Educated idiots

[rob62521]

A friend just posted on a social site that they are very upset because a local company is shutting off cable due to lack of payment. The post is basically a rant bad mouthing the company for being so mean.

I'm having some problems with this ... I happen to know this person ordered something on-line that wasn't a necessity, but a want, and if this person had paid their cable bill with the money, they wouldn't have had it turned off.

It's not the cable company's fault -- this person hasn't paid their bill. And, as much as I appreciate education, you can't teach common sense. Common sense would say, pay your bills first and then if you have money left over, buy stuff.

Instead, this person is bad mouthing the company and complaining there isn't enough money being made and bemoaning their profession doesn't pay much. Since the cable company also provides internet, I'm wondering if it was a wise move to use the employer's computer to post all this.

[disneysteve]

A friend just posted on a social site that they are very upset because a local company is shutting off cable due to lack of payment.

Imagine that. That darn cable company has some nerve expecting their customers to pay for their service. We all know cable TV is a necessity of life. How can anyone possibly be expected to survive without Real Housewives, Top Chef and Jon and Kate?

[sm808]

It says alot about the social climate that people post about utilities/cable being shut off on the internet for all their friends/acquaintances to see...

[disneysteve]

It says alot about the social climate that people post about utilities/cable being shut off on the internet for all their friends/acquaintances to see...

These are people who feel they are the victims in the situation and want to rant and trash the "offender" to as many people as possible. This victim mentality is rampant in this country today. Nobody wants to take personal responsibility for their own actions. They are always looking for someone to blame.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Rob, as this is a friend, is there anyway you might be able to gingerly, privately talk to her about this? I can see that it could be really awkward, and maybe would put a wrench in the friendship...but...I don't know, friends just don't let friend drive through life so zombied out by cable that they can't even think straight.

On a more philosophical note--How did we get to the state where people think TV, any TV, much less cable or satellite or whatever, is a life-sustaining utility?

[sm808]

These are people who feel they are the victims in the situation and want to rant and trash the "offender" to as many people as possible. This victim mentality is rampant in this country today. Nobody wants to take personal responsibility for their own actions. They are always looking for someone to blame.

Like the radio commercials that ask where the bailout for taxpayers with credit card debt it?

[littleroc02us]

Whatever happen to personal responsibility. If people were actually held for their actions it would be a better world. The funny thing is that there would be people wandering around blaming everyone for their own actions. To bad our current gov't is an enabler to it's own people.

[rob62521]

Joan, I've tried to discuss financial ideas with this friend, but have been told I don't understand...she was poor a few years back when she decided to try and be famous and she knows how to live on little...whenever I share articles she tells me she already knows all this stuff.

I would say the posts with folks who feel they are victims and people not taking personal responsibility are right on!

[Broken Arrow]

I know people like that. To them, it's everybody else's fault.

[maat55]

Whatever happen to personal responsibility. If people were actually held for their actions it would be a better world. The funny thing is that there would be people wandering around blaming everyone for their own actions. To bad our current gov't is an enabler to it's own people.

So true, that it is very dangerous to future freedom.

[kobe008]

That reminds me of a post i saw on a social site. It was something like 'I'm so happy I just made my final child support payment!!' To me the post made it sound like he did not care about his kid and was happy to be rid of it.

[CalireEHughes]

I think people are starting to look at TV programs much like music. It's like: "I'm not going to pay for something that I can just download for free".

[ea1776]

Whatever happen to personal responsibility. If people were actually held for their actions it would be a better world. The funny thing is that there would be people wandering around blaming everyone for their own actions. To bad our current gov't is an enabler to it's own people.

Exactly, beautifully put.

[bjl584]

I have a friend who was sleeping on a borrowed bed. The owner needed it back, so they came and took it. He is now bedless and sleeps on the couch. His reaction, drop $170 at a concert, bad mouth the person that took the bed, and continue to sleep on the couch. Makes sense to me.

[Debt Vigilante]

Wait...I thought after the 2008 election, everyone was going to get free cable