Tuesday, March 29, 2011
So, I have a new (another) addiction.
I was already an avid user and fan of Etsy, as I love custom things, odd things, one of a kind things. I love the idea that I can get something personal as a gift for someone, that is not from a big box store, and that supports artists, crafters, whatever you want to call them. I think it's awesome that if I want something specific, and it's something that I cannot find in a retail store, or is something I really cannot make on my own, I can go online and source that something and make it a reality. It's kind of like waving a magic wand.
The magic wand has now become very dangerous. My cousin is a fashion designer and she Etsy is one of the outlets she uses to sell her clothing. She came across an Etsy coupon site called Heartsy.me and recently had her store featured there. Heartsy works with the artists on Etsy and, like Groupon, provides shoppers with a major discount to stores on Etsy. Shoppers can also vote on Heartsy to say which shops they want to get discounts at.
So far in the past 3 weeks I have gotten:
$16 for $50 Online Store Credit at Love Betsy Rue for Vintage Jewelry
$19 for $50 Online Store Credit at Jewelry Deli
$40 for $100 Online Store Credit at Simone's Rose (my cousin's clothing store)
$19 for $50 Online Store Credit at Circuit Board Jewelry
See how this is now dangerous? Sure, I've spent $94 dollars for $250 dollars worth of goods, but I also spent $94 dollars that I did not need to spend at all (with the exception of my cousin's store, as I was going to buy some of her stuff regardless).
I have been a very bad girl and for a while I will be avoiding the Heartsy notifications so as to not tempt myself....
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Rude.
It occurred to me today that perhaps their had been a global directive to redefine the word rude. That perhaps the definition as I learned it and as I believe it no longer applies. It certainly seems this must be the case as I see rudeness being accepted as par for the course on a regular basis.
But then I Googled it, and was surprised to see that it does in fact, still mean:
[rood]
–adjective, rud·er, rud·est.
1. discourteous or impolite, especially in a deliberate way: a rude reply.
2. without culture, learning, or refinement: rude, illiterate peasants.
3. rough in manners or behavior; unmannerly; uncouth.
4. rough, harsh, or ungentle: rude hands.
5. roughly wrought, built, or formed; of a crude construction or kind: a rude cottage.
6. not properly or fully developed; raw; unevolved: a rude first stage of development.
7. harsh to the ear: rude sounds.
8. without artistic elegance; of a primitive simplicity: a rude design.
etc., etc.Personally, I like illiterate peasants and harsh to the ear best.
So, for those out there who mistakenly thought the definition had wholly changed, and that things formerly thought rude are now completely acceptable in "polite" society (this would of course exclude Charlie Sheen as well as all politicians, as they are both illiterate peasants and harsh to the ear), take note, the following things are, in fact, rude:
1. Talking on your cellphone when it's your turn at a store checkout
2. Leaving local papers and flyers outside on your doorstep for weeks on end so they blow around the neighbourhood
3. Leaving the keypad noise turned on, so when you text everyone around you has to listen to click click clickclickclick, it is possible to turn it off, in fact, it is preferable to turn it off
4. Eating food while you speak to someone on the phone
5. Playing on the computer while you speak to someone on the phone (playing because working is not rude, it is how you pay the bills)
6. Being more than 10 minutes late for anything
7. Talking on your cellphone for a 50 minute bus ride, seriously, grownups should know better, and I don't want to hear about your sister's drinking problems, and I don't want to hear the tinny half-responses coming back out of your phone
8. Looking anywhere other than at the person you are having a conversation with
9. Not responding to messages, emails, etc., you may be busy, but are you dead?
10. Making personal announcements public via Twitter, Facebook, etc. without bothering to notify close friends and family first in a more personal way.
11. Making paying customers wait in line while you (the clerk) try and sign others up for a credit/points card. I am on my lunch break, I want to hand you money and leave with my purchase, up-sell later or I will leave in a huff (which is also rude, but you made me).
etc. etc. etc.
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