I'm am constantly amazed by how
certain skill sets seem to reappear in different areas of our culture. It's
like the skill is genetically hardwired, and just looking for something to
apply itself too.
Take Costco. Costco has more or
less refined the aisle-end hawker. You know, the one who in a slightly louder
than normal voice talks about the free sample he or she is offering and how you
should experience the taste or smell or convenience of it right now and then
purchase the attractively-priced box, bottle, or carton of it opportunely
placed nearby.
Recently I walked by a few of them
on my Costco shopping visit and it occurred to me that the pitch people shared
a number of traits with the panhandlers on the street.
One, they place themselves in hard
to avoid places, often right near the place you want to go. Two, they keep up a
constant stream of chatter, with no apparent recipient of that chatter. They
talk semi-loudly to the world at large, whether someone is walking by or not.
Three, they look at no one in particular as they do so, not unlike the
schizophrenic street people who seem to be talking to someone inside their
head.
On the other end of the spectrum,
the recipients who are more or less in range respond in ways similar to the way
they respond to street people. Some folks come up and engage them. Some remark
to their spouse or companion about what a shame it is the annoying talkers are
allowed to be there. And some folks completely ignore them, shutting out the
chatter as if it was some form of urban white noise.
"Buddy can you spare me the
price of a mega pack of bite-sized quiches?"
America, ya gotta love it.
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