The Loser Line Forms To The Left

Everytime I think I can't be surprised by the stupidity of people, an event comes along and proves how gullible and perhaps stupid I can be. Those of you not living in your parent's basement may not know this, but Sony is releasing a new gaming system tomorrow.

PlayStation 3 is expected to be the hottest gift item this holiday season. Sony, in it's infinite marketing wisdom, is only releasing 400,000 of these high tech goodies, which means demand will far outweigh supply. Most of us would say, "Well, I'll try to pick one up. If I get one, I get one." That would be the rational way to handle the situation. As we all know, rational thought is a rare commodity. For the last week, people have been lining up outside Best Buy, and other stores, hoping to get their grubby mitts on one of these treasures. That's right, they've been spending days and nights sleeping on the sidewalk, with no guarantee that the store they're camping in front of will even be getting any PlayStation 3 units. Call me soft if you like, but I'm not sleeping outside with a bunch of unwashed losers for a chance, to maybe, have the opportunity to shell out six hundred bucks.

Here's a question. If you have the career flexibility to entrench yourself outside a Best Buy for a week, where are you going to get the $600? Most of the folks I run across, myself and "Wife" included, actually have to work for our money. Sure, I'd love to spend days on end sitting on the cold cement, risking piles, and talking to you about how you got to level six in whatever fantasy world you find it more comfortable to dwell, but I've got to get to work. I would sit spellbound for hours as you regaled me with tales of your Madden '05 football glory, and stories about how your last "girlfriend" couldn't handle your love of gaming, so you kicked her to the curb. I wouldn't even point out that deflating a blow-up doll doesn't equate with "kicking a girl to the curb." As wonderful as this camp out sounds, I have a life to lead that doesn't involve trolls, grand theft anything or a joy stick.

Some of these business geniuses claim that they are in fact working. These minor league Trumps say that they're waiting to buy a PlayStation 3 so they can sell it on the internet for a large profit. If I'm not mistaken, this is the kind of sound financial strategy they teach at Harvard's Business school. Let's see if I follow this. You take off four days from work for a slim chance to shell out more money than you'd make in those four days, just to possibly sell the over priced item on the internet? Sounds like a strong plan, unless people aren't willing to pay your overly inflated price. Then you're stuck with a PlayStation 3 you can't even use because you don't have electricity since you got fired for taking all those days off and you can't pay your bills. You better pray for a bonus round. Later...Brian