In response to last week’s question, "Should a business protect its customers from the customer's own stupidity?", my social business advisor Andy proffered, "Only as far as their ethics can be stretched."

My engineering friend Steve lamented, "Some of the time I feel like that's all we do."  To this, my dad's beach buddy Bob added, "They had better or they could end up as former bank customers themselves."  And my cousin Wes shared, "No, but in lawsuit happy America and with anti-business juries, you have to. Think coffee and McDonald's."

My friend Richard replied, "Depends on the business. Many businesses rely on their customers’ stupidity, without which they wouldn’t be able to stay in business.  How else can one explain why someone would pay $6 or more dollars for a cup of coffee at Starbucks instead of $1 dollar at the donut place across the street?"  My poster-making friend Chris expounded on this, "I personally don't think we would have a flourishing economy if any business truly protected its customers from their own stupidity. We certainly wouldn't have "The Pet Rock", "Doggles" (Goggles for Dogs), "Snuggies" (Is it a blanket? Is it a robe? Who cares?), and finally "The Big Mouth Billy Bass" (Who would have guessed we needed to hear Al Green songs from the mouth of a dancing, plastic fish?)."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

            Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

If you're in ATL this Labor Day weekend, check out www.noshfest.com.  A great way to spend time (yes, it is kid friendly). Better yet, plan to come Sunday at 5 or 6p for dinner and join us for "Improv on the Rocks, with a twist of Jewish."  $15 tickets includes $5 towards food or drink.

[Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.]

Should you borrow money from pessimists because they don't expect it back?

In response to last week’s question, "Should you borrow money from pessimists because they don't expect it back?", my writing and sailing friend Rich responded, "The essence of giving without an expectation of return is charity. Would you deny the pessimist the pleasure of charitable giving? Not to mention the joy of the charitable tax deduction. The only way you could mess this up would be to defy pessimistic expectations and repay the loan with interest on which the pessimist will have to pay capital gains."

My dad's beach buddy Bob lamented, "Pessimists?  All my friends are bankers."

My CFO turned broadcaster friend Bill advised, "A pessimist is merely an optimist who once loaned money to a friend or family."   My golden retriever rescue friend Kate added, "A big YES to that question; but, you'll never hear the end of it."

My product mgmt friend, Doug, who recently moved to Austin recommends, "You should ALWAYS borrow money from pessimists.....  That's the only reason you have them for friends." 

My friend Chris shared, "Only if you are a pessimist yourself because you don't expect yourself to pay it back either :)  "  Yet my sailing friend Kurt challenged, "You can't borrow money from a true pessimist, they know they will not get it back so won't lend it in the first place."

My friend Richard summarized, "A pessimist would not lend any money because they are certain you won’t pay it back.  You borrow from optimists because they naively believe you will pay it back.  Before the economic collapse of 2008, banks were optimists, as evidenced by their insane lending practices and “creative” loans.  Now the banks are pessimists who won’t lend to anyone, no matter how solvent….   An optimist sees the glass as half full. A pessimist sees the glass as half empty.  A realist sees the class is cracked.  A cockeyed optimist realizes it’s a dribble glass."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

            Should a business protect its customers 

       from the customer's own stupidity? (from my banking friend Ashley)

Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

Just thought I'd re-share my birthday bud Jon's conversation to eating grouper alone: 

PS:  I was floundering before I came up my answer. 

                   But you responded just for the halibut. 

                  You're giving me a haddock. 

[Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.]

Is it still grouper if you eat it alone?

In response to last week’s question, "Is it still grouper if you eat it alone?",  my friend Richard and birthday bud Jon agreed, "Nope. Then you’re eating sole."   To this, my friend Tracey, whose son is now attending her alma matter, asked, "Is it still sole if you eat it with a group?"

My friend Chris responded, "No, it becomes singular and now you are eating a groupie, which is bad for rock bands who can't find enough help these days either.  :)  "

My dad's beach buddy Bob said, "No.  It is Red Snapper."   To this, my friend Royce added, "It's just fish no matter how many people are there."

My birthday bud Jon and I had a follow-up: 

PS:  I was floundering before I came up my answer. 

                But you responded just for the halibut. 

                You're giving me a haddock. 

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

 

               Should you borrow money from pessimists because they don't expect it back?

Lord, give me a sense of humor; give me the ability to understand a clean joke; to get some humor out of life, and to pass it on to other folks. 

Hal

A special call-out to my friend Henry for organizing another (more than 10) Habitat for Humanity build in Cobb Co, and to Paul for coordinating our team.  It is a beautiful thing when people give their time and  have a cooperative spirit to help someone they don't know.  That's 'collaboration.' 

[Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.]

 

When is it too much?

In response to last week’s question, "When is it too much?",  my engineering friend Steve described this as, "It's too much when the involved body part feels like it's going to explode."  While Steve may have been referring to rafting or running, my dad's beach buddy Bob warned, "after the 4th martini."  To this, my project management buddy KJ explained, "It's when the risks outweigh the benefits.  Touche."

My sailing friend Tom explained this as, "When it starts running over the top" to which my friend Royce counseled, "It's after it's too little." My cycling friend Ted replied, "Never--if the subject is sex. Always- if the subject is work."

My writing and sailing friend Rich recalled, "It's when my wife applies the correction (dope slap) to the back of my head."

My college roomie John summarized, "Too much fun, not sure?  Too much money, hmmm?  Too much of certain people, you will know soon enough.   Too much time with family and friends, haven't hit that yet,  but I live alone."

My training friend Bruce, whose unwritten history includes time touring with 3 Dog Night, suggested, "When they're arrested for stalking."

And my sailing friend Brad responded, "Hal, you are always too much."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

                Is it still grouper if you eat it alone?   (from my cycling friend Ted)

Life may not be the party we had hoped for, but while we're here we should dance (and laugh).

Hal

My cousin Sunny  (http://www.suncoach.com/category/blog) passed along insight from her husband Roy, a former air traffic controller, who explained that in aviation, 'you have weather' when conditions are such that instruments may be required when flying. Thought you'd like to know!"

[Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration.]