The other night I watched "Flat Broke: Begging & Borrowing in America" on 20/20. Anyone watch the show? I did, seeing as how debt collection is the day job.
20/20 highlighted several instances of aggressive, law-breaking, mean and jerk debt collectors -- which really irritated me because most debt collectors are decent folks. 20/20 also found a few assertive, law-abiding, polite debt collectors to counter the picture they painted. But, the overall picture was skewed. At least, that was my opinion after watching it.
My irritation increased over the week because reporters on another 20/20 feature on Hunger in America have recently spent the better part of a year interviewing/following poor children in New Jersey. Someone asked the reporters something like....
If they were following the lives of hungry children for almost a year, why didn't they feed them?
The answer was basically that the reporters didn't want to change to story. It wouldn't be reality if they fed the starving children.
That was just too Broadcast News for me. I couldn't identify with Holly Hunter not running off with William Hurt over a few fake tears.
It irritated me that the ethic is held so dear in the industry that day after day they followed with their cameras, waiting for the sound of rumbling stomachs.
That isn't okay!
In fact, I'd go so far as to say if I was in debt and I didn't know where my next meal was coming from, that I'd prefer to deal with an annoying debt collector trying to make money from me (that I owed) than people who'd watch my child starve trying to make money (by selling advertising time to major corporations).
Actually, the show was interesting. Getting riled up is good for us, isn't it? I don't think the reporters even considered why I'd get riled up! But, all is good because their shows reminded me to think about reality for people that are my neighbors. Reminds me to think about what I can do to fight hunger in America.
And, their debt show will help the cheapest family in American make some extra money this year. That family's book is #97 on Amazon.com for sales right now.
This family was interviewed on the show, and their book is now being sold at a great reduction, which is making me think... should I buy it?
I can't though, because I just made another order and one way I save money is to shop regularly, and not on a spur of the moment. At least as much as possible. And, I just ordered 3 books from Amazon.com and won't order more until I finish those.
by Steve Economides, Annette Economides
List Price: $12.95
Price: $7.77
You Save: $5.18 (40%)
Oh, and by the way, having watched their interview on the television show, they say they don't shop with credit cards, so their advice might be not to take advantage of this deal on on Amazon.com.
tags: money, debt, personal finance, credit
20/20 highlighted several instances of aggressive, law-breaking, mean and jerk debt collectors -- which really irritated me because most debt collectors are decent folks. 20/20 also found a few assertive, law-abiding, polite debt collectors to counter the picture they painted. But, the overall picture was skewed. At least, that was my opinion after watching it.
My irritation increased over the week because reporters on another 20/20 feature on Hunger in America have recently spent the better part of a year interviewing/following poor children in New Jersey. Someone asked the reporters something like....
If they were following the lives of hungry children for almost a year, why didn't they feed them?
The answer was basically that the reporters didn't want to change to story. It wouldn't be reality if they fed the starving children.
That was just too Broadcast News for me. I couldn't identify with Holly Hunter not running off with William Hurt over a few fake tears.
It irritated me that the ethic is held so dear in the industry that day after day they followed with their cameras, waiting for the sound of rumbling stomachs.
That isn't okay!
In fact, I'd go so far as to say if I was in debt and I didn't know where my next meal was coming from, that I'd prefer to deal with an annoying debt collector trying to make money from me (that I owed) than people who'd watch my child starve trying to make money (by selling advertising time to major corporations).
Actually, the show was interesting. Getting riled up is good for us, isn't it? I don't think the reporters even considered why I'd get riled up! But, all is good because their shows reminded me to think about reality for people that are my neighbors. Reminds me to think about what I can do to fight hunger in America.
And, their debt show will help the cheapest family in American make some extra money this year. That family's book is #97 on Amazon.com for sales right now.
This family was interviewed on the show, and their book is now being sold at a great reduction, which is making me think... should I buy it?
I can't though, because I just made another order and one way I save money is to shop regularly, and not on a spur of the moment. At least as much as possible. And, I just ordered 3 books from Amazon.com and won't order more until I finish those.
by Steve Economides, Annette Economides
List Price: $12.95
Price: $7.77
You Save: $5.18 (40%)
Oh, and by the way, having watched their interview on the television show, they say they don't shop with credit cards, so their advice might be not to take advantage of this deal on on Amazon.com.
tags: money, debt, personal finance, credit
And here I thought my family held that title...
ReplyDeleteLOL...
ReplyDeleteI've been accused too.