Our entire economy is rooted in notions of scarcity, so while we live on an abundant planet that literally supplies everything we need to thrive, capitalists have to create a sense of scarcity in order to drive consumption. First class, business class, and all the other things on airlines that cost so much more for one little thing extra (want a *free* checked bag? spend more money; want more leg room in the exit row? spend more money). We have been going this way for a long time and it's so awful. Frankly, I'd rather sit in a local restaurant supporting my community and watching a sporting event with friends where I can easily get to a bathroom or get home without a 2-hour wait in a crowded parking lot than make my way to a stadium. Sadly, I remember the days when I could get a ticket to see the Seattle Mariners play a wildly exciting game for about $15 (and parking was included!)
That's a really good point about the broader scarcity culture, and how it enables and is enabled by this kind of price gouging behavior. And you're right, if we actually ask ourselves "what would be more fun?" nine times out of ten we'd say our friends.
I paid for VIP tickets for a music concert once in my life. It was long enough ago that it seems quaint how little extra they cost. I don't even know if it was even double the ticket price. But I thought it would be nice to try and see what it's like. It was actually pretty shitty. Our section was off to the side, so we could barely see the performance. And they didn't even come over to greet us or sign autographs or anything. We couldn't have been more than a couple dozen people. We paid extra, and we got scammed.
I thought, shit, I am SO MUCH BETTER at meeting artists and getting photos and autographs ALL ON MY OWN (with a little patience and creativity). I vowed I would never pay for something like that again.
The only time I got into a skybox was when I was invited as a guest of an employee whose company paid for it for that particular game. I got to take my picture with the mascot, but nobody really watched the game.
Lots of talk these days about ticket prices (along with the price of gas, eggs, and milk ... those things the VIPs don't have to worry about). I just edited this article, which does a great job of breaking down the eye-bleeding cost of anything to do with the World Cup: https://www.norwegianamerican.com/welcome-to-the-fifa-world-cup-you-cant-afford-to-attend/.
I guess it really is the gilded age. Or ... re-gilded age. Let's all go eat cake.
This story reminded me of a lot of people's relationship to AI. I think we've been taught "well surely this new special thing can do ______ better than I can" and so we stop trusting our ability to do the thing-- in your case, just meet artists you admire without the fancy VIP trappings.
And man, the World Cup is just so insane. The gap between arguably the event with the most populist appeal worldwide and the highest elite barrier to entry. Ugh.
Re: first class airline tickets: this is my one indulgence. I drive a 15-year-old Toyota and buy clothes at resale shops, but I put aside money so I can fly business class on long flights. I'm old(ish) now and I want decent food and the maximum amount of comfort. Here's the thing I've learned: there's always someone above you. My ticket can get me into the SAS lounge, but there's a separate entrance to a more exclusive lounge for people who fly more frequently and spend more money than I do. (What's in there, I can only imagine.) LAX has a whole "private terminal" for super-VIPs, with "complimentary valet, car detailing, manicures and in-suite massages." And even if you reach those heights, the real high rollers are flying private. If you have a private jet, someone else is going to have a bigger, faster jet. Etc. etc.
Have you read the article about the secret class of Delta VIPs and how Delta is basically solely geared, as a company, just to them? I decided to keep it out of this essay just for length, but it absolutely blew my mind, especially when I learned that once you get passed the kind of practical amenities you're seeking out, Sue (a less miserable flight, which is understandable) the extra perks the higher ups is mostly "staff are paid to be extra nice to them." Again, can't stop thinking about it.
Add to this list, pay extra to cut the lines at Disneyworld and DIsneyland. It’s infuriating and yet would I pay extra to cut the lines at Disneyworld? Maybe, if I wanted to go to Disneyworld! The sports world seems increasingly corrupt, especially the example of the Truss Center if indeed that was subsidized by tax dollars. In my city (Seattle), the 20 year old Kingdome was razed before it was even paid for, to build two new stadiums, cuz you have to have one for baseball and one for football, dontcha know? Thanks for pointing out how much better, how much more satisfying, how much healthier it is to party with your community in open, accessible, free or low cost places!
This is another element I thought of bringing more into the essay but didn't for space, so I'm so glad you brought it up-- a classic example of making the base experience just miserable enough that, if you truly want to make what for most people is a really big trip worth it, you have to then splurge for the "make it a bit more bearable" perk.
I'm sorry to report there isn't actually a guillotine emoji (yet) but here is what's going on in local to me guillotine news, because Montreal really does know how to throw a fun and joyful protest:
My best friend and I often reminisce about the days when we were in high school and could walk up to the ballpark and buy tickets for 5 dollars for “top six” seats any time we wanted.
If you haven’t read “Make Me Commissioner” by Jane Leavy you should put it on your list. She has many ideas about making baseball more accessible and affordable.
Oh I will check that out! Also, to connect two of my baseball essays (would you be getting this many if the Brewers weren't having a fun season? Probably not), I think that's another element of why I love tarps off. It's actually a bit of a subversion of what the owners obviously want the stadium experience to be-- for the price, it's so much more fun to go up to the absolute cheapest seats (even if you have better seats!) and whoop it up then it is to sit in the fancy all inclusive home plate seats (which are often empty).
I agree completely on the Tarps Off thing. Anything to stick it to the owners.
I’ll read any baseball piece you can throw my way. If the Brewers have to have a good season for me to get more baseball essays, then I guess I’ll take it. (Sigh…)
Seriously though, The Miz is a cheat code. That complete game shutout he threw the other night was objectively a thing of baseball beauty. I’m so happy that you and all the other Brewers fans get to experience this season!
Reminds me of The Economist's recent cover story whose headline went something along the lines of "Why Are Gen-Z Socialists Obsessed with Wealth Taxes?" (paraphrasing). Uhhhh ...
Outa the park, Garrett. You hit it out of the park.
Oh thank you
Our entire economy is rooted in notions of scarcity, so while we live on an abundant planet that literally supplies everything we need to thrive, capitalists have to create a sense of scarcity in order to drive consumption. First class, business class, and all the other things on airlines that cost so much more for one little thing extra (want a *free* checked bag? spend more money; want more leg room in the exit row? spend more money). We have been going this way for a long time and it's so awful. Frankly, I'd rather sit in a local restaurant supporting my community and watching a sporting event with friends where I can easily get to a bathroom or get home without a 2-hour wait in a crowded parking lot than make my way to a stadium. Sadly, I remember the days when I could get a ticket to see the Seattle Mariners play a wildly exciting game for about $15 (and parking was included!)
That's a really good point about the broader scarcity culture, and how it enables and is enabled by this kind of price gouging behavior. And you're right, if we actually ask ourselves "what would be more fun?" nine times out of ten we'd say our friends.
I paid for VIP tickets for a music concert once in my life. It was long enough ago that it seems quaint how little extra they cost. I don't even know if it was even double the ticket price. But I thought it would be nice to try and see what it's like. It was actually pretty shitty. Our section was off to the side, so we could barely see the performance. And they didn't even come over to greet us or sign autographs or anything. We couldn't have been more than a couple dozen people. We paid extra, and we got scammed.
I thought, shit, I am SO MUCH BETTER at meeting artists and getting photos and autographs ALL ON MY OWN (with a little patience and creativity). I vowed I would never pay for something like that again.
The only time I got into a skybox was when I was invited as a guest of an employee whose company paid for it for that particular game. I got to take my picture with the mascot, but nobody really watched the game.
Lots of talk these days about ticket prices (along with the price of gas, eggs, and milk ... those things the VIPs don't have to worry about). I just edited this article, which does a great job of breaking down the eye-bleeding cost of anything to do with the World Cup: https://www.norwegianamerican.com/welcome-to-the-fifa-world-cup-you-cant-afford-to-attend/.
I guess it really is the gilded age. Or ... re-gilded age. Let's all go eat cake.
This story reminded me of a lot of people's relationship to AI. I think we've been taught "well surely this new special thing can do ______ better than I can" and so we stop trusting our ability to do the thing-- in your case, just meet artists you admire without the fancy VIP trappings.
And man, the World Cup is just so insane. The gap between arguably the event with the most populist appeal worldwide and the highest elite barrier to entry. Ugh.
Re: first class airline tickets: this is my one indulgence. I drive a 15-year-old Toyota and buy clothes at resale shops, but I put aside money so I can fly business class on long flights. I'm old(ish) now and I want decent food and the maximum amount of comfort. Here's the thing I've learned: there's always someone above you. My ticket can get me into the SAS lounge, but there's a separate entrance to a more exclusive lounge for people who fly more frequently and spend more money than I do. (What's in there, I can only imagine.) LAX has a whole "private terminal" for super-VIPs, with "complimentary valet, car detailing, manicures and in-suite massages." And even if you reach those heights, the real high rollers are flying private. If you have a private jet, someone else is going to have a bigger, faster jet. Etc. etc.
Have you read the article about the secret class of Delta VIPs and how Delta is basically solely geared, as a company, just to them? I decided to keep it out of this essay just for length, but it absolutely blew my mind, especially when I learned that once you get passed the kind of practical amenities you're seeking out, Sue (a less miserable flight, which is understandable) the extra perks the higher ups is mostly "staff are paid to be extra nice to them." Again, can't stop thinking about it.
Add to this list, pay extra to cut the lines at Disneyworld and DIsneyland. It’s infuriating and yet would I pay extra to cut the lines at Disneyworld? Maybe, if I wanted to go to Disneyworld! The sports world seems increasingly corrupt, especially the example of the Truss Center if indeed that was subsidized by tax dollars. In my city (Seattle), the 20 year old Kingdome was razed before it was even paid for, to build two new stadiums, cuz you have to have one for baseball and one for football, dontcha know? Thanks for pointing out how much better, how much more satisfying, how much healthier it is to party with your community in open, accessible, free or low cost places!
This is another element I thought of bringing more into the essay but didn't for space, so I'm so glad you brought it up-- a classic example of making the base experience just miserable enough that, if you truly want to make what for most people is a really big trip worth it, you have to then splurge for the "make it a bit more bearable" perk.
I'm sorry to report there isn't actually a guillotine emoji (yet) but here is what's going on in local to me guillotine news, because Montreal really does know how to throw a fun and joyful protest:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/police-investigation-boulet-9.7187045
Montreal anarchists, I tip my shoplifted and/or dumpster dived toque to you.
Wow. This is “no one should have fun” community erasure.
"The author regrets his disrespect to America's thriving dour and funless community and their long legacy of boredom."
Thank you again, Garrett. Excellent work.
My best friend and I often reminisce about the days when we were in high school and could walk up to the ballpark and buy tickets for 5 dollars for “top six” seats any time we wanted.
If you haven’t read “Make Me Commissioner” by Jane Leavy you should put it on your list. She has many ideas about making baseball more accessible and affordable.
Oh I will check that out! Also, to connect two of my baseball essays (would you be getting this many if the Brewers weren't having a fun season? Probably not), I think that's another element of why I love tarps off. It's actually a bit of a subversion of what the owners obviously want the stadium experience to be-- for the price, it's so much more fun to go up to the absolute cheapest seats (even if you have better seats!) and whoop it up then it is to sit in the fancy all inclusive home plate seats (which are often empty).
I agree completely on the Tarps Off thing. Anything to stick it to the owners.
I’ll read any baseball piece you can throw my way. If the Brewers have to have a good season for me to get more baseball essays, then I guess I’ll take it. (Sigh…)
Seriously though, The Miz is a cheat code. That complete game shutout he threw the other night was objectively a thing of baseball beauty. I’m so happy that you and all the other Brewers fans get to experience this season!
Wow I can't get over the Truss Club rendering like damn you can watch the game on TV by yourself at home??
Such bleak vibes.
You are my favorite person
And you and every member of your family is basically my favorite household!
Reminds me of The Economist's recent cover story whose headline went something along the lines of "Why Are Gen-Z Socialists Obsessed with Wealth Taxes?" (paraphrasing). Uhhhh ...
I have some ideas!!