"It's like a massive earthquake"
Is the quote flying around today's papers and news reports following the meltdown of the Lehman Brothers bank, which, by the way, I understand hardly anything about. Ask the boyfriend. Financial stuff, billions of quid, stocks, shares? Don't get it. I understand the basics, that it's folded and is filing for bankruptcy, and that is about the extent of my knowledge on the subject.
But I do know one thing.
Thousands of very rich bankers losing their jobs is not like a "massive earthquake". Or, actually, let's use the full quote:
"It is terrible. Death. It's like a massive earthquake," she said. She being a city trader whose manager, we are assured, is processing her expenses as we speak. Oh, the injustice. Oh, the tragedy! Oh, the death! Oh, can you process my expenses?
So, not really an deadly earthquake situation really. That is, unless yesterday's temporary refuge for victims; the injured, crippled, dying and dead, was the Slug and Lettuce pub in Canary Wharf.
I mean god, the last time something happened on this scale must have been, well, then!
Sensationalism in the media, ohhh how I love it.
6 comments:
I think that the City (and assorted trading areas the world over) has had this coming for a long time! As City Boy used to point out in his London Paper column, it's full of fat cats and arrogant wankers and he saw the perfect time to get out - just before a major collapse like this.
The thing is, we need the City with its wanky banky attitude to keep the economy healthy and without it, we could be in some shit.
I think it's time that the big banks were shaken a little so that they realise they can't just do what they like willy nilly, and I have no sympathy for those who are claiming that it's like an earthquake. If I lost my job tomorrow, there would be shit because I don't bring in the big bucks and I can't afford to cover a few months' rent while I job hunt... but even then, it wouldn't be an earthquake!!!
This is what happens when you get too caught up in greed. I'm afraid I have no sympathies either.
Other than, of course, for the poor receptionist(s), say, or the office maintenance people, who've now found themselves given the bum's rush along with the unnecessarily highly paid bankers (who caused the whole stinking mess in the process).
I did think that the reaction of the woman in question was somewhat OTT when I saw her on the news last night.
Still, no doubt we are in for a tough time, but as Soupus points out, this has been coming for some time now.
You are absolutely correct! While losing your job is difficult, it hardly qualifies as a massive earthquake and death. I also can’t stand it when athletes describe a game as “like a war.” As if they would know! I once saw Bjork describe recording an album as being similar to “fighting in Vietnam.” What an idiot. Mind your metaphors, people.
blue - I think it's about time those over paid investment bankers got a kick up the arse too. Yes they work hard, but the rewards are off the scale. Earthquake my left foot - they'll just have to take the ferrari back to the garage. Boo hoo.
mouldy old tartlet - That's the only people I feel for, the ones caught up in the mess who aren't really directly responsible. That'll be us normal people then!
perpetual - Feel the goodness of the crispy credit crunch cornflakes, coming to a supermarket near you. Although I can't help thinking that if people just stopped talking about the credit crunch, it wouldn't be half as bad.
unbearable - I mean I know journalists like to exaggerate and change quotes ...but comparing job losses to death just doesn't quite cut it no matter the context.
So true. Would be a stupid request for them to actually think of a REAL massive earthquake - like, death and devastation, anyone?
/smack.
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