Perhaps a transactional exchange is not merely I/it, but two simultaneous I/its. And therein lies its virtue. We assume that if the other party is willingly engaging in the transaction, without coercion or duress etc, that they are not your object but their own subject.
Another point worth making on this subject: It’s often the practice of online merchants and carnivorous chains to undercut local businesses until they shut down — and then raise prices while slashing services. Speaking of book sellers, Barnes & Noble is a perfect example of this, especially on the UWS.
Mar 13, 2022·edited Mar 13, 2022Liked by Bertie Bregman, MD
This reminds me of when Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope: “Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And see some great looking babies. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And I'll ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know. The moral of the story is - we're here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it's like we're not supposed to dance at all anymore." (From “A Man Without a Country.”)
This is exactly why I can’t find a stupid doctor in the suburbs to replace WFM and eventually had to make another appointment with you guys 50 minutes away and 18 months late.
Yes! Thoughtful / Wise- miss you too
spot on, as ever!
Perhaps a transactional exchange is not merely I/it, but two simultaneous I/its. And therein lies its virtue. We assume that if the other party is willingly engaging in the transaction, without coercion or duress etc, that they are not your object but their own subject.
ps This suggests Cafe du Soleil has shut down, which I hope is not the case…
Another point worth making on this subject: It’s often the practice of online merchants and carnivorous chains to undercut local businesses until they shut down — and then raise prices while slashing services. Speaking of book sellers, Barnes & Noble is a perfect example of this, especially on the UWS.
This reminds me of when Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope: “Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And see some great looking babies. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And I'll ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know. The moral of the story is - we're here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it's like we're not supposed to dance at all anymore." (From “A Man Without a Country.”)
This is exactly why I can’t find a stupid doctor in the suburbs to replace WFM and eventually had to make another appointment with you guys 50 minutes away and 18 months late.