--- In [email protected], "PaliGap" <compost1uk@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> -- In [email protected], "Ann" <awoelflebater@> wrote:
> > --- In [email protected], "PaliGap" <compost1uk@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Browsing in the high-falutin' section of
> > > my local book shop today I came across this:
> > >
> > > "Assholes: A Theory" by philosopher Aaron James
> > > http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=4884
> > >
> > > Sounds like fun. (But alas it's cheaper online so my
> > > local shop may loose out).
>
> > Don't be a cheap A-hole and buy it from your local book
> > store. I mean, surely you can afford to spend an extra
> > $5-$10 to support the little independent.
>
> Well I'm a poor, poor man Ann, but yes, I know. Guilt felt!
> Except this isn't a little independent, but a national chain
> (http://www.waterstones.com/). They have the blood of little
> independents on their hands! And also, they sell the book
> online themselves cheaper than on the street (but not as
> cheap as Amazon). Perhaps I would do right by buying from
> the latter and giving the difference to my local cat charity,
> or to David Lynch's thing?
Good compromise (but perhaps a dog or horse charity would be more to my
liking). And yes, if it was just the big Waterstones chain then don't worry
about it. I am more interested in the little ma and pa corner bookstore who
will be going the way of the dodo within the next few years. Being a small
independent tack store I feel their pain! I have a big Canadian tack store
chain/franchise five minutes down the road from my store so I am very sensitive
on this issue. The stated purpose of this said chain is to "drive the
independents out of business". Lovely. As if there isn't enough business to go
around (which there is in Victoria where I live) but the big, mean ugly owner
of the overall franchise just doesn't want to share. Luckily, there are still
informed consumers out there who like the idea of shopping "locally" and
supporting small, customer service based retailers.
>
> The thing is though - I spent a happy hour browsing the
> books, and if I generalised my action ("if I and everyone
> else did this...") then probably I would lose that option.
>
> So you need not appeal to my self-respect so much as to
> my self-interest?
Ah, the age old story with us pathetic humans. "What's in it for me?"
>
> By comparison Arjuna's dilemma looks like a walk in the
> park. I only went in for a coffee.
I'd be happy to buy - if we ever meet.
>
> > > (BTW what's the difference between an asshole and an
> > > arsehole? Does one get published, and the other not? Or
> > > are we, as so often, divided by our common language?)
> > >
> > > From a review on Amazon:
> > >
> > > "James classifies a-holes by type, including the boorish
> > > a-hole (Rush Limbaugh, Michael Moore), the smug a-hole
> > > (Richard Dawkins, Larry Summers), the a-hole boss (Naomi
> > > Campbell), the presidential a-hole (Hugo Chavez), the reckless
> > > a-hole (Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld), the self-aggrandizing
> > > a-hole (Ralph Nader), the cable news a-hole (Neil Cavuto,
> > > Keith Olbermann), and the delusional a-hole (Kanye West,
> > > Wall Street bankers). James covers the spectrum from liberals
> > > to conservatives in his search for a-holes and applies his
> > > test with, I think, a nonpartisan outlook."
> > >
> > > Also looking promising and about my tribe:
> > > "How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and
> > > the Quantum Revival"
> > >
> >
>
