Modern medicine is amazing. A friend of mine had her hand basically severed in a car wreck; only skin was holding it on. A year and a half later, she can type and play piano again.
Wow. They suggest you set this thing up outside and let your dog run in it? Talk about missing the point. Dogs need to stimulate their brains by exploring and sniffing and such; I'd think this would be like torture to a dog.
Nutbastard, a few months ago I sent that video to my dad and uncle, who are both wine drinkers, and they both called "fake" on it. So I tried it myself and was amazed to find that it worked. (I also shot video of it and sent it to them with a so-there.)
I planned to get a Ph.D. in English Lit, but when I finished my master's degree, I suddenly realized what a terrible mistake I was headed for, so I quit. Now I'm a lawyer.
@peachiekeen: This joke was found to be the "funniest" in a worldwide survey a couple years ago. And yet the events in it, if they happened in real life to someone you know, would be horrifyingly tragic. As someone pointed out once, "Comedy = tragedy + distance."
I'm synesthetic. I can't speak for everyone, but that video was nothing like my experience. I mean, I get what they were trying to do, but sitting here looking at a computer video can't possibly compare to the actual experience. I wouldn't trade my synesthesia for anything; living without it seems boring.
@Ben Eshbach: "There is no honor system in a situation where doing the 'honorable' thing is just a preventative measure."
True enough, and to be honest, when I'm leaving a tip I don't think of it as a "thank-you" to the server for not poisoning my cheeseburger. I personally think of tipping as a way to generate and spread goodwill, and to let the server know I appreciate the job they do. I also know what a server's actual wages look like, and I'm aware that if no one left voluntary tips, restaurants would have to raise wages, and their food would get more expensive and the service would get worse. Tipping is a collective benefit to society, but rarely a personal one to the tipper (unless the server remembers you next time you're in there).
However: After reading a bunch of the mean-spirited comments in this thread, it seemed that a "what's in it for me" explanation might be a litle more comprehensible to some of the previous posters.
Masada: The "honor system" doesn't mean it's a system designed to teach people about honor. It means that people are expected to do the right thing, but are not forced to.
If someone were selling newspapers and just left a pile of them out in public with a sign saying "Please leave money when you take a newspaper," that would be an example of the honor system.
"You can't possibly tell me that the reason for good service at all is because of tips."
Based on that statement, you can't possibly tell me you've ever been a restaurant server.
@soubriquet: "Tipping demeans both the tipper and the person tipping."
What nonsense. Tipping is the last remaining example of the honor-system in American society, and it is the only reason you EVER get decent, personalized service in a restaurant.
A restaurant server has opportunities to screw with your food--your food--that a fast-food employee could only dream of. The hope of a decent tip at the end of the night is what keeps him/her from doing that, and ensures that they try to provide you with the best dining experience possible.
I know, this is not always the case. Sometimes you get terrible service from a server. But taking tipping out of the equation isn't going to make that better; if you put servers on a strict hourly wage, with no incentive to treat customers well, what do you think is going to happen?
In other words, yes it is so funny.
True enough, and to be honest, when I'm leaving a tip I don't think of it as a "thank-you" to the server for not poisoning my cheeseburger. I personally think of tipping as a way to generate and spread goodwill, and to let the server know I appreciate the job they do. I also know what a server's actual wages look like, and I'm aware that if no one left voluntary tips, restaurants would have to raise wages, and their food would get more expensive and the service would get worse. Tipping is a collective benefit to society, but rarely a personal one to the tipper (unless the server remembers you next time you're in there).
However: After reading a bunch of the mean-spirited comments in this thread, it seemed that a "what's in it for me" explanation might be a litle more comprehensible to some of the previous posters.
If someone were selling newspapers and just left a pile of them out in public with a sign saying "Please leave money when you take a newspaper," that would be an example of the honor system.
"You can't possibly tell me that the reason for good service at all is because of tips."
Based on that statement, you can't possibly tell me you've ever been a restaurant server.
What nonsense. Tipping is the last remaining example of the honor-system in American society, and it is the only reason you EVER get decent, personalized service in a restaurant.
A restaurant server has opportunities to screw with your food--your food--that a fast-food employee could only dream of. The hope of a decent tip at the end of the night is what keeps him/her from doing that, and ensures that they try to provide you with the best dining experience possible.
I know, this is not always the case. Sometimes you get terrible service from a server. But taking tipping out of the equation isn't going to make that better; if you put servers on a strict hourly wage, with no incentive to treat customers well, what do you think is going to happen?