Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Guy With The Sign


Don't get me wrong: I'm glad this guy has a job.

But, whenever I see one of these guys on the side of the road (there's a guy who puts a little extra verve into his act--swinging his sign around, pointing at cars and singing--at a mini-mall near my house), I become uncomfortable.

I never even notice what they're advertising because two thoughts rush to my mind when I see them:

1) I could never do that.

2) I wonder how that person feels about what they're doing.

I also wonder what the companies and franchise owners think they're accomplishing when they hire people to hold signs. I see more and more roadside sign holders in my area of Cincinnati, so I would guess there was some value in it for the companies. It's just vaguely creepy to me. Something about it seems exploitative, and I have a hard time imagining a person whose ambition in life is to do a job where their biggest competition for promotion is a yard post.

But what do I know?

4 comments:

  1. I feel kind of the same way you do Spencer. I see the person and think about that person and never see who or what they are promoting.

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  2. Reminds me of "Old Gil" from The Simpsons.

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  3. I recognize your feelings.
    Doubt those who hold signs are reflecting ambition; probably need.

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  4. Scott: the ambition line was tongue-in-cheek. Just venting a visceral response.

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