Self-Defeating

Ever notice that some people can be their own worst enemy?

Like restaurants. We recently tried a Mexican restaurant in Bend named El Caporal. The first thing I see when we walk in is that the mints at the cash register are 25 cents each. They're charging for mints? The guy who seats us has no personality. Not even an "enjoy your meal". Then I see on the menu that it's $1.25 for refills on chips and salsa! I've just sat down and I'm already soured. I wouldn't be surprised if there were pay toilets. I was deducting from the tip in my mind.

Then the meal came. They got the order right, the food was great, they serve Coca-Cola, and the waiter checked to make sure everything was okay. The portions were big, including the chips and salsa, and to top it off, we were surprised to find that the lunch came with a free dessert, a delightful cinnamon tortilla crisp topped with whipped cream and strawberry drizzles. We'll be eating there again.

Don't you hate it when you're forced to admit that something is great despite your preconceptions? Like when you're all prepared to hate someone and they charm you over? I hate that! Nevertheless, they aren't doing themselves any favors by appearing so cheap.

It's like a guy who dresses like a slob, doesn't bathe, disrespects women, and then can't understand why he can never get a date. He comes out of the bathroom wiping his hands on his pants, and wonders what's wrong with the women he meets. Why don't people see that they're shooting themselves in the foot!

It's like that going to some theaters. The cost of two tickets is like a car payment, you could buy dinner for what you pay for popcorn, they show commercials before the movie, treat you like criminals, and the movie is a tired remake that substitutes action and special effects for whatever good storytelling was in the original. Then they complain because ticket sales are down. Don't they realize they're like the guy wiping his hands on his pants?

One last example of losers without a clue: television. Have television networks forgotten that entertainment is about storytelling, surprise and suspension of disbelief? How is the audience supposed to stay involved and enjoy a show when the commercial breaks get longer and more obnoxious, the plot points have already been revealed in the ads, and throughout the show the viewer is distracted by ads and logos at the bottom of the screen? Then they wonder why their numbers keep shrinking. These guys probably chow down on garlic before a first date. They're pathetic.

So how's your 4th of July?


Blog Tag: Chatter