I know journalism has long since died, but it's long frustrated me that Prime Day is somehow worthy of news.
But this:
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| Pictured: the kind of heard-hitting journalism we've come to expect in the 2020's. |
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Look, I'm not business guy, but why'd he
bother buying the Washington Post when
news sites will cover his sales for free? |
So the "article"--and I hesitate to use the word--covers which sales the writer feels are worth taking advantage of and which are not, and which ones are worth jumping on before the official start of Prime Day on July 8th. None of which is news. And sure, I get that there has long been a tradition of things like Consumer Reports which cover things of importance to people trying to save money, but this feels not like that. And I don't mean to criticize the writer of the NBC piece linked above as a person, just the existence of their job.
But first, I feel obligated to voice my traditional concerns about how dumb Prime Day, as a thing, is. Not because Amazon is the economic equivalent of a malignant polyp, nor because the "sale" follows subtle price increases in the lead up, but because Prime Day is multiple days. Four days this year. And it's confusing because Prime means first, "day" is singular, and this "sale" lasts ninety-six hours.
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"I rented Venice, do you think I can't redefine time itself?"
-Jeff Bezos,* evidently |
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Click here for great deals on transatlantic
cruises, life jackets, and deckchairs! |
While the article does make a passing reference to some of the items on sale are not worth buying, the writer doesn't say which ones. Instead, what follows is just a list of items whose Prime Day sale prices are highlighted, along with direct links to the online retailer, as well as bullet points about the Prime Day sales. None of which seems like something honest journalism, even journalism that purports to be helping consumers make purchasing decisions, should ever,
ever do. The writer even includes personal testimonials for some of them.
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Pictured: literally anyone explaining
how this isn't seriously compromised. |
That's not news. And I know it's carried under the label "NBC Select," but what even is that? I asked AI--well, I didn't ask AI, I searched the question and Google made an assumption, but, I mean, look at this: "NBC Select is a section of NBC News and CNBC that focuses on providing high-quality, editorially independent content, including deals, tips, and product reviews, to help readers make informed decisions about various aspects of their lives..."
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That's just an example, I'm sure that
Ninja Air Fryers are great at making
dried out food that last like plastic. |
What? I mean, what? It's high quality, editorially independent content about deals? That's oxymoronic. The explanation wraps back in on itself and explodes in a cloud of its own rhetorical impossibility. The actual NBC Select site includes
an advertiser disclosure that claims that while they receive a commission, said commission doesn't influence what they say about the products. Which, ok, but if they say, for example, that they feel a new Ninja Air Fryer is garbage, they have to know that Ninja Air Fryer commissions will dry up. So, how is it possible for them to be independent
and accept commissions?
Again, not blaming the writer here, they're just doing their job. I'm not even blaming NBC. I think all the news sites have something similar to this. They are not responsible for the hyper-capitalist, dystopian nightmare we find ourselves in. But they're not, you know, helping, and sooner or later the wheels are coming off.
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"Here's to endless growth with no consequences!"
-Rich people |
*I'm aware that he's no longer in charge of the day to day operations, but he still like, is the largest shareholder so...
