual omnipotence incarnate ... Can I bow down before you in Latria fashion? Please grant me that privilege you God you ...
I'll leave you alone now to indulge in TV media land ... and loosen your private-schoolboy tie so you look cool for your blog pic, and dream of being as famous as Steve Irwin via your wank stingray sting blog ... Or go swimming? Because you never have to think about earning a living? ... I love U2. Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car It is one one of my favourite songs ... I think about people like you when I listen to it and toss off ...
And just be cool.
Comment by Homer Joyce
It's Homer ...
Guess what ... ?
If we met in reality ... we'd probably respect each other ...
And go out on the rampage ...
Do you have any hot private-school girlfriends? Seriously ... I'll just sniff their undies while you fuck them ... I get off on sick shit like that ...
Do you want my postal address? So you can just send them to me? Na, I used to be a postie. They will smell the perfume of her cunt and open the letter ...
Multiplle Miggs ...
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Yeah, i don't dig it, half the crap in booksotres is written with no aim but money, which I really don't dig at all. But you know what? We don't have one in stock and people are still coming in, asking for it. And I guess in a way, the SI books are probably good in the samwe way those Che Guevara shirts are good, for continuing the memory.
So, after a ramble, I give this particular excercies in Capitalism a thumbs up.
Comment by Luke
Book Club
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
I didn't go to a private school. I went to a school next to housing commission and barnardos.
I just write the way I speak (sorry!)