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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
 Posted - 07/10/2006 : 08:13:11
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From today's Los Angeles Times:
Forging Ahead in Moscow
quote:
Want to buy a fake vacation, medical degree or 'Siberian purebred' alley cat? Anything's possible, as long as you don't care if it's real.
quote:
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has estimated that 50% of all consumer goods sold in Russia are fake; the counterfeit trade, Minister German O. Gref announced in January, has reached $4 billion to $6 billion a year — no one knows exactly, because the books are cooked.
What is interesting is fakery has become so much a part of the culture there that it is not just taken for granted, but is often seen as a way to keep prices down…
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
 Posted - 07/10/2006 : 09:14:03 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Kil
From today's Los Angeles Times:
Forging Ahead in Moscow
quote:
Want to buy a fake vacation, medical degree or 'Siberian purebred' alley cat? Anything's possible, as long as you don't care if it's real.
quote:
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has estimated that 50% of all consumer goods sold in Russia are fake; the counterfeit trade, Minister German O. Gref announced in January, has reached $4 billion to $6 billion a year — no one knows exactly, because the books are cooked.
What is interesting is fakery has become so much a part of the culture there that it is not just taken for granted, but is often seen as a way to keep prices down…
Does this mean that my Russian bride might not be from Russia? Damnit! |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2006 : 21:44:58 [Permalink]
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Gee, and here we only have false advertising here. 
Some different methods used in false advertising:
Going out of business/bankruptcy sales when in reality the business has no plans on closing its store or going out of business.
Advertising "Maine Lobsters" when in fact the lobster is from the Pacific ocean.
Inflate the "regular" price in order to create the impression that the sale price is very low.
The Alien Autopsy
Kevin Trudeau
FTC dietary supplement fraudulent claims cases
more cases
etc.
BTW, I am not being sarcastic about posting the article. Thanks for the link, it is an important issue. It reminded me of the system of paying bribes in Mexico then coming home and paying the airport tax and camping fee and so on. I realize it differs whose pocket the money goes directly into, but still there was some, "Pot, meet Kettle". I think there is some, "Pot, meet Kettle" here too. Funny how we see a fake designer label but don't notice the alcohol content in Listerine doesn't qualify as an antiseptic.
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| Edited by - beskeptigal on 07/11/2006 22:04:28 |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 08:59:36 [Permalink]
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quote:
beskeptigal:
BTW, I am not being sarcastic about posting the article. Thanks for the link, it is an important issue. It reminded me of the system of paying bribes in Mexico then coming home and paying the airport tax and camping fee and so on. I realize it differs whose pocket the money goes directly into, but still there was some, "Pot, meet Kettle". I think there is some, "Pot, meet Kettle" here too. Funny how we see a fake designer label but don't notice the alcohol content in Listerine doesn't qualify as an antiseptic.
Of course your right beskeptigal. The difference, it seems to me, is that while we know we are being ripped off, we don't like it. Or, at least, we would never admit to liking the idea of being had. The problem has become so pervasive in Russia that there is a tacit acceptance by the people as it has become a large part of their personal economy.
quote:
from article:
Every Russian must ford a river of flimflam, much of which is tolerated because it makes everyone's life, for the most part, cheaper and more manageable than the real thing.
That is the part that struck me. While we may tolerate a lot of things, and be stupid about a lot of things, while we may be credulous to a fault, in Russia, it seems that the average citizen is fine with being deceived as long as it saves them some money.
Here, most people would be upset to find they have purchased a fake. “Too good to be true” doesn't register for many people, but they would still be angry if they learned that they were stupid enough to fall for the scam. In Russia, tell them that the purchase is a fake and you might get as a reply “and your point is?”
It's difficult enough being a skeptic here. Imagine what it's like being a skeptic in Russia!
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 12:21:52 [Permalink]
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| I wonder if the underlying attitude is stealing a copyright is just stealing from the rich? As long as the copy is as good as or close to the original, I can see it not bothering anyone to pay less. Ever buy a bootleg album or DVD or download that free tune? |
| Edited by - beskeptigal on 07/12/2006 12:22:21 |
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