March 2, 2002

Business Ethics

Good afternoon, plucky aspiring fiction-writers! Do the vagaries of the business have you down? Well, cheer up -- things could be worse!

Had lunch and a couple of beers with J.C. Flores. I didn't even know he was living up here until Brian mentioned it offhandedly. And now I discover J.C.'s probably moving back to L.A. in three months or so. Thanks, Bri.

Anyway, J.C. recommended that I get cable modem and buy a splitter -- I should be able to get basic cable for free that way. Plus, if you want HBO, the cable guy will probably *cough* sell you a filter for it *cough*. But you didn't hear me say that.

I wonder why they don't pay those cable guys more? I haven't heard of a single one who doesn't make money on the side. It makes me wonder, at what point does systematic bribery merge with the "legitmate" economy? If I don't rip off the cable company, am I ethical, or just stupid? Aren't I just subsidizing the millions of people who do rip off the cable companies? And it's not like AT&T cares about my welfare...

No, I don't buy that. If a price is unfair -- don't pay it. Do I need cable? Do I really need TV at all? Nah.

Maybe I would feel differently if this were Pac Bell or E*Trade. But no -- I still think it's not right to rip off corporations directly. What I can do is explain to my friends and relatives how those companies treated me. I'm sure I've killed a few prospective Pac Bell DSL contracts, and at least a couple of prospective E*Trade accounts. That's enough to make me happy.